Chapter Fifty-three
Race With Death
They rode hard for about half an hour before finally coming out of the trees. Once in the open they could pick up the pace. Matthew stopped them for a moment. Matthew told the others to keep going, he was going to back track to make sure they were not being followed. If they were he would take care of those who would come after them. He told them not to stop for anything. He would catch up with them. He took one of the rifles with him along with his bow and arrow. Wheeling his horse around Matthew headed back into the trees.
Once he reached the trees the others once again began to move. The horses were pushed to the limits of their endurance. Once Katherine was sure they were far enough away she told them to slow the pace so the horses could get their second wind. It would also give her a chance to assess how badly she was hurt.
She leaned forward to unwind one of the leather straps of from around her wrist. She would need one hand free to tend to her wounds as best she could while still on the move.
Once they were at a slower canter, Katherine reached into her pouch that was hung on the back of the saddle. She opened the flap and pulled out the last remnant of her petticoat. She struggled with the leather ties of her tunic. Finally she separated the two sides of the soft leather.
Katherine put her hand inside her tunic. She reached around to the back of her right shoulder. She pulled her hand away to see how much blood was still coming out. Looking down she knew that at this rate she would not make it much further. Her hand was coated with blood. Whether fresh or old she could not be certain until she could clean the wound and assess the damage.
Wadding up the remnant of cloth Katherine stuffed it inside her tunic hoping to slow the flow of blood. She nearly passed out from the pain as she pressed the cloth into the wound. Needing to check her other wound, she pulled the two sides of her tunic back together loosely so she could check the wound periodically. Katherine's hand found the spot on back of her shoulder to press on the outside over the wounded area. She grimaced in pain. She was hoping the blood would make the cloth stick to the wound.
Lifting the hem of her tunic she saw that the bullet must have gone straight through as there was a wound on her side in the front. The bullet had entered through her side from the back.
Raising her head Katherine's eyes met those of Moon Shadow. Moon Shadow nudged her horse closer to Katherine's. She went to speak, but Katherine gave her a warning shake of her head. Moon Shadow reached out her hand to pull the tunic aside. The bullet had not gone through, which meant it was still lodged in Katherine's shoulder. It looked as if the bleeding had slowed, but it was still seeping out in a fairly steady stream. Moon Shadow's eyes dropped to Katherine's side. That bullet that had hit the back of her right side had exited out the front. Blood from this wound was beginning to coat the leggings of Katherine's buckskins.
"We should stop White Eagle. If the wound is not tended to you will not make it."
"I will make it. Just do not tell them I am injured. We must put as much distance between us and the fort as we can before daylight. That gives us a few hours head start. The trackers have more than likely already been set on our trail. I will stay in this saddle even if I must tie myself in place the whole way."
Katherine began to struggle to rewind the strap around her wrist. Moon Shadow had been going to protest, but then she saw that White Eagle had tied the reins around her wrists and the saddle horn. If she fell the horse would spook dragging her along, to her death more than likely, before anyone would be able to stop the horse's headlong flight. Moon Shadow would watch Katherine as they continued to move further away from the fort and the soldiers.
They traveled all night. The hard tack was eaten as they rode washed down with water. Katherine could feel the fever climbing inside of her. She felt hot, hotter than was healthy for a person to be. Soon she began to slump down in the saddle. Each time she would force her body to stay upright. Erik had only looked back at her now and then. His attention was split between Katherine and the little girl. She talked non stop without him not being able to understand one word.
He would simply nod or "um hmmm" ever so often. That seemed to make her happy. He was thankful the sun was coming up. At least now he could get a better look at Katherine. Erik still had that bad, uneasy feeling crawling around on the inside. Something was definitely not right.
Erik had never prayed more for daylight than he did now. They had eaten a bit of hard tack a few hours ago. The sun had not come over the horizon but there were fingers of light just beginning to splay upward.
Once it was light he rode back to Katherine. She was leaning low in the saddle. She did not even raise her head to look at him as he called, "Katherine. Katherine! Damn it answer me." Now his panic had a full head of steam.
Calling to the others he fairly shouted, "Stop! Something is wrong with Katherine." Erik leaned forward to pull back on the reins of her horse. When it came to a stop he put his hand on her shoulder. When he leaned her back her eyes were closed. She was clearly unconscious.
