Unbroken Kingdom

by Lorie Gurnett

  A few random wounded soldiers drew close and surrounded Katerina and Delores. “I failed you, my lady,” one soldier whispered.

  Without looking up, Katerina sighed. “Salvage cloth. I’ll prepare Princess Delores’s body. She’ll be returned to Treasure Kingdom.”

  “Right away, Lady Kat.” Three soldiers searched among their fallen comrades for rope and cloth to bind Delores’s body while Katerina slowly removed Delores’ armour.

  Katerina desperately rubbed the pooling flood of tears from her eyes as she focused on the task at hand. Her shoulder slumped as she thought about the first soldier’s response. If they only knew, I was the one who failed them... Her thoughts were interrupted as the soldiers lay cloths beside her. She nodded a thank you and wrapped Delores’s body. Once secured, she turned to the small group of soldiers. “I cannot lift the body. Can you place Delores on my horse?” Katerina asked.

  Four soldier’s nodded and carefully lifted Delores’ body over Katerina’s horse. Katerina gathered Delores’ armour and said, “We will bury her armour here, with the fallen soldiers. This place will be a memorial for all we have lost.” The four soldiers who had lifted Delores’ body onto the horse hurried back to Katerina and started scooping mud and dirt away, forming a shallow grave beside Katerina. She slowly turned and slid the armour into the grave, and each one took turns throwing dirt over it. “As armour protects and unifies our army, so shall this unify the dead in their defeat,” she said as she threw the last of the dirt over the armour. The last 8,000 soldiers and Katerina wasted no time as they built graves from Delores’ armour and took the time to bury each fallen soldier.

  It was the dead of night before Katerina, and the surviving soldier walked slowly through the castle gates. Four soldiers removed Delores’ bound body from Katerina’s horse and carried it into the castle. What have I done? I don’t deserve to serve. I’ll find you, Mother and Sam. I’ll get you back. Katerina made herself a promise and followed the soldiers into the castle.

  The ambulance pulled up to the hospital as nurses rushed out to pull Senora’s stretcher into the emergency room. Robert slowly climbed out and was led to a different emergency room for another nurse to assess his wounds. “Don’t worry about me. Take care of Nora!” Robert yelled.

  “She’s not my patient. Others are attending her. Now, lay back and let me look at your arm,” the nurse demanded. Robert begrudgingly lay down as the nurse cut away the bandages. “Strange.”

  “What’s so strange? I burned myself on something when I removed the fence post to free Nora from the fire.”

  “What did you burn yourself on?” the nurse asked.

  “I don’t know. It was something hidden in the hay, I guess. Why?”

  “Because it is in the perfect shape of an eagle.”

  “An eagle? Are you sure?”

  “Take a look for yourself.” Robert looked down at the bloody burn on his arm. It looks just like Senora’s eagle pendant.

  “Her necklace must have fallen off,” Robert replied.

  “Whose necklace?” the nurse asked. Robert’s attention was drawn to the next room. He heard the nurses and doctors connecting machines to Senora’s body. Please let her be ok. We cannot lose her. Not now.

  “Nora has an eagle necklace that she always wore. But she doesn’t have it on her now. So, it must have fallen off in the barn somehow. That must have been what burned me.”

  “Ok, it’s fine. You’ll just have an eagle scar on your arm that’s all. Let me finish cleaning it so I can re-bandage it. Once you’re all bandaged up, you’ll be free to go.”

  “Go? I’m not leavin until I know how Nora is.”

  “Then, you’re free to wait in the waiting room.” She finished dabbing antibacterial ointment on Robert’s wound, placed clean gauze and bandages over it, and handed him a glass of water and a cup with Benadryl to swallow. “There, you can go wait for your friend now.” Robert stood and walked to the waiting room right as Josiah and Sylvia ran in through the hospital doors.

  “Bobbie, are you alright? How’s Nora? We brought your truck. Mom and Dad called your mom, and they’re on their way,” Josiah said as he handed Robert his keys.

  “I’m fine. They didn’t have to call my mom. I don’t really want to see her right now. The doctors and nurses are still working on Nora. I haven’t heard anything yet.” Robert sighed as he sat in the waiting room with Josiah and Sylvia.

