Through the Looking Glass

by Rebecca Lorino Pond

  Jakar came to his senses then nodded at Vic. “Let’s go.”

  The pair ran to the back of the castle to find their escape route. Along the way bodies lay scattered on the ground dead or injured. They slowed to see if any of the men were theirs and found one. It was one of his men who he had not known for very long. The poor man’s eyes stared up lifelessly at them.

  “Do we leave him?” Vic asked.

  “No, he take him.” He bent down to pick up the dead man and was stopped by Vic.

  “I will carry him, my lord.” Vic proceeded to lift the lifelessly form and toss him over his shoulder.

  By the time they reached the hole under the fence, the rain had almost stopped. A slight drizzle continued to fall as they maneuvered the dead man under the fence carefully. It wouldn’t have felt right if they had harmed their fellow brother any further than he already was.

  Vic pulled the man through the hole then Jakar followed.

  “Where are the others?” Jakar was anxious to get to Isobel and see to her wounds.

  “They headed back to the cave. I told them I was coming back for you. Several other men came with me. I just hoped they were able to get out.” Vic patted the man he was carrying in a gentle manner.

  Jakar glanced back at the castle and saw that fire had been set to several of the outer buildings. The glow of the flames lit up the night sky. He could see people running out the main gate and head into the forest. Some probably didn’t even know that Tuloch was dead and saw the attack as a means of being able to escape their wretched lives. He would have to leave some of his men behind in order to set things right with remains of Tuloch’s holdings. He would appoint someone who was a strong leader and soldier and who knew how to run a castle. His brother, Brock, was out of the question because he had his own land in the far north. So it would have to be someone he completely trusted and was loyal to him.

  “My lord?” Vic called from up ahead. “Is everything alright?” He shifted his burden on his shoulder.

  “Yes, I’m fine.” He walked quickly to catch up with Vic. He touch the shoulder that was injured and saw that his fingers came away with fresh blood. It didn’t matter though. He wanted to get to Isobel. Nothing else mattered at this moment except for Isobel’s wellbeing and by the look of her she wasn’t faring well.

  It was still dark by the time they reached the cave and ducked inside. This time the cave was alight with several fires burning in order to chase back any shadows. They weren’t worried about being found anymore and needed to take care of those who were injured. The rain storm had chilled the cave considerably but as the fires were continuously feed with wood, the air began to warm.

  Jakar raced to the area where the injured were lying on the ground moaning in pain or simply asleep. His eyes searched franticly for Isobel, coming up empty handed. He caught a glimpse of Lore kneeling down next to a man. He called out as he walked nearer as his heart pounded in his chest.

  “Lore! Where is Isobel?”

  Lore looked up from what he was doing and pointed to the back of the cave. “She is back there with Brock and Loki. They didn’t want to expose her to the men.”

  He nodded once then went to the back of the cave. Here the cave made a slight turn then went back several yards before coming to an end. A fire had been lit here too so he was able to clearly see Isobel lying on several blankets on her stomach.

  He approached her still form then dropped to his knees next to her. “Isobel?” he struggled to whisper out. She looked so small and broken as she lie on the makeshift bed with her back exposed. She had been stripped to the waist in order for Loki, the best doctor they had while away from the castle, to examine the wounds that had been inflicted to her delicate skin. His eyes brimmed with tears and his throat burned as he forced himself to bring his anger under control. It would do her no good if he lost control now.

  “Isobel? Little one?” He brushed back a strand of hair that had fallen over her face. His cold hand lightly traced her cheek and found she was very hot. Her face was flushed with fever and the wounds on her back had broken open in their haste to escape.

  “She will live, my lord,” Loki said without looking up. He gently dabbed at the fresh blood as it seeped out of one of the deeper cuts. “I don’t know how many strokes he dealt to her but it had to be a lot in order to do this much damage.” He rinsed the rag he was using in a container of water.

  “Has she awaken any?” Jakar asked his brother, his face hopeful.

  Brock sat near Isobel’s head, holding a wet cloth to her forehead. “Only once when we were going under the wall. She was jostled about some and came awake to cry out in pain. She has been unconscious since then.” He tried to give Jakar a smile but failed miserably.

  “Isobel, can you hear me?” He reached for one of the clean rags and dipped it in a bucket of clean water. He gently wiped the dirt off her face and neck then moved to clean her arm that lie limp on the blanket. “Isobel, sweetheart, please say something.” Even he could hear the pleading in his voice as he spoke.

  “It’s best if you let her sleep, my lord. Her body is in shock and needs time to start healing.” Loki worked religiously on Isobel and soon had all the wounds clean and free from bleeding. He carefully applied a green salve he personal made and used on those who sought out medical attention for cuts. It was made from a recipe that his grandmother had given his mother before she passed away. His grandmother had at one time been the castle’s medicine woman until she could no longer move about. His mother then took up the doctoring full time and sometimes had to use him as her helper. Needless to say, he had learned a lot about medicine, herbs, and plants.