Yanking his glove from his had he placed his hand to her chin to tilt her face toward him. Her skin was scorching hot. It was as he looked for signs of injury that he saw the dark stain at her side just where there was a hole that looked as if it were a bullet hole. Raking his eyes over her for any further injury he noticed her wrists had been tied to the saddle horn.
God damn you Katherine. Why did you take such a foolish risk? If you die I shall follow you only to make your eternity miserable with the long list of your foolish behavior. After I tell you again and again how much I love you.
Erik feared the worst while he hoped for the best. Katherine did not even move. He glared in accusation at that woman Moon Shadow. She had to know Katherine had been injured.
Erik prayed Katherine had not been seriously injured. He feared what terror he would he would unleash on those responsible. God himself would not be able to save those who had done this if the unthinkable happened.
Darius cursed under his breath even as he prayed for Katherine. If Erik lost Katherine the only thing that would stop Erik from seeking vengeance would be to kill him. Darius would not want to but he could not let Erik go unchecked on a killing spree.
Hopefully prayers would make it to the right angel, Katherine's angel. All they could do now was wait and pray.
Once he was sure the animal would remain calm, he untied Katherine. She slumped down into his arms nearly knocking him to the ground. It would seem the only thing keeping her upright had been her tethered wrists. While trying to hold onto the little girl and the reins of his horse to maintain control Katherine slumped to the ground with a thud that had Erik's heart dropping to his boots.
Erik held on the reins of Mephistopheles while he danced in a circle. He had a hell of a time keeping the little girl from falling. She thought it was a game for her amusement. Matthew rode by dismounting just as he pulled his own mount into a skidding stop. He was dismounting even before the horse came to a complete stop.
Lone Wolf, at this point he was not thinking as Matthew, stooped down. He assessed the wounds. They would need to be closed to stop the bleeding. They could not take the time now to administer the proper aid she required.
He slowly gathered the rein of Katherine's mount in his hand. He reeled it in laying his hand soothingly on his head to reassure the animal all was well. He did not want to take the chance of spooking the animal. Tying the reins to the pommel of his saddle Erik looked around for Katherine. She was on the ground with Matthew kneeling close by.
Anguish and fear fought for supremacy over Erik's face as he battled to hang on. Erik had dropped to the ground as soon as he got his own horse under control having made sure Katherine's would not bolt. Once on the ground he pulled the little girl down giving her to the first pair of arms available, which just happened to be Raoul's. Raoul quickly put her down on the ground as if she had been on fire. As Erik walked away the little one said something in her own language. She pointed to Erik. She ran her hand over the right side of her face.
Raoul grimaced and said, "Bad man. Real bad." He gripped his arms with his hands and shivered as he made a face.
The little girl must have understood at least a word for she vehemently shook her head and pointed her finger toward everyone near her as she swept her arm around to point to each person she said, "Good." Pointing her finger back toward the way they had come she scowled as only a three year old can, stating, "Bad." Well it would seem she had made her mind up about whom she could trust and who she could not.
Erik had reached Katherine dropping to his knees as he reached her. Tucking his legs beneath him he rested Katherine's body against him. His hand cupped her hot face. After a few gentle caresses he removed her tunic. She had nothing beneath but a cotton camisole embroidered with roses and trimmed in lace. Erik quickly dropped his shoulder in front of her to block everyone's view.
He turned his head toward Raoul and Darius scowling darkly toward them. Being the gentlemen they were they had already turned their backs. Erik turned back to Katherine continuing to trace her features gently with the tips of his fingers.
He laid her on the ground. As his hand dragged across her back he felt the wet stickiness on her shoulder. Erik leaned her forward, cursing virulently at what he saw. Again he cursed his beloved for being so foolish and careless with her life.
Raoul had the little girl pressed against his leg. She had wound her little arms around his leg so tightly he feared it might interfere with his circulation.
Raoul had never dealt with children before. One who did not speak English and had only bad impressions of white men, made communicating nearly impossible. She had claimed him to be good but would she feel the same if he picked her up and held her. He felt a longing deep inside to do just that
Raoul looked down at the toddler. She looked up at him with her chin pressed into his leg. The bone of her chin was beginning to feel as if it were going to dig a hole in his leg. Bending down he picked her up.