  Josiah wrung his hands together, “Did you see the soles of her shoes when the ambulance arrived? They were completely melted. Why was she in the barn, anyways? The horse chores were already done. There was no need for her to be in there.”

  Sylvia placed her hand on Josiah’s shoulder. “I don’t know why, but we need to have faith Jo that God will bring her back to us.”

  “I know, Sylvia. I just don’t do well when I don’t have all the facts. How did the fire start, anyways?”

  “The fire department will investigate that,” Robert declared, trying to provide some comfort. Josiah’s parents arrived with Robert’s mom.

  “Any news on how Nora is doing?” her dad asked.

  “Nothing yet,” Robert replied.

  Robert’s mom sat next to him and gently touched his arm. “You’re hurt.”

  He pulled his arm away from her.

  “You didn’t need to come. As you can see, I’m fine. Just pray Nora’s going to be ok.”

  “I…” Robert’s mom mumbled.

  “We’re not discussing this now,” Robert snapped sharply and stormed to the other side of the room.

  Soon, the doctor entered the waiting room. “I would like to speak with the family of Senora Fredrickson.” Senora’s parents, Josiah, and Sylvia stood. “She’s stable and resting. Her feet took the worst of it. But only second-degree burns. She should be up and running in no time.”

  Senora’s dad shook the doctor’s hand. “Thank you so much, Doc. Can we see her?”

  “Yes, I’ll have one of the nurses show you to her room,” the doctor replied as he called a nurse over.

  Robert turned and left the waiting room. He headed for his truck and drove away. Thank God, she’s going to be ok, but I need answers, Robert prayed as he turned his truck down the gravel road toward the Fredrickson home. When he pulled up to the house, the barn still had smoke pouring out of it, and a few firefighters lingered to put out hot spots.

  He slowly made his way to the spot where he had found Senora lying. The fence post lay where it was dropped. Kicking debris and ash around the area, he soon saw something metal. He ran over to one of the firefighters and asked for a cloth. The firefighter warned him he should not be there. Robert slumped his shoulders and ran into the house, grabbed a kitchen towel, and ran back where he found the piece of metal. Picking it up using the kitchen towel, he placed it in his pocket, and ran back into the house before the firefighters could protest. Using the kitchen sink, he unwrapped the metal and ran it under cold water. Soon, the eagle shape became more vivid. He tossed the kitchen towel in the sink and wrapped the necklace around his hand.

  Robert ran out of the house, jumped back into his truck, and spun away, leaving a trail of dust behind him. He rushed down the gravel road heading back toward the hospital. I need to get this back to Nora. As he neared the stop sign, he stepped on the brakes, but the back wheel swerved. Robert tried desperately to regain control, swerved to the left, and back to the right. Soon his hood headed straight for the steep ditch. His truck nose-dived, flipped over, and the roof crushed down on Robert’s head. Broken glass flew around him as the world spun out of control. The little truck finally came to a halt in a nearby farmer’s field. Robert’s bandaged arm hung out the driver’s window. His face was full of cuts as it rested against the steering wheel, and his other hand hung freely between the seats. Blood dripped off his hand and down over the eagle pendant.

  5

  The Rescue

  “I’m sorry to bring your family into our life traumas. I shouldn’t have come,” Robe
rt’s mom complained as she paced the hospital waiting room.

  Senora’s mom walked up to her and placed her hands on her shoulders. “You’re speaking nonsense, Sarah. Robert was hurt too. You needed to come and see if he was alright.”

  Sarah hung her head, her shoulders shaking as she sobbed. “Yes, but now Bobbie has stormed to who knows where and I’m keeping you from spending the time you need with Nora.”

  Her mom shook her head and hugged Sarah. “It’s fine. The doctor did say to not overwhelm her now that she’s awake. So, keeping visitors in moderation is good. I’ll see her in a few minutes.”

  “Thank you, Tanya.” Sarah cried into Tanya’s shoulder.

  “Of course. What’re friends for? If you want to talk about it, I’m here for you.” Tanya rubbed Sarah’s back to comfort her.

  “I just don’t know how to mend Bobbie’s relationship with his dad. They both are so angry. At least Tony has been going through counseling in prison. He really has changed and wants to make amends with Bobbie. But even at the mention of his dad, Bobbie goes on the defensive and won’t listen.”

