Here’s part five of The Crossing. For those of you who haven’t already read them, or for anyone who wants to refresh their memory of what happened, here are the links to Part One, Part Two, Part Three and Part Four. Enjoy!
The Crossing: Part Five
Genre: historical: early C13th England
Part Five
Dair was barely conscious, mumbling unintelligibly as the forester carried him. Lanky as the youth was, he’d not yet gained the bulk of adulthood. His weight was easy to bear. Soon they reached the free-holding, Randel shouting Aislin’s name as they approached.
“Randel? What…?” Her eyes widened as she saw his burden, relief and hope displacing the shadows of grief. “Oh, my boy…” She held the door wide.
“Pull a pallet to the fire,” he instructed, striding towards the central hearth. “We need to warm him. Then he’ll need a drink. Not too hot. Milk with honey would be good.”
“What happened? Where did you find him?”
Randel shook his head as he deposited his charge, piling every fur and blanket available atop the boy before answering. “Found him in the forest and he weren’t exactly talking. He was drenched so I’d say he’s been in the river. Other than that, I’ve no idea.”
Coaxing Dair to full consciousness Aislin encouraged him to drink. Randel watched with a satisfied smile as bruised eyes fluttered open and the realisation that he was home settled over the exhausted youth.
“Ma…?”
“You’re home, my boy. You’re safe.”
“And that’s my cue to leave,” Randel informed the pair. “I’ll get Old Hilda to visit to make sure he’s healing.”
“You’re leaving?”
“I’ve a job to do, Aislin. Your husband’s killers won’t catch themselves.”
“The bandits…” Dair jolted up. “They… they…”
“We’ll catch them.”
“No. I… I can help. I know where they make camp.”
Word Count: 250
An Enchanted Place 
Ahh the plot thickens and continues. So happy to read that. You have a brilliant start to something very interesting, at least to me. Great writing, Louise.
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Thank you, Carrie! This story has taken on a life of its own. It may well end up as a whole novel eventually! I’m glad you like it. 🙂
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That is what I LOVE to hear. How exciting. Great names so far too!!
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🙂
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Getting betterer and betterer! Loving this story, Louise 🙂
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Wow! Really gripping and wonderfully written.
The characters names are great and well researched, I hope this will one day become a novel.
Looking forward to the next part.
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I love this story and I am so glad that he is safe at last!!
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Thank you! 🙂
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I will have to make time to go back to the beginning and will!
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Thank you. 🙂
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Oh, Dair, you need to regain your strength before haring off after the bandits! Home and safe, but it looks like he might be back in danger pretty soon.
I’m enjoying your story 🙂
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I doubt Dair’s mother will be letting him out of her sight until she’s sure he’s well! And thank you. I’m enjoying writing it – though this part took a while longer to come together than the previous ones. 🙂
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I really like this series – I read this one first and then had to go back and read the others. I hope you are writing more!
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Thank you! I will be writing more – I’m enjoying it too much to stop! 🙂
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