He was afraid for a moment she would scream or cry out, but with a big, baby toothed grin she looked confidently back at him. She looked rather pleased to be so far from the ground. She kept looking at him and then the ground. She said something in her own language. When she looked at Darius she gave him the once over just as she had Raoul. Squealing in delight she held her arms out to a dumbstruck Darius.
Darius began to back away shaking his head. Darius was a good foot taller than Raoul and outweighed him by at least fifty pounds. All muscle and bone. The thought of holding something so small and fragile scarred him...well to use an American expression, shitless. The little girl continued to wave her arms toward Darius. Raoul was certain she intended to leap from his arms if Darius did not take her.
"Darius, my friend, I think your height has trumped my good looks. I feel I have lost the fair maidens adoration. You best take her before she leaps right out of my arms. It is not as easy as one might think to subdue a little twenty something pound squirming bundle of humanity."
"But...but...I have never held anything so small. What if I hurt her? Smash her or something?" In desperation he looked for the woman, Moon Shadow. She was on the other side of the horses tending to Raging Bear. She was helping him to drink from a canteen. Darius cursed himself for not thinking of that task himself.
"Well, I might suggest you think of her as a delicate rose petal. The least bit of pressure can cause a bruise. Think of her as a rose and you should do fine." Raoul handed off the child into Darius' hands that he had stretched out in front of him. If he kept her away from his body surely nothing would happen to her. Holding her away from him he joined Raoul by the horses. He did look a bit odd holding a small child at arms length as she swung her legs back and forth happily. She thought it was a game.
"We need to build a fire. Raoul, Darius get whatever wood you can find. Buffalo chips if you can find that." As both men looked at him with the same question on their faces he said succinctly, "Buffalo shit. Dried. Since we are in an area where there are few trees we will have to make do. I pray that White Eagle has kept her pouch ready for times such as this." If not he could get what he needed from his own pouch.
Raoul gladly would volunteer to get anything as long as he did not have to hold that fragile little girl again. She had felt so tiny in his hands. If he squeezed just a bit too hard he was sure something would break.
That sneaky bastard Darius had the gall to give the child to Moon Shadow who it would seem could indeed manage to keep the horses under control simply by hobbling their legs. Holding the little tyke in her lap she was still able to tend to Raging Bear who was already regaining much of his strength simply breathing the air of freedom.
Raoul could kick himself for not asking the woman sooner to take responsibility for the child. He need not have shown his weakness to Darius if he had. One that Darius seemed to share.
They walked some distance before they came to a spot dotted with large piles of what had to be buffalo droppings. Many were somewhat fresh and all seemed to be quite fragrant.
Raoul and Darius looked at the black dried round disks of what they assumed to be the droppings of buffalo. The fresher piles giving off an odor would indicate that was a correct assumption.
Taking a deep breath which he held as long as he could Raoul set about collecting what they needed. He cursed under his breath the whole time. Only for Katherine would he do something so disgusting.
Turning around Raoul was a little aggravated that Darius had thought to bring his rain slicker out of his saddle bag to put the shit in while Raoul held the stinking mess pressed in his arms against his chest. Raoul scowled at Darius.
"What? It is my fault you are not as intelligent as I am?" Darius could not keep the mirth from his face or his voice.
"Well you could have said something. That would have been the gentlemanly thing to do."
"And miss the illustrious Vicomte Raoul de Chagny grasping shit to his chest as if he holds a great prize? Not likely."
Raoul was tempted to shuck the whole armload in Darius' direction. His eyes began to glint with his thoughts while a sly smile began to curve his lips.
Reading the intent in Raoul's eyes Darius countered, "I would erase that thought from your mind if I were you. If you think for a moment I am sure you will make the correct decision."
Raoul gauged his chances of beating Darius in a fair fight as slim to none. He decided he valued all his body parts too much to risk any of them. He turned back in the direction of the others.
"Smart man Raoul." Darius could not resist digging the burr a little deeper. He so rarely got an opportunity to do so.
Raoul called back over his shoulder, "Do not gloat. It is not an attractive quality. One I am sure Dove would not value." Raoul knew it was unfair to use Darius' feelings for Dove against him but when an opponent was shaped like a mountain and strong as an ox one had to use whatever weapons would work.
"Raoul wait. Damn it I said wait." He quickly caught up with Raoul who had a supercilious smile on his face.
"Damn it Raoul that is a low blow. Perhaps I might whisper in a young woman's ear how such a manly young gentleman complained like a woman because he had to carry dried animal droppings."
