After the intensity of the summit, Alasdair just wanted to run away and hide for a few days. Sadly, however, he knew that would have to wait for another time.
For six full months after the summit, the Dalravians experienced a strange lull in the insurrections – it was just enough to put them all on edge even more. When it was obvious a mighty storm was coming across the water – the people braced themselves, for they knew the raiders had a propensity for hiding themselves in the storms and attacking when the storm reached its peak.
This time, however, they tried a different tactic – just as the smell of rain filled the air, they attacked! House after house was torched, in an attempt to keep the people of Dalravia too busy to protect the castle.
As expected, there was a complement of men who rushed from behind the castle walls out to help their people. Abrianna was standing in the entrance when someone ran past her yelling, “Abrianna, yer folks – they be one of the homes what’s been torched!!” Without even thinking, Abrianna grabbed her cloak and weapon and went straight to the barn to get her horse.
Now, in hindsight, it certainly wasn’t wise for the queen, of all people, to be rushing about, with the enemy on the loose, even if it was to help her family. But, Abrianna wasn’t always known for thinking with her brain, rather than her heart.
Cillian’s men were COUNTING on the men of Dalravia rushing forth to care for the homes that were on fire. What the men of Corcova didn’t count on was the wisdom of Alasdair and his brilliant team. The men who rushed from the castle weren’t all men, after all. Many of them were women, dressed as men. What a surprise then, for the Corcovans to find such a large number of men left to guard the castle.
The rain and the wind, again were howling and ripping through the countryside. Abrianna’s horse was spooked, there was no doubt about it. The constant thunder and the lightning that split the sky time after time, had him quite skittish.
It shouldn’t have come as any surprise, then, that just as they were passing over the bridge and lightning hit a nearby tree, he threw her.
Abrianna had a strange sensation of weightlessness, followed by a painful bone jarring fall as gravity resumed its power over her, followed by sweet silence. The whole world went dark.
Alasdair, thankfully oblivious to the situation that Abrianna was in, was able to forcefully fight back the Corcovans. Sword rang out against sword as the men of Corcova and Dalravia battled for their lives. The Corcovans spurred on by greed; the Dalravians empowered to fight because of those that they loved.
The battle raged on for hours. Men fell and others came to take their place at the front of the line. Berrick wove in and out of the battle, like the weft running through the warp. He was invincible. He was tireless and he was bold.
Alasdair wasn’t far behind him, much to Berrick’s annoyance. He wished the king would not enter into the fray, but Berrick also knew he’d have to remove the king’s arms himself, to keep him from it. He too was tireless – fighting to protect his people from such villains.
The battle was over two hours before Alasdair realized Abrianna was missing. Certain that she had been taken hostage, Alasdair was ready to turn Dalravia upside down, inside out or in whatever direction he needed to, in order to find his wife. His one consolation was he knew how well she fought – her captors would not. He almost chuckled at the thought of what a surprise that would be.
Abrianna however, wasn’t chuckling. She woke to find herself lying in a precarious place – almost slipping into the river. She knew before she even had fully gained consciousness that her leg was broken. She had no idea where her horse was, nor any idea how to get help. She began to pray.
Even before the words had left her mouth, she could hear someone talking.
“I’m telling you, I saw someone fall down here, just as I was coming to your door! But be careful, I didn’t recognize him – he might be Corcovan.”
“I will be careful, but if he was thrown as hard as you say he was, I doubt he’s going to have sufficient strength left to cause me much harm.”
No sooner were the words out of his mouth than he saw the queen, lying there perilously close to finding herself in the mill pond. “Abby, me girl – are you okay?” was wrung from his mouth before he could think.
“Abby? You mean Abrianna?!! You’re calling our queen Abby? Have you lost your mind, man?”
Abrianna groaned. While she was incredibly grateful that her rescuer had found her so easily, she really wished he’d stop blathering and get her in out of the rain and help her do something with her leg.
Between gritted teeth she said, “Would you just BE QUIET and get me out of the rain?”
“Not so fast Queen Graceful, you’ve got a broken leg and I’m not moving you until we can get it braced.” The laughter was only partially in his voice. Then he leaned in closely, “Are you okay? Really? I know this leg has to hurt like fire and I’ve sent Logan for some wood to brace this, but how are you?” He gently brushed the hair from her forehead.
Abrianna sighed and rested her face against his hand. She nodded. The tears welling up in her eyes were about to overtake her and she was just grateful that the Lord had allowed Aidan to find her. Aidan. Her precious middle brother.
By the time the last of the wounded had been taken to the makeshift medical area, Alasdair was concerned enough about Abrianna that he was ready to rip someone apart, limb from limb. After investigating, he found that Abrianna’s horse had been taken, as well as her cloak and her sword. He found that odd, if she had been taken captive. He was beginning to suspect the person he wanted to take apart was Abrianna herself.
Berrick came in to find him pacing the length of the Great Hall. He couldn’t tell for certain if he was doing some serious grousing or if he was praying – Berrick wasn’t certain he wanted to know.
“Sir?”
Alasdair whirled around to face him, a foul temper written all over his face.
“I’ve just finished four hours of battle and I’d rather enter right back into it than to face that temper.” Berrick thought to himself. Out loud he said, “I have spoken to several of the men. One remembers hearing someone tell Abrianna that her parent’s home was one of the houses that had been torched. One of the groomsmen remembers seeing her take her horse – he doesn’t believe she was in any danger when she was there. Would you like me to form a party to go to her parent’s house?”
“No.” snapped Alasdair. Then a sigh escaped his lips, “No, friend. Forgive my temper. I can’t believe she would do this – without even letting anyone know. I’m sick with worry. I have lost too much already, to even consider losing her as well.”
Berrick said nothing.
“Go, my friend, clean up. Spend time with your family, get something to eat. You have served the kingdom well tonight and I am grateful for your help. Now rest. I will go after my errant wife.”
Berrick didn’t envy Abrianna that meeting, but he wasn’t foolish enough to say that. He simply nodded and left.
Alasdair was quickly on his way to the Thorp home. He knew he was pushing his horse harder than he ought, but his concern for Abrianna outweighed wisdom at this point.
The light of the fire was warm, the clean clothes that were wrapped about her were dry and her leg, although braced, hurt like crazy! She thought she might scream, if they didn’t do something about the pain.
“Aidan, would you please ask Seana for something for this pain? I don’t think I can endure it much longer.”
“Sure and she is getting something, my sweet, but she is also caring for two babes…..” Aidan’s voice tapered off.
Abrianna turned her face away – she had avoided coming to see her brother, the miller, and his family for some time. She simply couldn’t bear to look upon the boys. She knew her mind would go back to that night – that night that her heart broke. It had been almost a year and still the pain in her heart was so strong, it could take her breath away.
While she was lying there, tears trickling down her cheeks, there was a crashing noise, followed by the sound of giggling and running feet and before Abrianna could prepare herself – in rushed one of the boys.
He stood there staring at this strange woman lying in his mother’s bed – his green eyes piercing her own.
“Abby – this is Emerick, the oldest of the twins. Emerick, this is your…Aunt Abby.”