  Tanya pulled Sarah out to look her straight in her eyes. “Maybe that’s the problem.”

  Sarah shifted her feet and stared at the floor. “What do you mean?”

  Releasing Sarah, Tanya placed her hands on her hips and tapped her foot. “You can’t mend something that only God can. It’s not your job to mend their relationship. Your job is to love them and pray for them.”

  Sarah nodded without looking up. She turned and shuffled toward an empty chair. “Thank you. Will you help me pray?”

  Tanya relaxed her posture and slid into the chair next to Sarah, resting her arm around Sarah’s shoulder. “Of course.”

  The two mothers bowed their heads to pray right as the ambulance pulled up. One EMS ran into the emergency room. “We have a young man, age nineteen. Head trauma, multiple fractures, victim of a motor vehicle collision.”

  Four nurses came running to help bring the young man into the emergency room. “Quick prep for surgery. Notify his family! We need to alleviate the pressure, or we’re going to lose him,” the EMS announced.

  Sarah looked up with a start when she heard the age of the young man coming into the emergency room. She stood and looked over right in time to get a small glimpse of what looked like Robert on the stretcher. “No! Bobbie?” Sarah ran toward all the commotion. A nurse stepped in front of her.

  “I’m sorry, but he needs to go into surgery immediately. You’ll need to wait in the waiting room. What’s your relationship to the victim?” the nurse questioned.

  “No! No! What happened? He was just here. That’s my son.” Sarah yelled.

  “I’m sorry; the doctor will update you when he can, but for now, I need to ask you to wait. If we don’t prep him for surgery now, we won’t be able to save him.” Tanya ran to Sarah and embraced her. The two ladies went back to the waiting room, looking back to get a last glimpse of Robert.

  Josiah walked to the waiting room to see what had happened and saw Sarah crying uncontrollably into his mom’s shoulder. “What’s going on, Mom?”

  “Oh, Jo, when it rains, it definitely pours. EMS just arrived with Bobbie. I guess he was in a car crash. He’s in surgery now. We have to wait to hear from the doctor. I guess he has head trauma, and they weren’t sure if he would make it through the surgery.” Tanya whispered.

  Josiah soaked a piece of gauze in a tap and dabbed the back of his neck. “I’m so sorry Sarah. If there’s anything I can do, let me know.”

  “Pray,” Sarah whispered, barely able to get the one word out between sobs.

  “I am. We need to trust that no matter what happens, God still has a plan.” Josiah walked toward Sarah and gently squeezed her shoulder.

  “Thank you, Jo.” Sarah’s body shook with her silent tears.

  “Mom, Nora wants to see you,” Josiah said. Tanya nodded and stood. Josiah sat beside Sarah and held her hand.

  Tanya entered Senora’s room as she opened her eyes and looked toward the door. Seeing the torment behind her mom’s eyes, she asked, “Mom, what happened?”

  Tanya rushed to Senora’s bedside and reached for her hand. “Do you remember anything?”

  With her free hand, Senora rubbed her forehead. “Not much. I thought I saw someone I used to know.”

  Pulling a stair closer to the bed, Tanya sat down, taking Senora’s hand again. “Who?”

  The room spun as she tried to remember the events that had occurred. “I-I’m not sure.”

  Stroking Senora’s arm, Tanya leaned closer. “Do you remember the fire?”

  She sat up straighter in her bed, eyes growing wide. “There was a fire? Was anyone hurt?”

  Tanya lowered her head and fiddled with the sheet on Senora’s bed. “You hit your head.”

  Reaching to pull at the sheet to uncover her feet, Senora kicked and squirmed. “Why do my feet hurt?”

  “They got burned. But the doctor said they will heal with time. Nora, Bobbie saved your life. He found you unconscious in the barn. Why did you go to the barn?”

  “I…” Senora got a flash of Katerina’s face. “I don’t remember.” Senora relaxed her feet and fiddled with the sheet, too, avoiding eye contact.

  “Listen, you’re just waiting to be transferred upstairs into a hospital room. But until one is available, you need to rest in the ER.” Tanya stood and straightened her sheets, tucking them under the mattress.