"Huh! You know little of women if you think a remark comparing a man to some supposed weakness in a woman will win you points. Try again my friend." Raoul continued to stride confidently forward.
"How about if it were to become known a little scrap of femininity had you shaking in your boots?"
Raoul stopped in his tracks to turn and face his companion. "You would not stoop so low. Besides you were not so brave as I recall either."
"Well I have never laid claim to being secure around children. I am not even married. One expects a married man to be a little better informed than a bachelor."
Raoul thought for a moment then suggested, "How about we both agree to keep the other's secrets. We agree privately we are both not as brave around that little bit of feminine charm as we would like to believe. We also agree to ignore any other weaknesses we may have observed. Agreed?"
Darius quickly agreed and awkwardly they shook hands and returned to the others. As soon as she saw them Quanah latched onto Darius' leg. Raoul dropped his armload of droppings and pointed in triumph to his soiled shirt. For once he did not mind looking like shit.
Moon Shadow and Raging Bear watched as the two men approached with their arms full. The distaste on both men's faces would have been quite enjoyable in any other circumstances. Matthew told Darius to drop his load as well. Since his leg was held in a vice he had to more or less toss his armload away from him. He unfurled his slicker allowing his burden to spread over the ground.
Sighing in resignation he picked up Quanah to play another game of leg swinging. When picked up Quanah squealed in delight.
Matthew knelt down to use the flint rocks to strike against each other. As he struck the stones sparks shot out toward the bits of dried grass that had been in White Eagle's pouch.
Lone Wolf had gotten the fire to burn. He laid his knife in the fire. He needed to sterilize the knife so he could remove the bullet in Katherine's shoulder. Once it was heated he returned to where Erik was still holding her against him. Her head was nestled against his chest. When Lone Wolf knelt down with the red hot knife ready to put it against Katherine's skin, Erik grabbed Lone Wolf's wrist in a crushing grip.
"What are you going to do?" The thought of anyone touching Katherine with something so menacing brought out all his instincts to protect. In the back of his mind he knew he had to let someone remove the bullet, but it still seemed wrong that she would have to suffer pain again.
"Erik, we do not have much time. They are only about three hours behind us if we are lucky. I need to remove the bullet then close the wounds to stop the bleeding. If she loses any more blood she may die. Do not forget, I loved her as a sister long before you loved her as a man. I would do nothing to harm her."
Erik looked back down at the woman he held so closely to his beating heart. His heartbeats were connected to hers. If she...if anything happened to her he would not want to go on. This was not that same crazed kind of love he had for Christine all those years ago. That seemed a lifetime away from what he felt for Katherine. In his mind he would only think of her as his Katherine. He was in full control of his mind and all his faculties. He was deeply in love with her. He knew the reality of her love returned to him. Erik lifted his face to Matthew. All the love he felt for this woman was contained in that face, in his eyes, in his voice when he spoke, "Please, do what you can. I cannot lose her. I simply cannot." Erik's voice cracked on the last words. He felt tears gathering that he held at bay by sheer force of his will. He buried his face in the curve of her neck, pressing his lips to her hot skin. Erik wished he could draw the heat from her into his own body, draining every bit of the infection out of her.
Saying his own prayer, Lone Wolf put the tip of the knife in the wound on White Eagles shoulder. When the tip entered she jerked in pain. "Hold her still. I have a very sharp blade digging around blindly in her shoulder. One wrong cut and she could lose the use of her arm." Lone Wolf could have gone further and told Erik she could still lose her whole arm if infection set in. From the look of the redness around the wound and her fever, it looked as if she was already fighting an infection.
Erik held tightly onto Katherine. He placed his lips next to her ear and began to sing the notes of a song of love that had come to him the night before. Words to fit the notes seemed to come without thought as he sang to her. If he had thought to dedicate it to Katherine only in name, now he knew it would be her song and hers alone. No one else would hear it unless Katherine made the decision to share his music and words. He had written down the notes that came to him with a piece of charred wood, on the back of the paper with the map drawn on it. He had been frustrated until he had remembered the piece of paper in his saddle bag. He had been hoping to play the notes for her once they got back and he wrote the words to match his music of love. He prayed to every holy deity he could think of to give Katherine their blessing. The fear of losing her brought the words to go with the music he had written.
