In his knelt-down form, only kind words came from the large man, all aimed at the fragile form of his daughter. His tears faded, and his resolve came back.
Vayreban: Amelia, my darling! (stroking her hand and speaking to her in a comforting tone.)
Amelia lay on the bed, breathing much calmer now, but still sweating from the ordeal.
Vayreban held onto the small doll-like wrist, caressing it with his thumb. He reached for the edge of the quilt and covered her. She was now enveloped in comfort.
The maid and butler attended to the healer, who was still flat out on the ground.
A few minutes passed.
Gradually coming to, with the help of Louvan's hand slapping his face.
Hyrne: Eral, can you hear me? Eral? (worried.)
A noise came from the splayed-out form on the floor.
Eral: (Groaning.) Sadly… Yes, yes, I can. Not so loud; also, can you stop with the slapping? My door took enough for the both of us.
Hyrne rolled his eyes.
Louvan: Even at a time like this, you make light of the situation. Still, it's good that you're okay. I will slap you like the door if you keep it up. (smiling and joking in a playful tone.)
- A firm voice broke the levity that started to fill the room from the trio.
Vayreban: Healer, Will she... will she be okay? (sounding worried.)
Catching his breath, Eral started to hold onto the two that were lifting him up off the bedroom carpet.
Eral: Yes, the incantation worked like a charm. (coughing) I will give Hyrne some recovery potions when I get back on my own two feet; don't worry, she will be golden in no time. I'm sorry; it takes a lot out of me. (I'm coughing much harder now.)
Eral smiled at the Lord and Amelia.
Vayreban: Healer… No, Sir Eral. Thank you. Please get some rest. Hyrne! Take him to my room; it's much closer.
Eral: I've never slept on a Lord's bed before. It must be better than that carpet. Also, Hyrne, he called me...
The man holding him up interrupted Eral and his jesting.
Hyrne: Lord, we will take him to your quarters. I will be back as soon as he is settled.
Hyrne and Louvan supported the man in their grasp and left the room, all three talking to each other in good spirits as they turned left, heading deeper down the hall to the lord's quarters.
The lord of the manor turned to his right, and just as Hyrne did before him, he stared into the shadows of the back wall.
Vayreban: Rubern. I know that you are there. WHAT HAPPENED! (The now calm demeanour faded.)
The once soft-looking eyes of the Lord were now glaring into the soul of Rubern.
Rubern: It was a cara, sir!
Silence fell between them as the boy's father put up his left hand, breaking through the red cloak.
Vayreban: A cara? How is that even possible? There is no way for one to get onto the manor grounds. Where did you find her?
Rubern: I found her near the broken wall. She was lying in the dirt. I heard the cara howling, and then a light came from the forest. (melding his answers into one.)
Vayreban looked the boy up and down; he indeed saw mud and blood on his clothes and the fear in his eyes.
Vayreban: You mean the light from the warding totem. The one beyond the broken wall? (His eyes are moving to his left in thought.) What were you doing out there? She would never. (He stopped.) Was she alone? (He was hinting at a question he already knew the answer to.)
The boy sheepishly put his head down.
Rubern: I was by the manor looking for her when I heard screaming and recognized it was from Amelia. As I got closer, I noticed it was coming from the broken wall; that's when I found her. (Pausing.) No, she wasn't alone... (His head is still facing the ground.)
Vayreban: He was with her, wasn't he? That boy, he must have taken her there. Amelia would never enter the forest on her own; she knows better (looking back at Amelia). But him. Where is he now? (in an angry tone)
Rubern: (slowly nodding his head up and down once.) Yes, he was. I saw him leave the forest soon after we got Amelia inside. He was heading towards his shack.
He rose from the side of the bed and flung his cloak down in one smooth motion, a burning determination in his eyes.
Vayreban: GUARD! (commanding.)
A man in silver armour stumbled into the room, not entirely out of incompetence; it was a mixture of no sleep and the fear of the look present in his lord's eyes.
Guard: YES! My Lord, what is it?
Vayreban: You will accompany me to the edge of the manor; tell the other guard to stay here and watch over Amelia and Rubern.
The lord of the manor turned and left the room; the guard followed in tow, quickly relaying the orders to the other man waiting outside.
Rubern slowly moved to his sister's bed.
A soft voice broke into his mind; it was his sister.
Amelia: Run… Run... (muttering)
He moved closer.
Rubern: Amelia, it's me, your brother... You are safe now!
Amelia: Run. Tristyn, don't. Don't leave me (muttering).
Rubern reached for his sister's hand.
Amelia moved away and turned over, still muttering in her sleep.
The boy moved from her bed, allowing her to sleep in peace. Moving towards the window, he sat down on the wooden chair, both hands on his lap.
The howling wind started to rattle the window beside him. He turned instinctively and saw the dark clouds in the distance, heading towards the edge of the manor.
The guard by the door spoke as he watched Rubern stare into the dead of night.
Guard: Amelia will pull through. Eral is a fine healer; see this arm; he saved it. Just wait; she will be back to normal in no time.
After comforting the boy with his words, he knew they fell on deaf ears. He moved back to the hallway, shadowing both of them with his eyes.
Rubern started to cry; he wanted to go outside so he could hide his tears in the coming rain.
Rubern: (Rubbing his face with his sleeve.) No, Vayreban's don't cry. How dare you Tristyn! How dare you leave Amelia!
He bawled his hands into fists. His tears faded, and his squinting eyes turned into anger.
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The night grew ever darker as the clouds started to flow across the manor, engulfing the lord's lands in a sea of rain. As both men made their way to the rundown shack at the edge of the Lord's domain,
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