by S L Dearing
"Thank you, My Lord."
"For what, My Dear?"
"For bringing my son back to me."
He took her hand and led her towards the stairs.
"It is nothing."
They ascended the stairs and walked towards Anne's room.
"Are you not tired, My Lord?"
The Shape turned to see Anne's face. She softly smiled at him. Her coyness was a game they often played.
"Not for you, My Dear. Never for you."
She smiled as she marveled at the wonderful life that lay before her. Then they walked into her room and closed the door. The silence of the castle was soon broken by the sounds of their ecstasy.
103
"Alia!! Help!! Quickly!!"
Alia and Myron came running from the center of camp. Larry and Grant pulled the horses to a quick stop and hauled Ian and Scott from their steeds.
They were pale and had lost a lot of blood. Alia knelt down beside the boys.
"Can you stop the bleeding, Alia?"
She looked at Grant and then back at Scott and Ian. She laid a hand over each of the injuries and began to chant. Several of the Fail soldiers appeared around her and joined her. They each touched one of the young men.
Grant felt his heart beating wildly in his chest as his son's breathing became raspy. Sam laid his hands on their heads and closed his eyes. He too joined in the chant while Larry watched his son. Then from under Alia's hands a purple glow grew brighter and brighter.
The boy’s breathing became normal and some color returned to their faces. Alia looked at them and checked to see that their wounds had healed over. They had sealed but they were not fit to fight.
Alia looked at Grant and Larry.
"What happened?"
Grant and Larry relayed what had happened and Alia watched the boys as she listened.
"Well, that means he knew we were right behind him. Scott and Ian can't go on. I need volunteers to take them back."
Ian shook his head and tried to stand, but Alia gently laid a hand on his leg.
"No, Ian. Your wound has sealed, but you've lost too much blood. You, too, Scott."
Elian was still sitting on his horse watching and waiting for someone to come forward, but he could see it in the faces of the soldiers, they wanted vengeance. They needed it. He cleared his throat and Alia looked up at him.
"I'll take them back."
Alia stood up and walked over to Elian. She gently laid her hand on his.
"Thank you, Elian."
He felt his heart sink. He had needed to see if his mother was still alive and bring his brother home. He gently chewed the inside of his lip.
"Bring my brother back, ok?"
Alia nodded and turned back to the crowd.
"Connie, we need to find them some food and bandages, just in case these seals don't hold."
Scott frowned and pounded a fist into the dirt.
"This sucks!"
Sam gently lifted Scott up and grimaced.
"Ugh… Damn it!!"
"Suck it up, Bud."
Scott turned to see Sam smiling at him.
"Screw you, Red."
Then in spite of himself, Scott began to grin.
"It would figure, wouldn't it?"
"What?"
"We'd eventually have to do something without the other."
Sam nodded and looked up as the other party was returning from the north. He looked at Tanner.
"Yeah, Bud. It looks like a lot of us are going through that."
Scott saw Tanner and then looked at Sam and nodded.
"Hey, Red?"
"Yeah?"
"We may not be actual brothers, but you're my brother, ya know?"
Sam smiled and nodded.
"Yeah, Bud, I know."
"Don't take too long."
Sam nodded again as Connie returned with fruit nectar, water and bandages. She started to tape the areas where they had been wounded, just in case the injuries decided to open again. When the boys had been taped up securely, they were lifted back on to their horses. Myron walked over to Elian.
"Take the roads and areas closest to the other villages to get back and be careful, Elian."
Elian nodded and then looked at Myron.
"Myron?"
Myron looked up at the young man.
"I'm sorry… about everything that happened back at Crystal Shade. You scared them all… I think you still do."
Elian smiled as Myron nodded and grabbed Elian's arm.
"Thanks, but everything happens for a reason, Boy. If I hadn't come to the Fail, then I wouldn't have met my Carolyn. I'm where I belong."
Elian nodded as Myron made sure Scott and Ian were settled securely. Then the boys urged their horses on towards the west. Alia turned to Grant as he watched his son ride away.
"Grant?"
"I'm ok, Al. I know he'll be fine. You stopped the bleeding and Bev and the others will fix them up. I know it."
Alia nodded and in that moment realized that she no longer blamed Beverly for Alisha's death. She knew in her heart that Alisha had sacrificed herself to save her brother and sister, and in that moment she felt great pride and acceptance. Now she focused on Coeli.
Alia turned to the southeast.
"Myron, let's mount up. We'll formulate a plan as we go."
Myron nodded.
"Ok, you heard the lady. Let's get to moving!!"
They all rode towards the east and into the sun.
104
Blaylock slowed the horses and looked into the distance of pine and shrub. The noonday sun was bright against a cloudless sky. Brollen sat next to him and scowled at Rona, who rode up and stopped her horse on the other side of Blaylock.
"That team we left behind didn’t catch up, so that more than likely means they're dead and we're being followed," Blaylock said.
Brollen shifted.
"Maybe they're lost?"
Blaylock turned to him and scowled.
