Goblin Moon (33 page)

Kathy sat beside her and pulled the girl into her embrace. “We go on, baby. That's all that's left."

They sat in silence for some time. Neither of them heard their names being called nor would they have cared if they had. Their world was gone.

"Where have the two of you been? We've been looking everywhere.” Shayla waved a hand as she walked from a side hallway. “If you two want to talk to those men of yours, you'd better get a move on. They're being sedated."

Kathy slowly looked up and stared blankly at the Sorceress. Cairna didn't even respond with a glance.

"What's the matter with the both of you?” Shayla pursed her lips and clasped her hands. “Didn't you know they'd been brought here?"

Kathy swallowed hard, stood up and dragged Cairna up with her. “They're not dead?"

"Of course not. Tearach and Rome pulled Gawain out from under some burning timbers, and then they all jumped out a third story window in the back of the building.” She stared at them for a long moment. “I sent a man to tell you as soon as I learned of it. Obviously, he didn't find you. Come along, I'll explain as we go. They're down in the basement infirmary."

"They're alive, Kathy?” Cairna whispered.

"Come along, child,” Shayla urged. “Rome has been asking for you."

With Cairna still clinging to her, Kathy followed the Sorceress toward the basement.

"Pull yourselves together. Both of you,” Shayla softly suggested. Then she proceeded to explain. “When I learned of the explosion, I had my staff call in some of our physicians. Two got here about the same time the rain began. Because Gawain was bleeding so badly, he was brought straight to the castle. Those who saw them jump from the window decided, and rightly so, to bring in Rome and Tearach at the same time. Our physicians here have had their hands full with tending to Gawain, Tearach and Rome. As I said, we tried to find the two of you."

Kathy's heart beat faster with each step. She wanted to run ahead and find Tearach, but her whole body was shaking so badly it was all she could do to walk. She and Cairna were both openly sobbing by the time they got to the infirmary.

"There, there, you two,” Shayla comforted. “Rome has a nasty burn on his leg and a broken right arm. Tearach has a few broken ribs and a broken left leg. They both have some nasty bruises and a few wounds. Gawain, however, was very near the explosion. Owen and the other physicians are trying to help him now. And, I believe they might need you to assist, Kathy. Go to Tearach first. I'll send someone when you're needed."

When Shayla pointed to a door at the end of the hall, Kathy moved quickly toward it. Cairna followed her into the large room. Tearach and Rome were lying in hospital beds some distance from each other. The two women went to their respective men.

Tearach took one look at Kathy's face and knew she had believed the worst. Her lovely eyes were filled with tears as she stood at the end of his bed. The morphine he'd been given was taking its toll. “Come to me, love."

Kathy went to his open arms like nothing else in the world mattered. “I-I thought ... you never came out.” She sobbed against his shoulder, never wanting to leave that warm, safe place.

"There now, love. Don't cry so. Hush. Please, Kathy. I'm sorry you saw the building go down. It must have been horrible for you to relive what your father and fiancé went through.” He held her close and thrust his hands into her hair. The soft, golden strands were covered in soot and ash. “I knew the moment I ordered you to stay home that it was pointless. I shouldn't have wasted the air.” He glanced at his niece and saw that she was in much the same physical state.

"You know I don't like being told what to do,” Kathy reminded as she took several deep breaths.

When she lifted her head and he could look into her face, Tearach knew he'd forgive her anything. Nothing mattered but that they were safely back together. “Where is Tearyn?"

"She's with Clove. I know she's safe.” Kathy's hands were still shaking so badly Tearach must surely feel it. As if to confirm her thoughts, he pulled her back against his chest and held her. She finally pushed herself away to look him over. “Whatever made you think you could go running into a fire with Rome and Gawain? That's the craziest thing I've ever heard. None of you knows a damned thing about firefighting,” she gently chided and then kissed him to take away the sting in her words.

"We went in to get Gawain out. There were six others trapped in a room, and Gawain wouldn't leave until he'd reached them. He was very near the explosion and was so badly torn up that we had to force him to leave. He just wouldn't go without those people. You see, it wasn't as if we had a choice."

She gently kissed him again. “And jumping out the window? That sounds like your idea."

