Beyond the Fire

by Dewayne A Jackson

  “But the marriage feast is barely over!” Mary complained. “Surely Thomas won’t leave his bride so soon!”

  “He has to go!” Katherine insisted. “It’s Helsa’s brother he’s trying to rescue!”

  “Lord Hesketh?” Mary gasped.

  “They say he has been driven from Endor and is about to lose Gray Haven,” Katherine said. “Seagood—I mean, Lord Hesketh—sent a plea for help that arrived the very evening of Thomas and Helsa’s wedding. Plans were being made during the wedding feast!”

  Mary sighed. She had seen and felt the devastation of war too often. She could not imagine Gray Haven under attack or destroyed. Poor Helsa: she would be devastated by the news. “Have you told Helsa?” Mary asked.

  “She knows,” Katherine said. “The men told her the night they heard it themselves.”

  “How is she handling it?” Mary asked.

  “Let’s go see!”

  Bill marveled at the crowds gathering in Waterfront. Much had happened since he had left for Emancipation. On a crowded street corner, two men were hacking at a pile of hay with wooden swords while the crowd cheered them on. He wondered if they would feel so brave if the hay were fighting back.

  Looking across rows of expectant young faces, Bill thought of the gallant and noble dreams he’d held only one year ago. Would these young men be so anxious to leave their families and friends if they knew the horror that lay before them?

  Bill wondered about that himself. Would he have left Mary one year ago if he’d known then what he knew now? Would he have been willing to leave everything for the Master? “Yes!” he said aloud.

  His traveling companion turned to look at him curiously. “Hey, partner, have you been out in the sun too long?” he asked.

  “No.” Bill grinned sheepishly. “You just caught me thinking out loud.”

  They came to the ferry and crossed the river, unnoticed among the throng. Bill left his horse with his friend and headed for the great house.

  He met a pleasant young man on the path, who asked, “Are you looking for Master Thomas?”

  “Yes, I am,” Bill stated.

  “You’ll have to wait,” the young man answered. “He’s been tied up in meetings all morning. They say he’s talking strategy.”

  “I wouldn’t be surprised,” Bill responded and turned again for the house.

  “They won’t let you in,” the young man said, “but I wouldn’t blame you for trying. There are three good-looking ladies in there, and only two of them are married. Look for the one with snow-white hair. She’s as pretty as a picture.”

  “This is no time to be thinking about women,” Bill grumped.

  “Maybe,” the young man agreed, “but a good memory can carry a man a long way.”

  Bill considered the man’s words as he turned back toward the house. He knew both Thomas and Philip had recently married, so he supposed that accounted for two of the women. But who was the third? He couldn’t help but think about Mary and wonder what had happened to her.

  The old man watching the door knew Bill and only nodded as he passed. Once inside the great house, it felt like a vacuum compared to the hustle and bustle in the courtyard. A steward stepped quickly down the corridor to meet Bill. “Do you have business with the Master?” the steward asked.

  “I do,” Bill answered. The man was new, and Bill didn’t recognize him.

  “Would you state your name and business, please?” the steward said politely. “I will report to the Master as soon as he is available, and then I will assign you a time to return.”

  “My name is William Cotton, and I have just returned from Emancipation with important news for Master Thomas about the war,” Bill said, trying to remain calm.

  “I’m sure you feel your business is urgent,” the steward said primly. “Everyone does. However, you will just have to wait your turn.”

  Bill felt his patience growing thin. “Just tell Thomas I’m here, and let him decide if he will see me or not.”

  “I’m sorry,” the steward said. “I cannot do that. Master Thomas is in conference just now, and I—”

  “Then I’ll announce myself!” Bill said, brushing past the steward.

  “But you can’t!” the steward wailed. “Guards, stop that man!”

  Two burly fellows blocked the door to the conference room. “Hold it right there,” said the more articulate of the two, pointing his spear directly at Bill’s chest.

  Irritation had been steeping inside Bill until suddenly it was fully brewed. In a flash of movement, Bill used his stump to brush the spear aside as he reached for the door. A fist landed squarely on his jawbone.

