A short time later everyone was back in the common room of the manor. Most took seats by the fire, but Tirai went off some where and return shortly with two bottles, and several wooden shot glasses. "I think everyone will need a pick me up before heading to bed."
"It might take more than one, Aunt Tirai." Artrous commented.
"If it does, I'll be surprised." She handed each of them a shot glass and poured them a drink from the unlabeled bottle. She poured her and Jeno's from the labeled bottle.
"To hoping this is all over." Daniel saluted, and they all drank. Immediately everyone, but Jenos and Tirai were feeling like they drank liquid dragon fire.
"You win, Aunt Tirai," Artrous croaked as he attempted to stand, and make his way up the stairs with Irina trailing behind.
"Thanks," was all Alexander could croak out as he patted his father on the shoulder. He was very shaky making his way upstairs, but Daniel was behind him just in case.
Once the children were upstairs Jenos looked up at Tirai. "What did you give them?"
She poured Jenos and herself another glass from the labeled bottle. "Just a cups worth of Alexi's special Bartras reserve mixed with the pub's whiskey."
Jenos eyed the bottle, by now the effects of the drink she poured him were kicking in. "17 years old, Bartras reserve. No wonder they can barely walk, and we are drinking it straight."
"Not the first time. It was Alexis's and I's tradition. When it would get bad we would end up at the ring with a couple glasses and a bottle of this. Wouldn't make the pain go away but would dull it for a while."
"Tirai…"
"Don't worry about it. You stopped them. It is over, and the family is finally safe." She drank the last of her 2nd glass, "I'm going to make my way to my bed before these kicks in. You do what you feel you need to." She indicated the three quarters full bottle of whiskey. "I'll see you in the morning." She patted him on the shoulder and left him in front of the fire to think.
It was late that night when there was a pounding at the main door of the manor. At first Jenos wasn't sure if the pounding was in his head, but it was their front door. "This better be life or death," Jenos grumbled as he went to the door. By then the rest of the house were awake and had their weapons at the ready.
"Who is it and state you business!" Jenos shouted through the door.
"It's me, Wallace. Please open the door!"
Carefully, weapon at the ready, Jenos opened the door. To see Wallace barely hanging on to his horse, both were covered in blood.
"Wallace!" Iriana shouted from behind the men. The banging having awoken her.
Jenos, and Daniel helped him inside and onto the table; while Artrous and Alexander took his horse to the stable. By the time Jenos and Daniel had Wallace out of his around Rachel and Irina were back with the healing kit.
"What happened?" Jenos asked.
"Ambush … "he got out between winces. "They had all of us. I managed to get away."
"Who was it?"
"Don't know but they were taking us," he said out of breath, "to Gladston Abby."
"That's three days ride from here." Daniel commented.
It was then that Artie and Alexander walked back in, "What is 3 days ride away?"
"Gladston Abby," Daniel repeated. "Where is Tirai? Where is my sister?"
"They have her". Wallace said somewhere between a snob and a growl.
"Why didn't you rescue her?" Daniel picked Wallace up by the front of his bloody shirt.
"I tried." Between snobs, "She made me go."
The whole time Jenos was pacing fingering his greatsword sword. "Daniel, let him go!"
"Daniel!" the Elder Tirai glared at him.
"Yes sir." Daniel let him go and stepped away from him.
"Daniel, Artrous, Irina how quickly can you muster some troops?" Jenos was not going to let his emotions get to him. For now he had to get his daughter back.
"We can have a squad of troops within the hour, Sir. We have a few people who owe us favors." Artrous stood at attention.
"I've got some friends from the fight club. They will help." Daniel straightened up, and his 'military mask' in place.
"Understood, meet us at the main gate in an hour, no later other wise we ride with out you."
Both men saluted and hurried away.
"Irina, get us horses, preferably Dindah. We will be in for a long hard ride." Irina nodded and hurried away.
Lastly Jenos turned to Alexander, "Alex I need you to stay here." Before Alex could say anything Jenos held up a hand to forestall him, "I know you want to help but I need to you to stay here, not because you are the youngest, but because I trust you to look after your aunts, sister in law, and their children. I need you to watch our back. Can you do that for me?"
"Yes sir." Alexander nodded that he understood. "Permission to go to the temple to get help."
Jenos couldn't help the slight turn up of the corners of his lips, "Get the supplies, and any help we will need." He squeezed his son's shoulder, and then Alexander was off in a flash.
"I will stay here and help guard the women and children sir. I may only have one eye but I won't let anything happen to my family sir." Michael came out of the kitchen with a long sword and chain shirt.
"Let's hope you don't have to use those." Jenos sighed.
At the appointed time Daniel, and Artrous had 50 men on horseback waiting for them. Irina had Dindah horses waiting for herself, Daniel, Artrous, and Jenos.
"I'll take point, you all follow the best that you can." However just as he was about to spur his horse someone shouted.
"I will take point sir!"
All of them turned to see a still battered but determined Wallace ride up to them.
"You are still hurt." Irina commented.
Wallace glared at her, "Yes I am hurt but I'll be dammed if I let you go out and rescue my wife with out me." He looked to Jenos .
"Very well. Just do as you are told." He said loudly, then aside to him, "I know you are hurting but I don't want you to do anything stupid. Trust me when I say I know how you feel."
"Let's go get Tirai." Wallace spurred his horse out the gate.
Author's Note: I've got more to this story but I've got writers block on how to go from here to the final 2 chapters. I'll post them soon as they are finished.