In the Shadow of the Red Castle
Chapter Four Rescue and Recuperations
Then came a roar that seemed to shake the very air itself, and as they watched in horror, the moat before them closed sullenly and silently over the fragments of Salazen Grum.
Stayne was the first to recover. He gasped harshly, releasing his breath in a long whoosh of air, and stared in quiet disbelief at the rippling water. Here and there, fragments of what had once been a mighty palace stuck out. He rubbed his hand across his face, and spoke in a trembling tone. "It's…gone. It's all…gone."
Alannah nodded, rubbing his back in slow circles. "I know. We need to go, Ilosovic. Come on." She gently tugged his arm, and he followed, eye still wide with shock.
"It…collapsed…" he turned back, and stared at the wreckage for a long time, then spoke so softly Alannah had to strain to hear him. "This was my home once. I did love living here, once. But then…" He gave a violent shudder and turned away, smiling sadly at Alannah. "We should go. Alice and Tarrant are waiting."
Alannah nodded and together they walked up the path, where Alice and Tarrant waited, leaning heavily on each other. Alice sighed, her voice full of exhaustion. "The carriage is gone, and Chessur can't take all of us at once. We've no way of getting back to Marmoreal."
Tarrant added his thoughts. "Aye, an' Alannah-I wouldn't try askin' Time fer another favor so soon. 'E can be rather fussy about that sort o' thing."
Alannah huffed in frustration. "Then we're going to have to walk."
Alice gaped at her. "Walk? Tarrant and Ilosovic can barely stand on their own, much less walk the distance from here to Marmoreal, and you look like you're about to collapse yourself. Frankly, I'm not sure I could make it myself."
Alannah wheeled on her, rage and grief on her face. "What do you suggest, Champion? ! Stay here and hope someone comes looking for us? ! Just sit down and wait to be rescued? BUGGER THAT." She drew a deep breath, and spoke quietly. "I'm sorry, Alice. But I don't know what else to do. We have to at least try." She looked over at Ilosovic, gulping. He was in a stupor, and Alannah wasn't sure if he was aware of his surroundings. She stared in his eye, speaking firmly. "Ilosovic…babe…I need you to listen to me. We're going to try to make it back to Marmoreal on foot, and I need you to stay awake. You're going to have to help me, so stay awake. Can you do that for me?"
Stayne nodded once. "Mmmm hmm." Alannah smiled gently at him.
"Good." She hooked one arm firmly about Ilosovic's waist, then took his arm and locked it around her waist, creating support, and then looked over at Alice and Tarrant. "Ready?" They nodded, and Alannah gritted her teeth and set off down the path to Marmoreal, stumbling in exhaustion. Ilosovic was barely conscious, and he kept falling to his knees. Alannah hauled him up. "You have to walk! Come on, walk!"
Ilosovic blinked at her. "Can't…" he slumped to the ground in a dead faint, and Alannah screamed in agony and frustration.
"Get up! Please! We're almost there! We're…almost..." she reeled in exhaustion, and collapsed to her knees, completely done in. "There..." she fell to the ground, unconscious. The last thing she saw before the darkness took her was Alice and Tarrant falling to the ground.
She drifted, hearing voices drifting in and out of her mind.
"They're alive, but wet and cold. They must have collapsed from exhaustion."
"Get them into my carriage as quickly as possible. They need dry clothes and warm beds. Hurry!"
"Yes, Majesty. Devon, help me with the Captain. He's going to take a bit of lifting."
"Yes Sir."
"Majesty, we've got a problem. Lady Stayne seems to have quite the grip on her husband. I can't pry her loose."
"Then don't try, Lieutenant. I'm sure you can figure out a way to get them both in the carriage. You two, get Alice and Tarrant."
Alannah felt herself slowly drifting back to consciousness. She blinked, noticing a white blur in front of her. The blur slowly solidified into the relief filled face of Mirana.
"Welcome back, Alannah."
Alannah blinked her brain still sluggish. "How?"
"I ordered the Patrol to look for you four. What happened?"
"We…were…tricked. Old…enemy of….Ilosovic's and…Where's Ilosovic? !" She sat up frantically, and Mirana pressed her back down.
"He's fine. He's right next to you, although I think he's still asleep."
Alannah spun around, sobbing in relief at the sight of her husband curled up next to her. He was breathing steadily, and Alannah smiled, tracing his face gently with her fingers. He murmured her name, and she clasped his hand in hers, gently kissing the knuckles. "I'm here, my love." She turned to Mirana, and took a deep breath. "The owner turned out to be an old enemy of Ilosovic's and Tarrant's…"
Mirana frowned deeply when Alannah finished her narrative. "Thank Time you made it out before the castle collapsed on your heads. Now, you are still very exhausted. Sleep."
"Where are our children?"
Mirana spoke soothingly, gently stroking Alannah's face. "They're perfectly safe. They're in your cottage. Margaret is watching them. Arianna and Josiah as well. And before you ask, Alice and Tarrant are doing fine. They're in the next bedchamber. Sleep, Alannah. Rest and recover."
"Mmmm…" Alannah nodded, and slowly drifted back to sleep, her arms wound tightly around Ilosovic. He was so warm, she thought. So warm. "I love you…"
Mirana smiled gently at the pair, and then glided out of the room, gazing at the sea of concerned faces. "They will all recover. Thomas, thank you for your help. Now, let us leave them be. They will awaken soon, I promise."
The first thing Stayne was aware of as he awoke was that he was in a warm bed. The second thing was that he was wearing dry clothes. The third, and best thing, was that Alannah was pressed up against him, her arms entwined tightly around his torso and her legs tangled with his own.
He stroked her face, speaking softly. "Alannah…baby…c'mon, open those gorgeous green eyes." He smiled as she opened her eyes. "Hi."
Alannah stared at him for a few moments in silence before bursting into tears of relief and kissing him. "You're awake….you're safe….we're safe… I love you…I love you so damn much, Ilosovic….I can't live without you…I love you…"
"Shhh….Alannah, Shhh…I love you…I'm here…I will always be here…I swear by Underland herself…I love you, My Lady."
Alannah smiled at him, tears still coursing down her face. "And I you, My Lord. I…need to tell you how Alice and I managed to escape."
Stayne listened as she told him. When she finished, she gazed at him in a silent question. He smiled softly, and answered-pulling her into a passionate kiss. "I will never stop loving you. You did what you had to do, and I am grateful beyond measure that you were able to think so quickly on your feet."
Alannah gave a sob of relief and happiness and kissed him, threading her fingers through his silken hair. "Ilosovic?"
"Yes?"
"Make love to me."
"Of course, my beauty."
"Ilosovic?"
"Hmmm?"
"Go slowly."
"Whatever my lady wishes."
"Ohhhh…yes…my Lord...love you…"
They made love slowly, kissing and caressing each other, mouths and fingers stroking, biting, and licking, needing to be reassured of each others presence, needing to be comforted and needing to give comfort. Their hands entwined as they moved together, sighing and gasping. Ilosovic moved slowly and strongly inside her, eye fixed on hers, and marveled to himself at the love he saw reflected in their green depths.
"I love you, Alannah…I love you…my wife…my love…my life...my queen…I ngra leat, mo ghra…mo shaol…mo banrion."
"I ngra leat, Ilosovic…mo Tiarna, mo fhear ceile. I love you, my Lord, my husband…I love you…"
Stayne cried out her name as he climaxed, and Alannah followed moments later with her own cry as she felt her body tremble with the force of her climaxes. "Ohhhh…Ilosovic!"
They lay together in the dark room, arms around each other, and watched as the sun slowly rose over Marmoreal.