  Bill’s temper flared, and his fingers coiled into a fist. Sidestepping a second blow aimed at his jaw, he came back swinging. His fist connected, and one guard hit the floor. Again Bill reached for the door, but the second guard wrapped strong arms around Bill’s neck. Bill pivoted quickly and slammed the guard into the door. It crashed open, and both men spilled into the conference room, thrashing and punching each other on the floor.

  Rhoop and John Stafford were in the middle of a heated conversation with Philip and Thomas. Katherine, Helsa, and Mary had just brought refreshments into the room when Bill and the guard crashed through the doors. Everyone stood spellbound as the two men grappled viciously.

  With a sudden movement, Bill rolled to the top and twisted the guard’s arm behind his back. With a shout of triumph, Bill whipped his stump into the air. Victory was his!

  The women shrank back, but Philip came running. “Good move!” he exclaimed. “You’ll have to teach me that one.” An accomplished wrestler himself, Philip was quickly at Bill’s side, untangling the two men. “Who are you, my good fellow?” Philip asked Bill.

  “William Cotton,” was the answer, but the voice was not Bill’s. Thomas came striding across the room. “You’ve come from Gaff! Will he join our campaign?”

  “Bill!” Philip was incredulous. “I didn’t recognize you without your beard!”

  All talk was interrupted by a scream. Looking about, they saw that Lady Helsa was pale and staring at the floor. At her feet lay the limp form of a woman with snow-white hair.

  CHAPTER 64

  Bill Cotton’s House

  Amidst boisterous complaint from the grandchildren, Bill stopped telling his story long enough for the family to eat supper. The world was dark outside when the family returned to the parlor, but once everyone was settled around the fire, he continued.

  “Words cannot describe what I felt as I gathered your grandmother into my arms.” Bill ruffled Robbie’s hair. “Just think: after all those months of searching, your grandmother was right there in the Master’s house.”

  “What did you do, Grandpa?” Robbie asked with wide eyes.

  “I told Thomas my news from Gaff, and then I whisked your grandmother away to the library where we could talk. I started talking that day, and I guess I’ve never been able to stop.”

  Bill glanced at Mary across the room. She looked up from her needles and smiled.

  “But, Grandpa,” Joshua said, “what about the final battle with Jabin?”

  “Well, I felt different about going to war, knowing that your grandmother was alive,” Bill said. “But I had made a vow to follow Thomas, and I intended to keep it.”

  “I’m sorry, Mary,” Bill said, shaking his head. “I don’t want to leave you again, but I promised.”

  “I know,” Mary soothed, pressing her finger to Bill’s lips. “You have to go, but I’ll pray for you every moment you are away.”

  Bill hugged Mary so hard she thought her bones might break, but she didn’t want him to stop. She was determined her husband would carry a different memory with him this time when he went away.

  “You’ll be late,” she whispered, pushing Bill ever so gently away. She turned to lift his shield. She�
��d worked very hard to design a harness that would hold Bill’s shield in place even without a hand. She began to strap the shield to Bill’s arm.

  “Mary,” Bill teased, “I’ll be the only man to eat with his shield, sleep with his shield, and take a bath with his shield.”

  “Well, you’d better not take it off or mess with the bindings, Bill Cotton, or you’ll have me to contend with when you return!”

  Bill pulled her close. “You’d better believe I’ll contend with you when I get back, young lady!”

  Mary smiled, brushed her husband aside, and returned to her work. When the shield was securely in place, she stepped back to examine her handiwork. Looking up at Bill, she scowled and said, “Remember what I told you.”

  The two suddenly laughed, and Mary gave Bill a hug and kiss that would carry him for weeks on end.

  Bill looked around the parlor at his family. “It was early morning when we rode through the massive gates at Green Meadow,” he said. “Scouts had informed us Jabin was with a vanguard of elite troops somewhere across the meadow, hidden in the darkness.” Bill spoke quietly as he gently caressed Robbie’s small mop of curly hair.

