Knight's Legacy

by Trenae Sumter

  The man was dressed as a Medieval knight, in deep blue and gold. The costume was regal, as if he just stepped off a film set. He had long, white, flowing hair and blue eyes.

  Sierra stood up, holding the blanket in front of her, trembling with fear. “I’ll tell you right now, if you mean to rob me, my rings are all cubic zirconia!”

  Shuffling over to the phone by the nightstand, she stepped away from it when he rose.

  “I do not mean to harm you; do not fear me.”

  “Then what the hell are you doing in my bedroom?”

  “I must speak with you, Lady Casslin,” he said.

  “I’m suppose to be impressed you know my name? You can find that information on the Internet! What are you? Some kind of stalker?”

  “Nay, lady. I seek not to harm you, or to rob you.”

  “That’s right you’re not! Because I’m calling the police!” Trotting over to the phone, she picked it up.

  “I shall be gone before they arrive,” he said. He spoke calmly, as if certain of an escape plan. When he came toward her, she saw that he held a sword.

  She brandished the phone receiver, shaking it in his direction. “You say you mean no harm, but you brought a weapon?”

  “I beg of you, lady, but a moment of your time and I will be on my way.”

  “In some kind of hurry? Have to make the supper show at one of those restaurant stunt shows where they make you eat with your fingers?”

  “Nay, I wish to speak with you about Catherine,” he said.

  “Cat! Oh, Lord, she paid you. That’s it, right? You’re an actor!”

  “Nay, lady, this is no jest. And you will listen!” He stalked toward Sierra, and she decided very quickly to humor him before she started to scream the rafters down. Dropping the phone, she put out her hand as if to keep a distance between them. “That’s far enough, Grandpa! Just say your little piece at a safe distance!”

  Sierra was already regretting that she had not called 911 when she had the chance. He came closer, and she reached out to touch his chest, testing to see if she was seeing things.

  He smiled. “Do you think I am your mind’s fabrication?”

  She shrugged. “I’ve had some pretty crazy dreams in my time, but they were after too much tequila. I was sober when I went to bed, and I’ll give Cat hell for this. How did you get in here? At the very least, this is breaking and entering.”

  “I have my ways, and you will find nothing disturbed. Do not berate Catherine. She knows nothing about my coming here. Catherine will have need of your assistance. I wish to beseech you to give it.”

  “In what way?”

  “Your knowledge as a healer is vast, indeed. Catherine must find answers, and will seek out tools for her journey. I ask that you help her find them.”

  “Okay, okay. I’ll do what you ask. Just leave. If Cat needs my help, she has it anyway. You didn’t have to scare me like this.”

  “Your fears, lady, are your own crop, planted and watered by a falsely assumed threat. I have no need to frighten you. You would be wise to remember that Catherine tells you no lies, and she needs your help.” He pulled something small from beneath his robes.

  “This, I believe, belongs to you,” he said.

  He put the object in her hand, and when Sierra bent down briefly to examine it, he walked toward the wall.

  “Wait, you can’t go out that way.”

  Blinking, she saw the mist, and he literally disappeared before her eyes. Running to the other room, she checked to see that both doors were locked. Her heart pounded when she came back to bed and sat down. How did he leave the building?

  Snatching up the phone, she dialed Cat. It was late and the machine picked up.

  “Cat, this is Sierra. Meet me first thing in the morning at that fifties-style diner off the freeway by Mullins. We have to talk.”

  Cat was a few minutes late, and Sierra was already seated when she arrived. She sat down and gave her order, then looked across at Sierra. Her face was pale, and she sat holding a snow globe.

  “What did you need to talk about? You sounded upset on the phone.”

  “And you have no idea why I would be upset?”

  “Of course not, why would I?”

  “You’re in trouble with me, lady. Sending that crazy knight to scare the hell out of me in the middle of the night?”

  “Sierra, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Tell me what happened.”

  Sierra reached out and put a pretty Victorian snow globe on the table. “Do you know what this is?”