"It was. We didn't have any other way out. By the time we made sure everyone was gone, there was no place left to go except out the window. Luckily some dense bushes broke our fall and Gawain sort of landed on Rome and me."

"I think you probably planned it that way.” Kathy glanced down at his plastered leg. “So long as you're alive."

He tried to shake off the drug, but it was no use. The room just kept getting darker. He could hear Kathy's sweet voice and clung to the sound. He wanted to tell her how the loving charm, woven with her hair and the baby's, had brought him a great deal of luck. He remembered clutching the small pouch as he jumped from the window. One of those rendering first-aid to him said they'd had to pry it from his hand. It now lay safely in the table drawer beside his bed. He held fast to all these thoughts, and the sound of Kathy's soft, musical voice, as he fell into a dark, empty place.

For a few moments, Kathy watched as Tearach slept and perused his injuries. They were bad, but nothing that wouldn't heal. Kathy looked up to find Cairna smiling back at her from across the room.

"It'll be all right now, Kathy.” She stroked Rome's shoulder as he slept. “Everything will be all right."

Kathy nodded, closed her eyes and silently thanked God for the second chance they'd been given. As soon as Tearach woke, she promised to tell him all the words that should have been said. She'd never again assume there would be enough time to do so. Her heart was finally beating at a normal pace, and the world was in order again. But she knew from firsthand experience that things could have gone so differently.

The door to the room opened and a man beckoned to Kathy. She glanced at Cairna, who gave a reassuring nod that she would stay with both men. Kathy went into the hall where the agitated stranger was twisting his hands together and pacing.

"What is it?” She placed a calming hand on the man's shoulder to stop his anxious movements.

"Owen needs you in the surgery. They have to ... please come quickly,” he begged.

Kathy nodded and followed him through a series of corridors. They finally stopped outside the surgery doors. The man held up his hand, gesturing that she should stay put. Then he went into the room while she waited. Tearach was alive but others needed her. Kathy wouldn't fail them.

In a few moments, Owen stuck his head out the door and held it open for her. Kathy walked through and saw Gawain lying on a surgical table. A brunette woman was scrubbing up on the other side of the room. The man who had summoned her was gathering autoclaved equipment and surgical instruments. He put these on a tray.

"Can you scrub up and assist, Kathy?” Owen asked as he walked across the room and began to disinfect his hands and arms.

"Yes. I know the equipment and can follow any directions you want."

"Good. There are some surgical gowns in the next room. The man who summoned you is Bennet. He'll have the antiseptic you'll need laid out. This is Maureen.” He nodded toward the woman who was still washing up. “She'll be doing some invasive work, trying to stop Gawain's internal bleeding, and I'll have to work on his arm. If you can hand us equipment, it'll save time."

She nodded as years of professional training took over. “Right."

Without waiting to be told anything else, she went into the next room, found her gown and proceeded back to the scrub station Maureen and Owen had used. When she turned, Maureen was ready to help her put sterile gloves on. Kathy nodded in thanks and raised her mask. Under the circumstances, they were all doing the best they could, but the castle wasn't a hospital. She didn't know what kind of surgery would take place, but there didn't seem to be an anesthesiologist anywhere.

"Ready?” Owen looked at the two women. When they nodded, he approached the unconscious man.

When Owen pulled the sheet away from Gawain's body, Kathy stared at him in shock. There was a terrible wound in his lower left abdomen where something was impaled. His right hand, what was left of it, was hanging on by fragments of fascia and tendon. “You're going to have to take the hand, aren't you?"

Owen looked up. “You see how it is, Kathy. There's nothing left to save. If Tearach hadn't used his belt as a tourniquet, Gawain might have bled to death.” He took a deep breath. “We'll need the tray. Ready, Maureen?"

Maureen nodded and Kathy glanced quickly from one to the other. “Where is the anesthesiologist?"

"There isn't one. I've given Gawain morphine, so we're going to have to work fast."

Kathy swallowed hard and checked Gawain's motor responses and circulation on his good hand and his feet. Then she took his pulse and reached for a blood pressure cuff and a stethoscope.

"You were right, Owen. She
does
know what she's doing.” Maureen stared at Kathy and nodded in approval.