  “We need to leave the wounds uncovered until the salve has time to work its magic.” He dabbed the salve on the last of the wounds that was near the base of her neck then looked up. He drew in his eyebrows at the sight of Jakar’s blood soaked sleeve. “Are you badly injured, my lord?”

  “It’s just a cut. Don’t bother,” he said.

  “Let me see it. A cut that is left untreated can quickly turn into an infection.” Loki motioned for Jakar to sit on a boulder near the fire. “Take your shirt off,” Loki instructed.

  He did as he was instructed by the younger man. He didn’t want Loki to waste time on him, but he was right about it getting infected if not taken care of. He winced as he slid his arm out of the sleeve then held it out for Loki to look at.

  “Not too bad, though I do believe it will need some stitches to keep it closed.” Loki reached for his supplies and chuckled. “Your shoulders will match, my lord.”

  “Just do it,” he snapped. He wanted to get back to Isobel’s side. It was because of him that she lay in the condition that she was in. If he had only listened to her he might have been able to prevent what happened to her. The fairies’ prophecy had come true just as Nyla and Nana said it would. Isobel was the one to bring Tuloch to his death though not physically. She was the one who had her life turned upside down. She was the one to suffer at the hands of a madman. Would she ever be able to forgive him, he asked himself. If it took the rest of his life he would make it up to her.

  Chapter 25

  The journey back to northern Aslog would be slow and arduous. Several men had been injured in the attack and were not able to ride a horse, not to mention it would be impossible to get Isobel on top of one. Brock suggested that they go back to Tuloch’s castle and sort out the details of putting his new holdings in order. The people under the dictator needed to know that they hadn’t been abandoned and forgotten about.

  Jakar, Brock, Vic, and most of the uninjured men went to the castle only to find it virtually empty. The dead bodies of the slain soldiers still lay where they had been cut down, including Tuloch. The first thing that needed to be done was to burn the bodies. It was such a pity that so many had to die at the hands of a cruel ruler but it needed to be done.

  “We will give them the burial they deserve, all except one.”

  Jakar had already dec
ided that Tuloch’s body would not be buried or burned. It would be left to rot or succumb to the wild animals. The man needed to burn in hell for what he had done in the years of his rule. It would take a long time for the south to recover and become productive again, but Jakar knew he had the right man for the job. He just needed to inform the man of his new post.

  After the castle and surrounding area had been thoroughly searched and those people who had remained were informed of the happenings, the work began immediately.

  A mass grave had been dug and the fallen soldiers had been laid with care in it. The sight of so many dead young soldiers infuriated him to no end. It was a waste of life that didn’t need to happen.

  A pray was said over the grave before it was set afire. It would burn through the night and in the morning he would have it filled in. Life in the south was going to change drastically and it was going to start that very day.

  After he over saw the beginning of the cleanup, Jakar went to the cave to have the injured brought to the castle until they were fit to travel back home. He wanted Isobel put in a bed where she could rest properly and heal more quickly. It wasn’t good for her to be lying on a cave floor even though there were several blankets between her and the dirt. He had a cart brought to the mouth of the cave while he carried her as gently as he could to the cart. She stirred somewhat on the way back because of the bumps and holes in road but never fully came around.

  The injured soldiers made their way to the castle as best they could until a group of peasants saw them and rushed to their sides with several carts. As the group neared the castle, Jakar could see that more peasants and soldiers had returned. All seemed to be in good spirits as they helped to restore the castle and rebuild those that had be burned. Those who remained loyal to Tuloch had been given the choice of pledging their allegiance to Jakar or face the noose. Most of Tuloch’s loyalists choose to side with Jakar but there were a few who believed it was better to hang then betray their former leader.

  The day passed quickly and by nightfall Jakar was exhausted. In between caring for Isobel and giving orders, he had informed Lore of his decision to name him as overseer of the southern part of Aslog. Lore had beamed with excitement and thanked him several times before Jakar was able to get the man to return to work. He and Brock had spoken of his decision and had agreed that out of all of his men, Lore was the best suited to help the south rebound. If Lore would have said no he would have offered it to Vic even though he did not want to see his old friend move so far away. Yes, Lore would work perfectly.

  ******

  The first thing Isobel was aware of when she came to was the sound of rain hitting glass. Not again for crying out loud! Is there ever a week or a day for that matter that it doesn’t rain? I’m sick of the rain. Her eye lids felt heavy as she pried them open and saw that she was in a room she did not recognize. Why wasn’t she in Jakar’s bed? It was dim in the room with only two candles burning on the nightstand next to the bed, so she had a hard time making out where she might be.

  I wonder if Jakar has gotten over his temper tantrum earlier in the garden. I can’t believe he spoke to me the way he did. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. She realized then she was lying on her stomach which was not a position she normally slept in. Moving to roll over, she cried out in pain when she felt as if a thousand needles were shoved into her backside. She stopped moving to let the pain subside some before she tried again. That was when she noticed Jakar sleeping in a chair he had pulled up next to the bed.