  “It’s a snow globe. It’s beautiful,” Cat said.

  “No, that’s not what I mean. He gave this to me last night, Cat. This is a unique snow globe. It’s part of my collection. Most of them have unicorns and such in them. But this one was given to me by my grandmother. I dropped it accidentally while I was cleaning the cabinet two weeks ago, and broke it. Look, it still has the initials my grandmother let me paint on it with pink nail polish. It’s the same globe.”

  She turned the musical snow globe upside down, and there by the wind-up key was an ‘s c’. Cat’s eyes began to gleam.

  “Sir Raven came to you, then?”

  “If that’s what he calls himself,” Sierra hissed angrily. “I thought he’d broken in to rob me, and it scared a few years off my life!”

  “I’m sorry, Sierra. But please believe me, I did not set this up.” Cat shook her head. “I haven’t seen Sir Raven in weeks.”

  “He told me that you would need my help.” Turning the snow globe over, she set it down carefully. Cat looked at Sierra with a triumphant spark in her stare.

  “I have no explanation for this, Cat.”

  “Of course you don’t, because your mind doesn’t want to accept that time travel is possible. I understand, Sierra. I went through the same thing when he first took me back in time. He’s the one that told me Dad was ill. He brought me a newspaper clipping about his death, from the future.”

  “So, this really happened to you. And you got married while you were in Scotland?”

  “Yes, I did. We adopted a baby girl. Her mother died. She was so beautiful, Sierra. So, you see, I left a family behind.” Keeping her voice in a low whisper, she explained how she married Roderic, and how she was injured.

  “Did you see who attacked you?”

  “No, it was too dark, and I was fighting to stay alive. But Sir Raven knows his identity, and we’ll go back to expose him when we can. I needed this time to heal, and to see Dad again. But I miss Roderic desperately. I want to be with him, Sierra.”

  “Do you love him?”

  Cat met her friend’s questioning gaze with conviction. “Yes, I do. I’ve decided to go back when Sir Raven comes for me. That’s why I needed your help with Dad. You believe me?”

  Sierra took a deep breath, and exhaled slowly. “It’s too detailed for it to be a story, or an illusion. Let’s just say, I’m more willing to accept that this could have happened to you. What do you need of me? He said something about the fact that I’m a healer?”

  Cat nodded. “You know how primitive the healing methods were in Medieval times?”

  “Yes, I do. I wouldn’t even call what they did to people medicine. A better word would be torture.”

  “True, up to a point. I’ve been researching on the net, and there are some methods of healing that I could perhaps adjust, and incorporate the right medications if I had them with me. I need to get some antique bottles, and crush up some basic drugs to take back with me.”

  Sierra shrugged. “That’s easy. I know a drug salesman that is positively hot for me, and asks me out every time he visits. He comes every month on the twelfth. I’ll tell you which drugs can work best on the bacteria that frequently cause infections. If you meet me at the hospital, I’ll figure something out so you can get the drugs.”

  “That’s next week! That’s good. I love the way your devious mind works.”

  “It’s not as if they don’t give the drugs away
every day to doctors. I have a lot I can tell you about some home remedies that work. For instance, I know it sounds awful and it burns like hell, but cayenne pepper will work great for clotting the blood on a minor wound.”

  “Speaking of that, what can be done for a woman in childbirth who has a complication of severe bleeding?”

  “That depends on the severity of the blood loss. You should talk to Michael Oltmanns. He’s in obstetrics, on staff at St. Lukes and one other hospital. You can also speak to an anesthesiologist. Most people don’t realize that it’s the anesthesiologist who makes a lot of decisions in the surgery. They see a lot of severe bleeding and complications, and are instrumental in giving orders for drugs, or a transfusion.”

  “Can you set up a meeting with him? I’ll work around his schedule,” Cat said.