"Yeah, right, maybe… hmmm, and maybe I've had a change of heart and decided to let everyone go and live the rest of my life as a monk. Do you think that's what I've decided?"
Brollen shook his head as Blaylock sneered at him, then turned and looked at Rona.
"Anything seem familiar?"
She raised her eyebrows and looked around. Her eyes rested on a tree and then she craned her neck to look into the distance and smiled and looked back at Blaylock.
"It's good to be home."
He laughed and touched her cheek softly as Brollen turned away in distaste.
"I'll bet it is," Brollen muttered.
Blaylock turned to see the recruits and the children.
"Well, Kiddies, we should be at the Black Castle within the hour."
Chelsea looked over at him and cleared her throat, which was dry and gritty. He looked at her, eyebrows raised.
"Yes?"
"I don't know about everyone else, but I need to go."
"Go where?"
"To the bathroom."
Blaylock grinned and smiled. He half thought about telling her no and letting her fight her own bladder and then relishing her embarrassment when she could no longer contain herself, but then decided against it. It wasn't his time yet. He smiled and looked at his fingernails.
"Rona, take the girls and several of the men and do what must be done."
Rona looked at him and rolled her eyes, but got off her horse and walked over to the where Chelsea was and dragged her off her horse. Then she looked up at the other girls and the soldiers they rode with and motioned for them to jump down.
"C'mon then, bring 'em along."
They did as ordered and dragged the girls into the bush as Blaylock and the others watched. Then Brollen looked at Albie and nudged Blaylock, who also looked.
"What about you, Kid? Need to take a leak?"
Albie raised his head and looked at them. How could his mother be involved with any of these people? Blaylock sighed.
"Well?"<
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Albie shook his head and lowered his gaze. It all seemed like a horrible nightmare. Blaylock smiled and shook his head as he looked at Brollen.
"Boy, something tells me that the Master and this kid are gonna get on like gangbusters."
Brollen laughed and shook his head as Rona walked out of the brush with the girls and their entourage as they returned from their errand. Without looking at her, Rona handed Chelsea back to the Hordesman who, in one motion, swept her back onto the horse.
Rona continued back to her horse and mounted quickly as the remaining soldiers got on their horses and then lifted the girls on to the saddles.
Blaylock looked at Rona, waiting for her eyes to meet his. She smoothed down her shirt and took her reigns, finally raising her head. She looked at him, obviously still irritated at being made to do menial labor. He again smiled as he lifted himself up and leaned towards her. She watched him until he lifted a finger and bade her come closer. She felt his hot breath against her neck as he wrapped his hand around her chin. She felt her heart race.
"Thank you."
Then he let her go and urged his horse onward. Brollen watched and scowled as he saw Rona smile. She looked over at Gary coyly and urged her horse forward as well. The group followed, moving ever closer to their destiny.
105
"Really, I'm fine, I'm tired, but I'm fine."
Chris was sitting up in bed and smiling, trying to convince his younger brothers and sisters that he was all right. Brian was leaning on the bed to his brother's left and staring at him intently. Chris looked at him.
"What?"
"You look different."
"Different how?"
Brian shrugged.
"I don't know, different."
Chris smiled and shook his head as he ruffled Brian's hair. Amanda had been laying on the right side of his chest, sucking her thumb and not wanting to leave his side. Rebecca sat next to Amanda and just smiled at her brother, as Brandon and Lisa sat at the end of the bed. Kaley and Sara watched everyone from behind the twins.
They turned as they saw the door open and Beverly and Elena walked in.
"Hello, Children… hello, Christopher. How are you feelin'?"
Chris smiled.
"Hey, Bev, Elena… I'm fine. I keep telling everyone that, but no one believes me. I feel good, just tired."
Brian looked up at Beverly and Elena.
"Does he look different to you?"
They looked at Brian and then over at Chris who sighed and put his head back. Bev cocked her head and looked at Chris.
"Yes, I suppose he does. He looks… older."
Elena nodded as Kaley and Sara looked at their brother. He did look older. There was an air of experience about him now. The scars from the battle were like lines of wisdom. Kaley could now see her baby brother for the man he was and not the little boy she had always known.
Chris was getting tired and Amanda's weight was beginning to make him sore. He raised his eyebrows to Kaley, who was brought back. She walked over and gently picked up Amanda, who tried to grab at Chris. Bev touched her head and she took out her thumb and looked at Bev with large eyes.
"It's time to let him rest now, Little One. He's still weak, but he'll be back home with you very soon."
Bev started to take her hand back, when Amanda grabbed it and kissed it. Bev stroked Amanda's cheek.
"Now, now, none of this."
Elena smiled.
"Ok, who wants to have an éclair, on me?"
All the kids jumped up and waved their good-byes to Chris as they followed Elena out the door. Sara and Rebecca shrugged and nodded as they each leaned over and kissed Chris good-bye as well.
After the children had left and Bev and Kaley were about to leave, Chris leaned forward.
