Cracked Chapter Two

Safety and Stubbornness

Alannah was sitting on the couch reading to Katarina and Michael when Stayne came bursting in. She watched in shocked bemusement as he ran into the bedroom, and came out carrying her traveling case. He slammed it onto the table, and then darted back into the bedroom, returning with an arm full of her clothes. He began cramming them into the case, and she finally found her voice.

"Ilosivic, what in Time are you doing?" she asked, startled.

Stayne ignored her, and ran into the kitchen, dumping the sugar bowl that held the key to the Potions Cupboard onto the counter. He unlocked the cupboard, yanking the doors open, and Alannah blinked in startled shock as he began rifling through the cupboard. She walked into the kitchen, and laid her hand on his arm. Stayne yelped, and turned to her.

"What are you doing?" she repeated, a note of panic in her voice. Stayne gulped, and shivered. "Ilosivic, what is going on?"

He shivered. "You need to leave. Go someplace safe. I don't care if you have to go to Overland. Take the children and get as far away from here as you can. I think there might still be enough Jabberwock blood in the kitchens for the three of you."

She gaped at him. "What? Why would you…" she finally caught a glimpse of his face. It was deathly pale, and his eye was shiny with horror. "Ilosivic, what happened?"

Stayne moaned in horror. "It…Witzend…something burned it. There was….these….things. They didn't even look….human."

Alannah put her hand in front of her mouth. "Who…?"

Stayne smiled savagely. "That we don't know. The survivors weren't really able to give an accurate description of the creature that did the damage. But all I know is that I haven't seen destruction like that since the Jabberwock, and I have the sickening feeling that this is just the beginning. So you need to go."

Alannah smiled softly, and spoke one word. "No."

Stayne gawped at her. She stared at him, determination in her gaze. "I'm not going anywhere. I'll send Katarina and Michael, and anybody else who wants to go, to Sullivan Hall. That's far enough away. But I'm not leaving you."

Stayne glared at her. "Love, you don't seem to understand. We may be facing war, and I'm damned if I'm going to let you fight in battle!"

Alannah's eyes flashed red. "An' I suppose me slayin' the Boojum was a walk in the bloody park? Ye seem tae fergit, 'usband o' mine that I've been in combat afore. So if ye're worried about me safety, don't."

"You weren't there, Alannah! You didn't see the bodies, smell the burnt flesh, and see the destruction! You have no idea what that's like! I've seen it TWICE!" Stayne shouted. "The screams….they still haunt me sometimes." He whispered quietly.

Alannah touched his cheek, and gazed into his eye. "Ilosivic, I am not going anywhere, and nothing you say will change my mind."

Stayne laughed in bemusement. "You are the most stubborn person I have ever met. Fine. You'd better make arrangements for Michael and Katarina to get to Sullivan Hall. I'll go find Tarrant, ask him if he wants to send Arianna and Josiah there as well."

Alannah nodded, and was about to head out of the kitchen when Stayne grabbed her, pulling her into a deep kiss. "I love you." He whispered harshly.

Twenty minutes later, Tarrant, Alice, and the children stood in the kitchen of the cottage. Alannah knelt in front of Katarina. "Now, remember. You're in charge of watching over the littler ones. So do a good job." She looked at Alice, who had volunteered to go to Sullivan Hall with the children. "Alice, watch over them." Alice nodded, and Alannah turned back to Katarina. "I'll come for you as soon as I can, I promise. Stay close to your brother." Katarina hugged her, and Alannah gently stroked her hair. "Hush, little one. You're going to be safe."

Katarina wiped her eyes on her sleeve, and looked at her Momma. "Am I going to have to drink the vile shukm?"

Alannah gaped at her in shock. "Katarina Stayne! Where did you learn that word?"

Katarina stared at her in childish solemnity. "From you and Daddy."

Alannah blushed. "Oh. Well, don't repeat it. It's a very nasty word. But to answer your rather startling question, no. You won't have to drink the Jabberwock blood. There's a carriage waiting for you."

Alice gently steered the children out the door, and Alannah turned to Stayne and Tarrant, who had identical expressions of barely suppressed amusement on their faces. "If either of you say one thing about Katarina cursing…." She left the threat hanging, and Stayne nodded, composing himself. Tarrant took a breath, and got himself under control. "We won't say one word, Alannah." He promised.

Alannah grinned savagely. "Good. Tarrant, I wonder if you would mind being my assistant." Tarrant shook his head, and she smiled. "Thank you. Ilosivic, go and get your soldiers ready for battle."

Stayne saluted. "Yes, My Lady."

After he left, Alannah turned to Tarrant, and pressed a sheet of paper into his hand. "Go get every thing on this list, and bring it back here."

He looked at the paper, and gulped. It was filled, front and back with names of herbs, flowers, and other potion making ingredients. "Uhhh…"

Alannah smiled. "It's easier than it looks. All the herbs in the gardens are labeled, so you'll have no problem. The flowers too, so get moving! There's a basket out by the bench that you can use to carry everything."

Tarrant nodded, and left the cottage. Alannah immediately began pulling large bowls out of the cupboard, setting them on the counter. She checked her stores, and sighed. She had enough ingredients for one healing potion. 'Good thing I sent Tarrant to replenish my stores.' She pulled the ingredients out, and began to concoct the potion.

Meanwhile, in the Outlands Humpty was having an argument with the Jubbersnatch. He had given his second command, only to have the creature-who should have been obeying him without a second thought-look at him in disbelief. "You want me to do what, Master?"

Humpty growled in rage. "Go to the Crimson Sea, and kill all the fish that live in it. Then, go to the White Sea and do the same! How hard is that to figure out?"

The Jubbersnatch blinked a sign of confusion. "And why do you want me to kill fish?"

"They insulted me! They wouldn't let me in the house when I asked them to, and I have never forgotten that!"

The Jubbersnatch sighed, knowing that it was bound to obey this madman. "Very well, Master. I will redress the wrongs that the fish did to you." It took off, heading towards the Crimson Sea, and Humpty watched it go, an insane smile on his face.

"Nobody insults Humpty Dumpty and gets away with it."

Author's Note-Yes, the fish did insult Humpty Dumpty in Looking Glass. Read the poem 'In Winter, When the Fields are White' to understand further.