  Sierra nodded. “As long as it’s not in the morning when he has surgery, it shouldn’t be a problem. Cat, there is only so much you can learn to take back with you. In light of the fact this is such a primitive time for medical care, you still want to go back? “

  “Oh, yes. I love Roderic, and I want to go back to be with him. I’m willing to accept life on those terms.”

  Sierra nodded. “I’ll do whatever I can to help you, just say the word. I’ll try to respect your decision. I know your dad is your only family, and, well, I might as well say it. He doesn’t have that long.”

  Cat nodded. “I appreciate your help. It’s a relief to know someone believes me.”

  “One more thing, Cat.” Sierra picked up the snow globe, holding it gently, enjoying the light and iridescent colors.

  “Your mystery knight with the white hair? The one who gave me this?”

  “Yes? You mean Sir Raven?”

  “Tell him I appreciate the gift. But if he ever shows up uninvited like that again, I am going to kick his ass!”

  Chapter Twenty-six

  Who can find a virtuous woman? She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.

  ~Proverbs 31:13

  David flew in from Los Angeles and called Cat from the Houston airport.

  “You don’t know how wonderful it is to hear your voice, Cat. The explanations can wait. How do you get to the homestead? I want to see you face to face. This airport is a nightmare,” he said.

  “You should have flown into Hobby. Houston International is always a nightmare.” She gave him directions and he interrupted occasionally to double check her instructions.

  After she hung up she was looking forward to seeing David again, and hoped he could forgive her for the trouble her disappearance had caused him. She still wore the sling for her shoulder, but it was improving daily. It was, however, the first thing David noticed when he stepped inside the house.

  “You’ve been hurt!” He put his arms around her immediately. “I was afraid you were dead. Thank God, Cat. Thank God.” He frowned while considering her injury. “Did I hurt you?”

  “No, David, it’s nothing. Come in. Let’s go to my dad’s office. We can have some privacy there.”

  Closing the door behind them, David wasted no time in venting his feelings. “You had better have a good excuse, Cat. Where the hell have you been?”

  Cat had thought long and hard for an explanation that he would accept. She’d done her best to come up with a plausible lie.

  “I was attacked, and they stabbed me. I fought them and we ran off the road. I came through the accident, but I had some memory problems. But, I knew I had lived in Houston, in Texas. I came home and still had severe headaches, and some complications with my arm, so I was hospitalized at St. Luke’s while they ran tests. A few weeks went by, and I remembered more and more.”

  “But why didn’t you just call me! Pick up the goddamn phone and let me know what happened! That was a closed set. How did they get past security?”

  “David, I told you, I couldn’t remember. It doesn’t matter now.”

  “Well, the authorities would argue that, and so would the studio. It was bad publicity for the film. It took them two weeks of interrogation to clear me of all charges.”

  “You!”

  He nodded grimly. “I was the last one to see you that afternoon.”

  “David, I’m sorry. I never meant to cause you trouble. You see, there’s something else I’m dealing with right now. My father has cancer. He’s dying.”

  David frowned, his expression compassionate. “Oh, Lord, Cat, I am so sorry.”

  “Thank you, but I need to spend as much time as I can with him. Do you understand?”

  “Of course I do. Later, when you can, would you want to join the company again?”

  “Not for a while. I need to be here.”

  He nodded gravely. “Is any treatment available? Chemotherapy?”

  She shook her head. “He’s done it all. You know the medical community here in Houston has no rival, even in LA. He’s made the decision that he wants no more treatment, no more drugs. I respect his wishes. I’m just trying to savor every moment I have left with him.”

  David folded his arms and studied her. “You understand why I had to come and see that you were alive and well? I needed to see you, have proof. We had imagined the worst.”

  “Yes, I’m sure you did. But David, I can’t go back to work. My place is here with Dad.”

  “I understand. And if you’re ready by the next production date scheduled, you can always call me. We’ve optioned two more films from Miramax. One is a pirate film, and you’re the best.”

  She smiled. “Thank you, David. Why don’t I show you to your room upstairs? Supper is in an hour, and Dad … well, he usually retires early because he takes pain pills. You’ll have my undivided attention.”

