Chap. 11
Shana woke up in the chair she'd been sitting in before, covered by a wonderfully soft blanket. Gingerly touching her cheek she realized it- and her other minor wounds- had been cleaned and dressed. Standing up and stretching she saw Albert asleep on the couch, a navy blue throw pulled up to his chin. The girl noticed immediately that his face was not the nasty grayish shade it had been when they arrived; it was more of a natural shade now and his cheeks had color in them.
"Good morning."
"Morning?" Shana asked. "Already?" Lavitz's mother smiled.
"Yes. You and His Highness have slept a good long while," her face darkened slightly and she added, "The Gehrichs came calling while you slept."
"How
did you get rid of them?"
"I told them this house was under
quarantine for the dog pox that burned through town a couple of
months ago. I coughed in their faces and they scurried." Shana
laughed and immediately silenced herself so as not to wake Albert.
Lavitz's mother motioned her into the kitchen where a large bowl of
porridge sat steaming on the table.
"May I?" The girl asked and Lavitz's mom nodded. Whilst Shana sat and ate there came a frantic knocking at the front door. The older woman swept forward to deal with it and ushered in a panting woman older than herself.
"Paula! Have you looked outside yet!"
"No. What is there to look at?" Lavitz's mother, Paula Slambert, asked. The panting woman led her and Shana to the door and pointed into the sky near the castle: four shapes, the sun glistening off them, circled the glass dome that was the roof of the throne room. They appeared to be waiting for something; there was a thunderous crash from that general direction and Shana guessed the castle doors had been bashed in. That appeared to be the signal and the four circling shapes dove through the glass dome, shattering it and entering the castle in a storm of wings and glass.
"It's Dart and the others!" Shana cried happily, "It must be! They came!"
"Indeed they did," came a male voice from behind them; Albert was standing there, stunning in a tunic of navy blue. His tone and face were tired, but the deep blue lent him energy and color further extenuated his regal air. Paula caught Shana's open-mouthed gaze and smiled.
"It was Servi's. Lavitz's weren't long enough but his father was just about His Majesty's height." The other woman stared at Albert in shock; she struggled to curtsy and ended up nearly falling over.
"Please don't madam- I would have to bow in return and I don't believe I could handle it right now." She nodded and rushed out the door. Albert looked at Shana, "Shall we go? I imagine the others are looking for us." Shana nodded and exited, hobbling much less noticeably. As soon as she'd rounded the corner the king knelt on one knee and took Paula's hand in his own. "Thank you for the healing potion. I assume it was the one you only use in extreme circumstances?" She stood looking down at him for a moment and finally asked:
"How did you know about that?"
"Lavitz told me. He said it saved his- and his father's- life on more than one occasion." The old woman smiled.
"I should have known he'd tell you about it. Yes, I used it- I didn't want you to suffer so soon after finally winning the war. I know he was your uncle. I'm sorry." Albert kissed her hand and rose to his feet, bowing as much as he dared.
"Thank you, madam. I owe you- for more than just this- and I will not forget it. Good day." and he started to stride off after Shana.
"Wait Your Majesty!" she called and he turned. Rushing into a back room she returned to the front door carrying a long silver-tipped lance with a gleaming wooden handle. When she handed it to him he said nothing- the smile on his face said it all. He stood in awe of the weapon, examining it down to the silver 'S' engraved at its top, until she shoed him away. Twirling the lance in complicated motions, he walked off after Shana.
Paula, sure the scene at the castle would be an interesting one, hurried to grab her traveling cloak.
Three updates—huzzah! Please R&R!
-K-