  “Lord Hesketh had driven Jabin’s troops away from the gates of Gray Haven, but they were regrouping in the wilderness of the Gray Lands. Gaff was unable to come to our aide, for he was under attack near Great Bend. We had to face Jabin alone.

  “I glanced around at those who were assembling on the meadow, and it seemed we all had one thing in common: not one man in the leading vanguard was entirely whole. Every man I saw was scarred in some fashion. For some, the scars were emotional and didn’t show, but for others, the wounds were obvious. Larry Chavez was there. Though he was missing a leg, he refused to stay home, and he was as mobile as anyone when mounted on a horse. He caught my eye when he rode through the gate and waved. He may have been the only man to act as though he was going on a picnic.

  “I watched as the strength of Amity poured onto the field. Captains arranged their men, and I took my place beside Philip.

  “Finally, Thomas drew his sword and raised it to the sky. The darkness had given way to an overcast dawn. One single ray of sunshine broke through the clouds and struck Thomas’s upturned blade. A shiver ran down my spine, and I wondered if God had given His blessing.

  “But time for contemplation was over, for with a loud cry, Thomas surged forward. Philip and I were hot on his heels. I could hear the thunder of horses racing behind me as we charged down the hill. Far overhead I heard an eagle cry, but I felt no fear. After all, this was the Lord’s battle!”

  “Ahem!” Mary cleared her throat. “Don’t you think we should let the children get some sleep tonight?” she asked.

  “Oh, Grandma!” a chorus of voices complained around the room. “Can’t Grandpa tell us more about the final battle?”

  Bill glanced at Mary and grinned. “Well, I will tell you this much: we won! Jabin fled before us. His armies were routed, and we drove them all the way to Promontory Point.”

  “What about Lord Hesketh?” Joshua asked.

  “He had driven Jabin’s army from the Gray Lands by the time we could assist him, and Gaff had routed his enemies in Emancipation. You know,” Bill said, “many people from the Gray Lands and Emancipation have come to Amity to live, and many from Amity have gone into the wider world. The mixing of our peoples has been a good thing.”

  Mary smiled her approval. She was quite sure their talk the night before had given Bill those words.

  Bill winked and grinned. “Now, I think your grandmother is right. It’s high time we all went to bed.”

  There were grumbles from the children and a general commotion as people began to stir from their places. Suddenly everyone heard Robbie ask, “Grandpa, do you believe in angels?”

  “Why, yes, I do!” Bill answered immediately, though a little surprised at the sudden change of subject. “Why do you ask, Robbie?”

  “Can they really protect people?” Robbie asked.

  “Well, yes,” Bill said. “I’m sure they can and do keep people safe.”

  “I mean, wasn’t that an angel that helped Grandma escape Capri?” Robbie continued.

  The room grew suddenly quiet as everyone began to focus on this unexpected conversation. Destry looked uneasy. “Really, Robbie,” she protested, “do you have to ask such questions?”

  To everyone’s surprise, it was Ned who came to Robbie’s defense. “Robbie has a story I think everyone ought to hear.” The entire family turned their gaze upon Ned, and his face grew quite red. He didn’t like the attention, but he continued. “It’s all right, Robbie. Go ahead and tell the story you told me this morning.”

  All eyes turned to Robbie, and Ned sighed with relief.

  “Robbie, were you bothering Uncle Ned?” Destry asked.

  “He’s the only one who would listen,” Robbie said, his voice wavering. He glanced at his uncle, glad to have one ally in the room but a little unsure of his uncle’s support. “You believe my story, don’t you, Uncle Ned?”

  Once again Ned found himself the center of attention. He rubbed his forehead nervously. “Just tell your story, Robbie. We’re all listening.”

  “Well,” Robbie said, “this broken leg didn’t happen the way everyone thinks it did.”

  “What?” Destry began, but Bill raised his hand for silence.

  “I wanted to tell you, Mother,” Robbie said, “but the man told me you wouldn’t understand.”

  “Who told you I wouldn’t understand?” Destry fumed. “What are you talking about?”