  “That’s great, because I need to get back to LA tomorrow.” He paused. “There’s something different about you, Cat. Whatever has happened has changed you.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “In spite of this sad news about your father and the attack, you seem … content?”

  She smiled. “What would you say if I told you I’ve met someone?”

  “You were kidnapped, and managed to meet a man? Is he a cop?”

  Shaking her head, she smiled. “Not exactly, but he certainly has the authority of one. He protected me. I love him.”

  Chuckling, he took her hand. “It’s about time. Tell me about him. When can I meet him?”

  “You won’t get to meet him, but he’s good for me. He is the fairy tale.”

  David flew back to Los Angeles the following morning, and Cat had an appointment with Dr. Oltmanns, the specialist in obstetrics. They met at five o’clock in the afternoon at the hospital cafeteria.

  Oltmanns was tall, very tan and fit, with friendly brown eyes. He shook her hand.

  “Hello, Catherine. Sierra said you had some questions?”

  “Yes, I promise not to take much of your time.”

  “As long as you don’t mind if I eat while I talk. I may not get another chance.”

  “No, of course not.” Cat ordered coffee; they sat down, and he began eating.

  “Sierra tells me you’re a stuntwoman. I assume that’s how you got the injury?”

  Cat wanted to avoid an explanation. “Yes.”

  “I’m sure that’s interesting work, but why do you need to interview me?”

  “Actually, I am thinking of writing a screenplay, a medical thriller, and I had some questions about complications during childbirth.”

  Cat took out her pen and notebook, and sipped her coffee. “What can cause severe bleeding after a delivery?”

  “Well, any number of things can cause hemorrhaging. One is abruptio placenta, which is when the placenta tears away from the wall of the womb. Then there could also be a tear in the vagina, or the cervix. Sometimes, too, the uterus doesn’t contract the way it should. That also can cause bleeding. What sort of scenario did you have in mind?”

  Cat went on to describe what Meggie had experienced before her death. “What could have been do
ne to save her life at that point?”

  The doctor took a sip of water and frowned. “In some cases a woman can lose about one pint of blood during delivery. But from what you’re describing, with the severity of the bleeding, the doctor’s options would be few. The body cannot handle the trauma of losing that much blood that quickly. It would be rare for a patient to bleed out like that, similar to what you’re describing, but it happens.”

  “So, there was nothing that could have been done? Women still die in childbirth in spite of all the medical technology at our fingertips?”

  “Oh, yes, and that can be the most difficult thing to accept. The more we learn, the more we realize how helpless we are.” The doctor’s pager went off, and he reached down to his waist to read it.

  “I’ve got to go, I’m sorry, it’s the ER.”

  Cat stood and shook his hand. “That’s fine. Thank you for your help. I appreciate the information.”

  Cat walked out of the hospital and, for the first time, felt a sense of acceptance about Meggie’s death. She understood that there was a strong possibility that even if Meggie had been in a modern hospital, she most likely could not have been saved.

  The following week she met with the anesthesiologist Dr. Moore. He was puzzled when she asked him what was usually done for severe hemorrhaging.

  “That depends. Would the patient have a reason, personal or religious, for refusing a blood transfusion?”

  “No,” she said.

  “Then we’d give the blood, of course, but sadly, there can be complications. Sometimes the body rejects it. Sometimes, and I really hate to say it, but the blood supply can be tainted. We test for AIDS, but the test is not 100% accurate. Then there’s the possibility of hepatitis.”

  “And if a transfusion is not possible?”

  “Well, there are nonblood volume expanders, such as dextran, saline, Ringer’s solution, or hetastarch. It’s a way to build up the patient’s strength without blood.”

  Cat wrote the names of the treatments in her notebook. “Have you seen this treatment used?”

  He nodded. “Often. It’s our only option when someone’s beliefs don’t allow transfusions. Interestingly, we have had good results with that treatment when we’ve had to use it.”