When Lone Wolf began to dig around in the wound, causing it to bleed heavily again, Erik had to restrain himself from interfering. He wanted to shove Lone Wolf all the way to hell for hurting her, even if his rational mind knew it had to be done. He wanted to shove him away from her to stop her pain. When at last Lone Wolf pulled the bullet from the wound he looked at it angrily as if her wound was all the fault of the bullet. Pulling his arm back as far as he could Matthew hurled it as far as he could.
"Raoul bring me two of those shells for the rifles." Raoul opened his saddle bag and carried the requested items to Matthew. When the two men looked on with a question in their eyes as he pried the first bullet apart he explained, "I will need the powder to pour on the wounds. I will then set the flame from the arrow against the powder to burn it, sealing the wounds. It will leave much less scaring than if I sealed it with a heated knife blade. It will seal completely as well preventing any further loss of blood."
Pouring about half of the powder from the first bullet on Katherine's shoulder Matthew then went to the fire to retrieve the arrow he had placed the tip of in the fire. Walking back he kneeled down stabbing the end in the ground. He placed his hands on his legs while looking at Erik to make sure he listened to him.
"Erik you must hold her tightly. This will hurt very badly. It will be quick but I must repeat the process three times. You cannot let her go to comfort her no matter how badly you will want to. Can you do this? If not say so now before we begin.
Erik could not speak so he simply nodded his consent. Matthew began the procedure that would seal Katherine's wounds.
Katherine groaned as the first sizzle of powder burned the skin where Matthew had poured the powder. Erik held her tightly wishing with everything he had that he could take this pain from her. The smell of her burned skin filled the air with a sickening odor. Darius and Raoul stepped further away. Grown men did not get sick just because of an unpleasant odor that was caused by someone's burning flesh. Little Quanah did not seem to notice anything amiss. It was unfortunately an odor she had smelled many times before.
When Matthew had finished Erik put Katherine's tunic back on her. She moaned, opened her eyes for a moment. Raising her hand she brought her hand weakly to his face. He kissed the palm of her hand. Closing his eyes he whispered, "I love you Katherine Montgomery. Do not leave me here alone. Please do not leave me."
"I love you too Erik. I am not ready to go to the spirit world just yet. I did not see my flaming star. So I must be go...ing to li...ve." As her words got softer and she struggled to get them out she finally passed back into unconsciousness.
Hastily they mounted up in silence. Erik would not relinquish Katherine. He settled her in front of him with Matthews help.
Darius feeling he had done his part passed the child back to Raoul. He more or less thrust her against Raoul's chest in a gesture that suggested he would let her drop if Raoul did not take her. Not that he ever would have, but his stoic face gave nothing away of his gentle nature. If Raoul had not taken her he would have endured.
Raoul looked desperately around to find Moon Shadow. It had been his intention to pass the little tike to her. She had her hands full with her horse as well as Katherine's. Sighing Raoul mounted up after first placing the little one on the front of his saddle. She gripped tightly to the saddle horn, grinning happily as he put his foot in the stirrup and hoisted himself up behind her. She began to chatter in her own language content to be the only one speaking. She was happy if Raoul gave an umhmm or a yes once in a while even if he had no idea what she said. Quanah's ride with Raoul was much the same as with Erik.
Quanah in her own mind had claimed the one Moon Shadow called Shadow Man. To her Erik became ShitaĆ” Shadow Man. She liked this man and the tall tree man but Shadow Man she liked best. Her shimaa had told her that she would not be around much longer to care for her. Her shimaa had been easing her to accept that things would be ending soon. Quanah had been far to stoic for a child of three considering her mother had been preparing her for death. The death of her mother as well as herself.
Raging Bear saw how much the man who hid his face cared for Katherine. He felt he should tell him how Katherine had saved him. Once they were on the move again he guided his horse toward Erik's. Moon Shadow had Katherine's horse tied to her saddle horn. She was riding alongside Erik, just slightly behind him. Raging Bear was next to her. He caught up with Erik within a few yards from where they had stopped.
"Man in mask, you love White Eagle?" Erik looked at this strangely dressed man. His long black hair was braided like a woman's. He had a leather band around his head with feathers sticking out of it. The beaded necklace around his neck held many colorful beads made from what Erik thought was clay. They were threaded on a long strand of leather.