"Right.” He nodded. “Let's get started. I'm told the other physicians have just arrived. But we've got some serious smoke inhalation victims. They'll have to be monitored. If there's time, we'll have some help here. But, as I said, we're going to have to work fast."

Kathy watched as the surgery began. She checked Gawain's level of consciousness to make sure he wouldn't come out of his drug induced state. Then there was an intravenous line to run, blood pressure, circulation and respiration to be checked. She did all this every five minutes. The doctors were the best she'd ever seen. A London emergency theater, fully staffed and equipped, couldn't have done a better job. Maureen finished first. The bleeding was stopped, and she sutured the wound closed and checked the intravenous line.

"Good job on this, Kathy. First rate.” She picked up a vial, drew some fluid into a syringe and handed it to her. “Can you bolus this? It'll help fight off infection."

Kathy nodded, plunged the needle into the I.V. spigot, checked the intravenous bag and needle again, then watched as Owen finished. He discarded torn tissue and the remains of Gawain's hand in a trash receptacle and Kathy's eyes filled with tears over the tragedy. She prayed the loss wouldn't permanently affect the smiling, affable man she'd met.

Kathy turned to Owen. “What kind of explosion did this?"

"I was told the main kiln blew up and took almost half the building. The eastern end of it anyway. Gawain was supposed to have been working late with about fifteen others. Nine were killed instantly. Six got out, thanks to his, Tearach's and Rome's efforts. I suppose that's why this brute wouldn't leave.” He waved a hand at Gawain's body.

"Do you think he knew his hand would have to be taken?"

He shook his head. “Not the way I was told he moved about, even with his injuries. I'm sure he was operating on pure adrenaline. I don't believe he knew he was so badly hurt. Sadly, he'll certainly find out when he awakens."

Maureen walked to the door. “May I leave to check on some of the others, Owen?"

"Certainly. I'll stay with Gawain for a while and make sure he's stabilized. Will you help me, Kathy?"

"Go ahead, Maureen, I'll be here,” Kathy acknowledged and watched the other woman leave. “She's quite a surgeon."

"The very best,” Owen quickly responded.

Kathy watched his gaze. He stared at the doors through which Maureen had walked. She'd bet her very last farthing that the man was in love with the woman.

"Gawain once told me he has a family.” Kathy held Gawain's hand and pushed the brown hair off his burned and bruised face.

Owen picked up a tube of antiseptic and proceeded to apply it to his less severe burns. “A very large one as it happens. He has a sister and five brothers, and his parents should be here shortly, if they're not here already. I believe they were abroad. Shayla's staff had to notify them."

"I only just met him. He seems like such a kind man."

"He's the best. His artwork paid for just about everything we used tonight and then some. Now that this has happened...” Owen stopped and shook his head. “I don't know if he'll want to continue with his art. But I hope so."

Kathy shook her head in sadness. Sometimes life didn't seem very fair. First, all those lives had been lost. Now, Gawain lay injured with his hand amputated. She slowly helped Owen wrap the remains of his arm in a clean, sterile bandage. He might not thank Tearach for saving his life when he awoke. Not that the missing hand was something to die over, but amputees sometimes didn't see it that way. Some of them, when they found out what had been done, irrationally wanted to die. It often took counseling and patience to get them to see that life went on, and that their abilities hadn't diminished. Gawain would simply have to learn how to do things a different way. Surely, with such a big family, he'd find the love and support he needed. The kind she would share forever with Tearach.

As the minutes ticked by and Gawain showed signs of stabilizing, Kathy took a few moments in a nearby restroom to gather her wits. Serious matters began to cross her mind. All the goods that supported the Order's existence were being crafted within the Loft. Kathy stared at her reflection in a mirror, and felt a sudden kind of foreboding. So many beings depended on those art pieces and saleable goods. Others were now dead, killed while crafting them.

What would the Sorceress be able to conjure in the way of compensation? Not even
she
could replace all the materials and tools. Certainly, Shayla could do nothing to compensate the families of the dead. For them, life as they knew it stopped tonight. Before any other work could begin, the grieving families would have to be comforted. She'd been so very close to being one of them.