Elgaboth the Kidnapping, Chapter 8

Anna woke early. It had been two days since they had met Angela and things were going as well as could be hoped. Kurt’s ankle was not as swollen as it had been, though he still could not walk without pain. Angela had wrapped his ankle tightly and made something like a crutch for him to lean on. Something about their relations bothered Anna. Kurt was protective of her, asking her not to go out after dark, hobbling along beside her when she went to get water. In fact the only time his depression lifted was when he felt he was helping Angela in some way. There was a clear difference in the way he treated her and Anna and, while Anna did not wish for his attentions, she could not miss what the difference implied.

In Anna’s mind Kurt had always been in love with Lucy. Ever since their third day at Elgaboth, when he had spent all evening in a lively debate with her on all subjects, he had paid her every attention, flowers when she was ill, books when she was bed-bound, long walks around the grounds on good days, reading by the fire on bad. Anna did not want to burden her cousin by asking but she was almost sure that Lucy returned these feelings. She had been conflicted over the situation for a year now. On one hand seeing two people she loved so much find each other was a joy to her. But at the same time Lucy was nowhere near Kurt’s station.  Lord Falcona was much more liberal minded than many of the other lords, but would he consent to his son and heir marrying a commoner? Anna was not sure of Kurt either. Did he even plan to bring this up to his father? Or perhaps he was simply riding the high of his feelings while he was young, meaning to marry well later. She had resolved not to interfere and to trust that Kurt and Lucy would act honorably towards each other. This decision did not preclude a fair amount of significant looks and giggling between herself and Cassie.

This new relationship with Angela, however, made Anna nervous. She was not sure if this was a reflection of his love for Lucy, protecting someone like Lucy being the closest thing to actually keeping Lucy safe, or if Lucy and Angela were both his type and he would take what he could get. For you could not deny that Angela was Like Lucy. The same sweetness forged of suffering, the same care for others. They both had studied how to care for those in pain and both gave without a thought for themselves.

Anna still knew very little about Angela’s background. About all she would say was that her mother was not strong mentally and had been unable to believe that her daughter was pregnant. Nothing would convince her and finally Angela had decided it was best she go. Anna had never been one to ask hard questions and she did not now, believing that Angela would tell her what she needed to. The thought of what to do next weighed on Anna’s mind. She wondered whether it was safe to go back to Elgaboth, assuming they could find it again, but the thought of leaving Angela alone was too terrible to contemplate. Anna Decided they should wait to attempt a return until both Kurt could walk and Angela had recovered from her child’s birth. Kurt agreed with this so the three of them had settled to life in the tiny cottage.

Anna forced herself to leave the warmth of the blanket she and Angela shared. Kurt would need water when he woke and she couldn’t have Angela walking all the way to the stream with Kurt tottering unevenly beside her. She bushed the rotting door aside and stepped out into the brilliance of the day. It blinded her for a few seconds but when her eyes had adjusted she almost dropped the jug in surprise. Straight ahead two boys stood, staring rather awkwardly at the house. The taller one was painfully thin with dark hair and darker eyes. He had a tense, coiled look. The other boy was blond with a large nose set between blue eyes. He looked more anguished than anything else as though some worry was eating him from the inside.

The taller boy sprang into action bowing to Anna and speaking. “Ma’am, could you possibly help us with something? We are looking for a young lady, only a bit younger than yourself. She would have dark hair and green eyes.”

“Why are you looking for this girl?” Anna was suddenly suspicious. She did not know much about Angela’s past but she knew that she had wanted to leave it behind for a reason.

“You see,” said the boy, “She’s my sister.” His voice cracked for a second. “And I have to make sure she is well.”

Anna’s suspicions climbed higher. Angela had spoken of her mother, stepfather, and stepsister, but had never mentioned a brother. She wondered if this was, perhaps, the one who had seduced and betrayed his Angela. “And who is he?” She asked turning to the younger boy.

The older boy shot a hostile look at his companion. “He has a debt to pay.”

          The blond boy squirmed and said softly, “I’ve known Angela since we were children.”

So they were looking for Angela. Anna was unsure of what to do. She could not know if they were enemies until Angela saw them. Unfortunately if they saw Angela there was not much she or Kurt, in his weakened state, could do to defend her.

“Wait here and all get you some water, then we can talk about this girl.”

The boys nodded, though the older one sent her a suspicion glance.

Anna hurried inside and gently shook Angela awake. “There are two people looking for you.”

Angela turned pale and looked as though she wanted to run.

“I want you to look out and tell me what you want me to do.”

Angela nodded weakly and put her eye to a crack in the door. At the sight of the boys she started violently and without a word burst out the door. She threw herself into the arms of the older boy and sobbing clung to him.

“I thought you were dead. I thought your spirit had left the earth. I mourned for you. How are you free? How are you here?” Questions and exclamations meddled into a single train of noise and Angela clung to her brother.

At the sight of Angela the other boy had turned whiter than Anna had thought possible and was looking almost sick. Anna thought he might benefit from someone to talk to so she stepped forward and introduced herself with a “Hi I’m Anna.” She wondered if he was the father dragged along by a vengeful brother and quickly cast him in the role of “seducer and betrayer”.

The potential seducer and betrayer, looking younger than ever, shuffled his feet uncomfortably. Angela was still sobbing uncontrollably into her brother’s shoulder.

“I’m Jack.” He paused. “You have to understand,” he said in an undertone. “Jordan was taken away years ago. She thought… we all thought he had died in a prison camp. And now he’s back like some sort of miracle.”

Anna nodded not fully understanding but not ready to ask anything just then.

Angela finally seemed to remember them. She smiled at Jack, who Anna was beginning to suspect was incapable of either seduction or betrayal. “Good to see you Jack.”

Jack attempted a returning smile but it did not make it to his lips. “I’m glad we found you.” He said softly.

Angela turned to Anna. “Anna meet my brother Jordan.” At the last word she started crying again and hugged him.

Anna reassessed Jordan. Now that she was no longer thinking of him as a potential seducer and betrayer he was quite good looking. There was something too thin and too tense about his tight muscular frame and something too cold in his dark eyes but now that he was with Angela even these flaws had faded slightly. He had a dark mop of wavy black hair and darker skin than his sister. He moved gracefully almost like Cassie. That thought snatched her mind away to the dark chamber she had so studiously avoided. Thoughts of what could be happening to her friends at that very moment.

Jordan nodded coolly towards her. “We will speak later about what brought you here but I thank you that my sister was not alone. My sister and I have much to speak of.” He smiled at her and she shuddered with happiness.

“Of course,” said Anna.

The walked off and sat on a fallen tree together, Angela’s young joyful voice rubbing the edge of bitterness off her brother’s face.