Erik did not answer verbally. He feared he would lose his control once he began to speak, so he merely nodded. Raging Bear tried to think of the words for what he wanted to say. In the end he asked Moon Shadow to translate for him. He wanted no mistakes in the telling of White Eagle's bravery.
"I saw my flaming star tonight. If you do not know what that means for us I will tell you. It means our death is near. I should be the one dying not White Eagle. She moved behind me to block the bullets. She would not let me carry the child. Perhaps she was right in that as I am not as strong as I once was. White Eagle took my place in death. She took the flaming arrow meant for me. As a reward for her bravery the spirits may be kind. They may allow her to stay here with us. This is my hope, my prayer to all the holy spirits. White Eagle, more than anyone I know deserves to live the life she was meant to have. We have interfered in her life's destiny as it is. I hope that this interference led her to some happiness she would not otherwise have been blessed with. From this moment on she is as my daughter. Take care of her."
Moon Shadow told Erik what Raging Bear said. He made no reply. He could not take his eyes from Katherine. He just nodded his head as they continued on. Throughout the next day they kept the pace steady. Lone Wolf would back track to see if they had any followers and to cover their tracks. He left several false trails that might give them some extra time.
The sun was just coming up on the third day of their adventure. The front of Erik's shirt was drenched with Katherine's sweat. The blood that had soaked him had dried yesterday. He had wanted to rip that shirt from him, to rid himself of the further proof of how fragile Katherine's hold on life really was. She would not eat. Erik forced her to drink. She could only sip small amounts at a time without choking.
By later tonight they should arrive at Andrew's home. A trip that should have taken three days will have only taken them a day and a half. Man and horse alike were near the end of their endurance. The constant trek forward with little rest had taken its toll. The horses began to slow their pace of their own volition. No amount of nudging could force them into a faster pace. They had nothing left to give.
Matthew was pretty certain they had lost any trackers. He had seen no evidence of anyone the last few times he had backtracked. Katherine had gone from burning up to shivering. Her body shook so hard it was noticeable even to those who did not have their arms wrapped around her. At least her body was fighting off the infection or at least trying to.
By the time the sun had begun to sink down beneath the horizon Katherine was so feverish again she felt as if she had an inner fire. Along with that her chills had gotten worse. Her body was at war with itself. Her whole body was convulsing. She had begun to mumble in her delirium. She fought Erik's hold as if she fought an enemy who held her captive. Katherine's dreams were about the day her mother died and she was taken captive.
Darkness had descended when they at last saw the home of Andrew's mother. The one light downstairs where Andrew had indicated was the parlor was alight with the bright light of a lantern. It was decided that Raoul would go down first to knock on the door instead of everyone coming at once and perhaps frightening someone. They were not willing to chance any more slips at this point. Katherine's life was at stake.
Raoul looked around at the others. They did look like a rather scraggly group, unwashed and unshaved. Raoul perhaps was the most presentable as he had shaved and bathed just the morning before they had left Katherine's. He was grateful that since coming to America he had changed his bathing habits to the morning hours rather than the evening before bed. Rasping his hand over his whisker stubbled face Raoul sighed hoping he did not get shot while being mistaken for some vagrant tramp.
He passed Quanah to Moon Shadow. The little tyke would have none of that. She eyed Erik then sighed. She reached for Darius. Raging Eagle chuckled then said something to Moon Shadow that made her laugh lightly as well.
Raoul rode down stopping in front of the house. He dismounted tying his horse to the hitching post. As he walked up the steps to the front porch he looked around trying to see if there was any movement in the darkness. He saw nothing. Coming to the front door Raoul pulled the cord beside the door. He heard a ringing sound in the background. Soon he heard footsteps.
The handle jiggled on the door just before opening to show a tall thin man standing there in what Raoul presumed was a butlers formal uniform. The stark black and white would make a fine match for Erik's dress code of a few years ago.
"Yes may I help you sir?" The man eyed Raoul with a critical eye. He could probably quote to within a few dollars how much Raoul had paid for each item on his person. He had drawled his words as Raoul was becoming accustomed to true Southerners speaking. The sir had been more of a suh, than sir.
"I am Vicomte Raoul de Chagny. I am here to see Coralee Anne Richards. Her son Andrew I do believe informed her of our impending arrival. Might I speak with her?"
Just then the door to a room off the entry way opened with a thud against the wall. Several people rushed out among them were Nadir and Hayden.
