Chapter 2

Father Rupert crossed himself at least a dozen times. I had to smile. It was funny.

Susan had entered my room just before the good Doctor started with the bandages. When she looked and saw my chest, she fell to the floor in a faint. Elaine, who was standing beside her, didn't even notice. She simply stood there with her lovely, sensuous mouth open ... staring at me. The doctor said nothing.

"What? What is it? What's wrong? Did I grow a third arm or something?

No one answered. They just stared.

Calling to the butler, I asked for a mirror. With a trembling hand, Edmond (the ancient butler who had served our family for as long as I could remember) passed me my mother's pearl and diamond inlayed mirror. I wondered what I was about to see.

I too could not believe what my eyes were telling me. I told Edmond to bring me a brandy, immediately. I needed a drink, and this time not water. I looked around the room and no one had moved except Emily, the upstairs chambermaid, who was helping Susan to a chair.

I noted with interest that the fall had caused Susan's bodice to shift so that the fullness of her breast was revealed to my eyes. My view was quickly obscured as Emily noticed Susan's condition and corrected the misallocation of that thin piece of cloth that normally covers the delicious treasure chest.

I also noticed the look on Emily's face as she was handling Susan's predicament. It seemed to me there was an interest shown there, that was more than just concern for the clothing malfunction! I made a note to look into that in the near future.

Just then, my Mother made her entrance. I guess one of the servants had told her something had happened in my room, and in she came, a look of concern on her face.

"Good lord, Robert!" she exclaimed. "Why was I told you were near death, when I can see for myself you were NOT injured at all? Who's idea was this, to jest with me so cruelly? Richard will hear of this, and he will not be amused." Mother turned, and left my room in a huff. She was not pleased.

Her statement, while shocking, summed up my appearance in a nutshell. I was uninjured. No gaping wound where the surgeon had removed the arrow, no scar from where he sewed my body together again, no bruising from the arrow or from the blows to my armor acquired during the battle. There was nothing to show that I had been in that life or death struggle. Nothing!

Was I going crazy? Was I hallucinating? Was I dreaming?

I wasn't dreaming because Susan and Elaine weren't naked and in my bed. I don't think I was hallucinating because Edmond had not returned with the brandy yet. And I knew I wasn't crazy, so I too was at a loss as to what was happening. All I knew was that I was healed ... completely, irrevocably, and mysteriously healed.

"Out, every one out!" I ordered as Edmond finally returned with the brandy. "I want to be alone to think. Everyone leave! Edmond, close that door after this room is cleared. And send me food to go with this brandy!"

Edmond might be old, but he had a demeanor about him, with which no one trifled. Quickly, the room emptied, and the door was closed.

I picked up the mirror, and closely examined my torso again. Not a mark, not a scratch, not anything. I knew what I'd been doing when I was injured and now there was no evidence as to what had happened. I just couldn't believe what I saw in the mirror.

As I thought about the events that led up to that fateful moment when the arrow struck, one thing stood out. It was late in the afternoon, and the sky had suddenly darkened. The air itself had a feeling of being alive. I really can't fully describe how it was. It seemed that all my senses had heightened. I could see easily to the horizon, I could hear the noise of battle, and the clash of the swords. I believe I may have heard the twang of the bowstring that sent that vile missile toward me. I could easily smell the sweat on those around me, and that horrid, putrid smell of death.

Cedrick and Gilbert were to my left. I could see them amongst the foe, valiantly pushing back their aggressors. On my right, Sir Lawrence was besting all that were sent against him. He was a true swordsmaster. His hand and a half broadsword flashing occasionally when light did manage to penetrate this unnatural veil of darkness. Oh, how I envy his skill. We would pair up to practice the swords. Try as I might, I could not best him. I was truly glad to have him with us.

I'm not sure when the rain started. I realized it when, momentarily, my foot misstepped. Quickly, I regained steady footing. It was then I noticed the rain, along with an increase of the unnatural feeling in the air.

Our line advanced as the enemy line started to fall under our unrelenting attack. As we reached the top of a small hill, the first flash of lightning erupted around us. My senses were thrown into turmoil. The smell was unlike any I had experienced before. We were temporarily blinded by the brilliance for the light. For a time, we were deaf. Now all men of our company were alone within themselves, at the mercy of nature.