  Wiggling the sheet loose, Senora reached for her mom’s hand. “What was all the commotion a bit ago?”

  Tanya pulled out of Senora’s grasp and stepped back. “You should rest now.”

  Senora painfully sat up in her bed. “Mom, what aren’t you telling me?” Tanya’s eyes filled with tears.

  Wiping a tear from her eye, Tanya hung her head. “Nora, it's Bobbie.”

  She clenched her fists and madly pushed the sheet on the floor, swinging her feet over the side of the bed. “What? What about Bobbie? I thought you said he saved my life. Did he get hurt doing so?”

  Tanya rushed to Senora’s side and pushed her back into bed. “No.”

  Throwing her head against the pillow, tears tung her eyes. “Mom, what is it?”

  As she picked up the sheet off the floor and placed it back on Senora, Tanya kissed her cheek. “Oh, Nora, after you were admitted into the hospital, Bobbie had a fight with his mom, and drove off. EMS just brought him in. He was in a car crash.”

  “What’re you saying, Mom? He’s going to be ok, isn’t he?” Senora was filled with panic as she kicked at the sheet again to get out of the bed. It took all Tanya’s strength to secure her.

  “He’s in surgery now. We won’t know how he’s doin until the doctor informs us. They weren’t sure if he would survive the surgery.” Senora sat there punching the bed, and Tanya embraced her. Holding her firm, Senora sobbed into her mom’s shoulder.

  “Mom, Bobbie’s the strongest person I know. He has grown and learned so much in the last few years. His life can’t end like this. I know he’ll be alright; I just know he will.” Senora reached for her eagle pendant subconsciously. Wait! It’s not there? Fear bubbled below the surface; her jaw dropped. “Where’s my pendant?”

  “You must’ve lost it in the fire.”

  Discouraged and tired, Senora lay her head back down on her pillow.

  “Mom, please let me know once you hear about Bobbie.” Senora’s mom slowly rose from the bed.

  “I will, Nora. Rest now.” Tanya left the room and walked back to the waiting room. She saw Sarah crying into her hands. Josiah and Sylvia sat praying next to her. Mark, Senora’s dad, met her in the hallway and hugged her. The two joined the rest in prayer for Robert’s surgery and recovery.

  Three hours later, the doctor entered the waiting room. “I need to speak with the family of Robert Stevens.”

  Sarah stood. “I’m Bobbie’s mother. How is my son, Doctor?”

  “Well, he survived the surgery, but he’s
in a coma. When his car flipped, the roof came down on his head hard. I was able to reduce the swelling, but now the battle’s up to him. Only time will tell,” the doctor warned.

  “Can I see him?” Sarah asked.

  “He’s stable, so yes, you can see him. Just one person at a time for now.”

  “Thank you, Doctor,” Sarah replied as a nurse led her to Robert’s room.

  She entered and pulled a chair up to the side of Robert’s bed. “Damn you and your temper. I just hope your stubbornness will keep you fighting. You’ve so much more left to live for.” She kissed Bobbie’s hand.

  A nurse came in with a bag of clothes. “Sorry to bother you, but he had these things on him when EMS brought him in.”

  Sarah politely took the bag of clothes. Looking inside, she saw Senora’s necklace. Pulling the necklace out, her rage began to rise. “Is this what you were doing? You risked your life for a stupid necklace?” Sarah threw the necklace on the hospital floor and walked out of the room. She walked back to the waiting room. “I can’t see him like that. Can someone else please sit with him?” She stormed over to a waiting room chair and crumbled into it.

  “I’ll go,” Josiah announced as he rose and walked to Robert’s room. He walked toward the bed when his foot kicked something. He looked down to see Senora’s pendant. “Wait, what is this?” He reached down and picked it up. “Nora’s necklace? How did it get here? Bobbie, did you go back to the fire and get it? You know, your life is worth more than this piece of metal. You’re not alone, and you’re stronger than you think. Don’t give up.” Sylvia entered the room and placed her hand on Josiah’s shoulder.

  “Jo, is he goin’ to be ok? If you need me to, I can sit with him for a while. You should let Nora know what’s happening. Mom’s trying to console Sarah.”