Elgaboth, the Kidnapping: Chapter 4

Alexander had never ridden so hard in his life. There had never been such a need. His daughters, the ones he had protected all their short lives, the twins he had sworn to love and protect on his wedding day and the daughter who, ever since her big blue eyes had met his, had held his heart in the palm of her hand.

He and his wife had been alone together in the garden of his summer home when the first messenger arrived. The next had appeared while the first was still speaking. They both reported a loss of communication with outposts and Alexander realized with a growing sickness that they were the two closest to Elgaboth. There was only to gather as many men as he could spare without compromising the security of the remainder of his family and then to ride. They had come to the first outpost late in the evening and found it burned to the ground with several soldiers dead around it. They had rested the horses for an hour and covered the bodies then rode on through the night.

Orion rode beside Alexander. They had been friends since childhood and had ridden together often. Orion’s dark face mirrored the crown prince’s scowl. He had no blood relatives at the school, had no close relatives at all , but his wife’s sister and brother were there and having no family of his own they were doubly important to him.

As the light of day began to creep across the wooded path they traveled the mist seemed to cling to trees around them. For Alexander and Orion their personal fears were not the only thing tormenting them. The political consequences of an attack on Elgaboth were likely to be war.

Suddenly two figures appeared on the road waving frantically. It took about a minute until recognition dawned and Alexander pulled his horse up short, dismounted and gathered Judy into his arms. Beside her, pale and stone faced was John.

Judy sobbed out disjointed sentences into her father’s shoulder. Orion called a halt and the men began taking wat rest they could while Alexander and Orion questioned the two escapees.

“Are you alright?”

She nodded quickly, “But they took everyone else and Lucy and Cassie were taken and who knows what he is doing to them and Kurt and Anna were behind the wall.”

Orion cut off the flow of words. “Kurt? What happened to him?”

John stepped forward for the first time, “Kurt was with us when we escaped but he was injured and couldn’t get over the wall. Anna wouldn’t leave him.” John’s voice betrayed his shame.

Orion sighed heavily.

“Anna?” Alexander looked at his daughter again. “Your maid?”

She nodded. “Cassie and Lucy were taken first. We locked our door and they hadn’t been able to break it down yet when John and Kurt came to get us out.”

“So Cassie was taken?”

Judy nodded again.

“Did you see Elwin and Lianna?”

Judy shook her head.

Alexander nodded then looked straight at his daughter. “It will be alright.”

“It can’t be. He took everyone…”

“It will be alright.” They looked at each other for a few moments. When they had finished Alexander picked up his daughter and placed her on his horse.

“Your mother is west from here.” He motioned to a lieutenant. “Take your company and see my daughter safely home. Then follow me to Elgaboth.”

He returned a little later and focused on John. “Now I need you to tell me exactly what happened.”

John told him all about the attack on the school, and the escape, sparing no detail he remembered.

“How did you find us?” put in Orion after he had finished.

“I knew there was an outpost down this road so we traveled in the woods along the side of the road and prayed that they hadn’t taken the outpost before Elgaboth.”

Orion nodded.

“Who is your father?” Asked Alexander.

 “Lord Falion of Purpleland.”

“I will arrange for an escort to his estate.”

“Your majesty, I want to ride with you.”

“Your father will be worried.”

“He will not be.”

“And your other family?”

“There is only a sister and she will not have heard.”

“How old are you?”

“Sixteen.”

Alexander looked at Orion. “When I was sixteen…”

“When you were sixteen the world might have been destroyed and you wouldn’t have noticed but you can’t judge everyone by that.”

“Sir, I had to leave friends behind at Elgaboth.”

“Alright,” Alexander looked at John again. “You can ride in the back.”

John bowed. “Thank you sir.”

After he had left Alexander turned to Orion. “I wish Kurt had gotten out with them.”

Orion nodded. “I’m more concerned about Cassie, you know what they are.”

Alexander’s face was hard as flint.

Orion realized his mistake and apologized. “Sander I’m sorry. I wasn’t thinking about them.”

“We’ll get them back, all of them, or this country will be caught in a war we will never see the end of.”