  He looked so peaceful when he slept. She wanted to reach out and run her fingers over his lips that were parted slightly. Why was he sleeping in the chair and not in the bed with her? Was he that mad at her? Well, she was going to find out.

  “Jakar,” she barely got out in a whisper. What the hell? She clear her throat and tired again. “Jakar.” This time it was loud enough to make him stir but not bring him to wakefulness. “Jakar.” It was taking a lot out of her to say his name.

  Jakar’s eyes flew open, stared at the ceiling as if he was confused then realized she had called out for him. “Isobel!” He was next to the bed in an instant kneeling so he was eye level with her. “You’re awake finally!”

  Finally? What does he mean by that? She thought to herself. She was fast becoming very confused by the way he was acting. He had seen her that morning, so it wasn’t that long ago.

  “What… what are you talking about? We saw each other this morning,” she huffed out breathlessly. Talking was a real effort for some reason.

  In the light of the candles, she saw his face drain of its color. “Isobel, don’t you remember?” He took hold of her hand when she reached out to him and kissed her on the knuckles.

  “Remember what? I shouldn’t even be talking to you. I am mad at you.” She tried to pout but she couldn’t pull it off. The sight of him kneeling there next to her had caused her to forget about what happened in the garden.

  “I know you were mad at me, my love and I am sorry for acting the way that I did. I have beat myself up since that day and pray that you will forgive me.” He turned her hand over and placed a kiss on her upturned palm. “Our argument in the garden was almost two weeks ago.”

  Now it was her turn for the color to drain from her face. “Two weeks?” she whispered.

  “Yes. Don’t you remember you ran from the garden and left the castle grounds?”

  His words triggered something in her mind and sent all of the memories flooding back in as if they were trying to drown her. Yes! She remembered. She remembered running, remembered meeting three men in the forest…. She sucked in a sharp breath. The three men in the forest. Oh my God! One of them had been Daniel! Everything was clear to her once again. The whole horrid event.

  She let out a sob that caught even her off guard. “But…” she couldn’t form the words to ask where Daniel was.

  “I have men out looking for Daniel. The people here gave me a description of what he looks like. I promise we will find him. He nor Tuloch will never hurt you again!” He choked back his own sob.

  She nodded her head then closed her eyes. The short conversation and revelation had snapped what energy she had. Sleep called out to her and she was hopeless to resist it.

  “I’m so tired,” she mumbled.

  “Sleep, little one.”

  She felt his hand wipe away the tear that escaped and hung from her nose. This was one time she would never be able to argue with him about. Darkness surrounded her again then folded its loving arms around her and took her back to dreamland.

  When she next awoke the sun was coming through the window. It looked to be afternoon by the amount of light coming through the glass. Her eyes travelled around the room, for as much as she could see without moving, and found she was alone. Where had Jakar gone?

  The door to the strange room opened in a flourish and Jakar walked promptly into the room. His eyes immediately went to her and when he saw that she was awake, a broad grin spread across his face.

  “You’re awake!” He bent at the waist and kissed her softly on her lips. “How do you feel?”

  “Like I have been run over with a freight train,” she replied.

  “I don’t know what a freight train is, but I am going to guess it is something big,” he snickered.

  “Yes and very large. They transport goods from one place to another.” God she was thirsty. “Can I have some water?”

  Jakar poured her a glass of water from the pitcher that sat next to the candles on the nightstand. “Do you want to try and sit up?”

  “I can try.”

  She waited for him to toss the covers off her body then gently pulled her to the side while she maneuvered her legs to hang over the side of the bed. She panted like she was in labor to lessen the pain. She succeeded in sitting up and had to stay still for a few minutes as a wave of dizziness swept over her.

  “Okay?” Jakar asked her.

  She nodded her head as the dizziness ended and she was able to
open her eyes. Her arms felt like they were weighted down with concrete, so he had to hold the cup to her lips while she drank. She drained the cup and asked for more which she greedily gulped down.

  “Had enough now?”

  “Mmmm yes thank you.” She licked her lips for any excess water. Now she could get a good look at the room she occupied. “Jakar, where are we?”

  He hesitated for a moment then told her. “We are in what used to be Tuloch’s castle.”

  That shocked her and left her speechless.

  “Why are we staying here?” she spoke low as if Tuloch would appear at any moment.

  “I have taken control of the castle. It was too dangerous to move you and the others that were injured in the attack. There is no need to worry. Tuloch is dead.” He ran his hand over her hair. “You need to heal some before I can even take the chance of taking you on the journey home. So, in the meantime, Brock and I are re-establishing the castle and its people under our rule. I appointed Lore to be the head of this area. There’s a lot that needs to be done and he is the perfect man for the job.” He sat down in the chair across from her.