"Ok, now that the little ones are gone, I need some answers."
Kaley turned, followed by Bev.
"What do you mean?"
Chris sighed and looked at Kaley.
"I mean, what's happened since I've been asleep. I don't remember much after Rona stabbed me, just images of people running and Tanner helping me to the Hall. Where is everyone? I mean mom and Tanner and Coeli and Alisha. Why haven't they been here? And what about Hannah? Did anyone get her? Did they capture Rona?"
Bev and Kaley looked at one another and then at Chris. The pain of those that they had lost, and those they still might lose, now overshadowed the joy at his return to health.
They sat beside him and answered his questions. Then they held him as he wept.
106
"I say we keep half the soldiers back about a mile. That way, if something happens to the rest of us, there's still a chance that they can get the kids out."
Alia now listened to Connie as she had Myron and several of the others. The afternoon sun was high in the sky and getting brighter. She took her canteen from around the horn of her saddle and drank slowly and deliberately. Then she capped it and hung it back over the horn.
"I agree with holding several of the troops back, but that also means holding back several of the leaders," Alia said.
"I'm going with you."
Myron stared ahead and Alia sighed.
"At this point, I just need a leader to stay back."
No one would look at her. She shook her head and then she saw Vance riding back far enough to not be involved in the conversation, but close enough to hear it all.
He looked up at her and nodded. She felt her sorrow try to climb back up, but she pushed it down.
"Vance and Connie will hang back."
"Ah, c'mon!!"
Alia turned and looked at Connie.
"There will come a point where either we'll need your help or we'll need you to carry on where we failed. I trust that the two of you will do that."
Connie looked away, but nodded. Alia looked back at Myron.
"I'll need you to separate the troops, Myron, those that’ll come with us and those that’ll wait with Vance and Connie. Also, we need to formulate some kind of attack plan."
Molly Creegan moved forward.
"Your Majesty? They know we're coming, right? That means that they'll be waiting for us."
Grant looked at Molly.
"What's your point, Molly?"
"Well, since some of us are staying behind and others are going forward. I think we should walk through the front gate."
"That's suicide!!"
"I know it seems that way, President Hearst, but really… I think they out number us and the fastest way in is to put up as little fight as possible and be captured."
Jones piped up.
"What Creegan is trying to get at is that we don't think they'll kill us, at least not right away. They told Her Majesty that she needed to get there by the Mourning Moon, right? Well, I'm sure that they know she wouldn't come alone and they might need us for something. The odds are in our favor."
Molly looked back at Alia.
"I've seen this castle in my dreams, Highness, and we won't succeed by sneaking in or fighting our way in. It'll have to be by them taking us in."
Alia looked to the sky. No ravens anywhere. She needed a sign. Myron sighed and shook his head.
"I don't like it."
"Me either, but she has a point. Larry? Grant? What do you think?" Alia asked.
Larry rubbed his neck and shrugged.
"I don't know. We don't know the layout and we don't know how many they are. I guess it makes sense."
"Well, it's a good thing we're hanging back, because you guys'll be dead in the first five minutes."
Grant looked over at Connie.
"Way to stay positive."
"I'm just saying… "
"I don't think we have a choice. Molly's right… I'm sure we're outnumbered and they'll have us soon enough," Alia sighed.
Grant was nodding.
"Now we just have to decide who's staying and who's going."
Alia rode silently as the voices around her faded. They would be there soon.
>
107
Elian rode silently as he watched Ian and Scott. Their skin was pale, but they seemed alert. They had moved fairly quickly and were now fairly close to the Fail.
"If you guys need to stop for any reason, just let me know."
"Hey, El?"
Elian turned and looked at Scott.
"How come you volunteered to take us home?"
Elian looked forward and sighed.
"No one else was going to and you needed to get back. Sometimes you have to put faith in someone else's ability to get done what you would have liked to do yourself. I have to trust that they'll bring Albion home."
"You've changed, you know?"
Elian looked back over at Scott.
"What do mean?"
Scott shrugged.
"You're more real now."
"Yeah… "
Ian was nodding. Elian looked ahead.
"I don't know what you mean."
Ian and Scott looked at each other, assuming they had offended Elian who kept staring straight ahead. Then they looked at him and he turned to look back. Then he shrugged.
"No, really, I don't know what you mean."
Scott smiled as Ian shifted in his saddle.
"He means that you've started to care more about determining who a person is by their actions rather than their belief system. You're not judging anymore."
Elian nodded as he thought to himself. Scott winced slightly and grabbed his side. Elian turned to look at him and stopped their horses. He moved Scott's hand and saw that the seal Alia had given Scott's wound was beginning to split again.
Elian looked in his bag and then jumped off his horse. He pulled out a length of bandage and some aloe extract.
"Hold still, Scott. This seam is starting to open again."
Elian dabbed the extract on the open wound and then packed it with gauze. Then he began to wrap the bandage around Scott's waist. He winced slightly and gritted his teeth.
"I'm fine, really…"