The Gathering (70 page)

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?"

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.