  Robbie was still on his grandpa’s lap, but he squirmed nervously. Bill leaned close to his ear and said, “Why don’t you tell us your story, Robbie?”

  “Well,” Robbie began again, “the day I broke my leg, Mother told me not to play too far from the house. I went to play in the barn, but I started to pretend I was Thomas of Amity, and soon I forgot where I was. I started chasing bad guys around the barn and out into the woods. I ran and ran until suddenly I was at the top of Promontory Point.”

  “Robbie!” Destry exclaimed. “That’s nearly two miles from home. What on earth were you thinking?”

  “Please,” Bill said, holding up his hand. “Let’s hear what Robbie has to say.”

  Robbie was glad to have another advocate in the room, and when it was quiet, he began yet again. “Bad guys were all around me, but I was safe because Bosco, our dog, was with me. I drew my knife and slashed back and forth, driving Jabin’s men right to the cliff. I must have gotten too close to the edge, because Bosco began to bark. When I turned to see why he was barking, I slipped and fell.”

  “Robbie Cotton!” Destry shouted, leaping to her feet. “You’re scaring me to death!”

  “I’m sorry, but the angel said I wasn’t supposed to tell you that until Christmas,” Robbie whimpered.

  There was a rustle of surprise around the room, but when Destry spoke again, the anger in her voice was unmistakable. “Robbie Cotton, this has gone on long enough.” She was about to take her son out of the room when Bill again motioned for calm.

  Robbie looked rather pathetic. “I really met them, Mother.”

  “You met whom?” Destry snapped.

  “The angels!” Robbie answered. “Well, I only saw one, but I know there was another.”

  “Robbie!” Philip said, rising from his chair. “I think you’ve been listening to Grandpa too long, and now you’re making up stories of your own. We need to have a talk.”

  “But the angels are real, Father,” Robbie protested.

  Bill opened his mouth to intervene, but Ned spoke first. “Listen, everyone. I think ya need to hear Robbie’s story. Please let him tell it!”

  Robbie watched as his parents slowly settled back into their chairs. When he glanced at his mother, he read a clear message in her eyes: “You’d better not embarrass
your father or me any further!” He gulped and hesitated.

  Grandpa whispered in his ear, “It will be all right. Just tell us your story, Robbie.”

  Robbie stirred uneasily. “I was so scared when I fell. I cried for you, Mother. All I could see were rocks getting bigger. I don’t know what happened next, but when I opened my eyes, everything was dark, and I hurt really bad. I couldn’t move or see, but I could hear.

  “Somewhere in the dark I heard someone ask, ‘Where did you come from?’

  “I wasn’t sure the voice was talking to me, but when I tried to answer, I couldn’t make a sound. Then I heard a second voice ask, ‘Who are you talking to, Wart?’

  “By now, I had heard two different voices, but I still couldn’t see anyone. I did want to see the second voice, though, because that one liked to laugh.

  “The first voice said, ‘Look who dropped in!’

  “And the second voice said, ‘Why, it’s the little Cotton boy!’

  “The first voice said, ‘I know who he is, Rudy, but what are we going to do with him?’

  “Maybe I should have been scared, but I wasn’t. That second voice sounded so happy; somehow I knew everything was going to be all right.

  “The jolly voice said, ‘Well, make him comfortable while I see whether he stays or not.’

  “Someone picked me up, and I realized again that I hurt all over, but my leg was the worst. I wanted to ask where we were going, but I couldn’t talk. Someone moved me very gently, and it should have been nice, but all I really wanted was you, Mother.”

  Destry instinctively rose, crossed the room, and knelt beside her son. She could not stop the tears from sliding down her cheeks.

  Robbie continued. “The first voice said, ‘I think you could use some water.’ The man must have left, but he was back so soon that I couldn’t be sure. ‘Here!’ he said, lifting my head. ‘Drink some of this.’

  “The water he pressed to my lips was so cold it hurt my teeth, but with each sip, I began to feel better.

  “Just then the jolly voice shouted, ‘Wart, what are you doing?’