Chapter 118: First Flight Part 4
***
The driver escorted Cal to the door of her home. She walked in, climbed to her room, and fell into bed, waving at Beth on the way up the stairs. Sleep took her before her head hit the pillow.
Cal dreamed about the men in navy uniforms attacking. O'Brien dying with a knife in his back. She fought against the blankets. Noise from downstairs dragged her from slumber. The students must have finished some important exam to be causing such a row. She considered going to tell them to quiet down but decided not to spoil their fun. Cal closed her eyes and went back to sleep.
Hunger pangs woke her. Cal changed out of her leather and engineering clothes and put on a simple dress. She left her room then stopped at the top of the stairs. The stairs and hallway below looked like a battlefield. Red stains marred the parquet. The furniture lay in pieces; the walls were slashed with holes here and there. The rail on the stair had been broken, so Cal descended carefully and went to the dining room.
"Oh, you're awake." Beth smiled at her. "I'll get something for your breakfast."
"That would be nice." Cal sat in a chair and sighed. "What happened?"
"Not long after you went to sleep someone knocked on the door. When I answered it, they pushed into the hall with four other men behind them. I screamed and tried to run. The students came out of the parlour and charged the men, who let me go. More ruffians come in through the back door. They tried to get up the stairs to where you were sleeping and those lovely people from the embassy stood on the stairs and didn't let one of them pass. The police came and hauled the men away, not that they had much work left to do after those students and the Zithayans were done."
"Anyone hurt?" Cal's hands shook, she didn't know whether from anger or shock.
"None of ours." Beth shrugged. "After the fight, Pentam and his family went to visit the Zithayan embassy. Crysabel was understandably shaken. They'll be leaving in a couple of weeks anyway now the boy has passed his dissertation and is officially Dr. Pentam Booksdale, Ph.D."
"So many people putting themselves in harm's way for my sake." Cal took a breath and tried to stop the shaking. "Bundo, McAllen, and it could have been you too."
"Haven't you heard about Bundo? One of the students said he was in the hospital."
"I must go see him."
"Not until after breakfast. After that, then Hans will take you."
The hospital smelled of blood and carbolic acid. A nurse guided Cal to the room where Bundo lay on a bed. Damp sheets covered his body and arms. At first, Cal feared him dead, but his chest moved.
"The cloth is for his burns," the nurse said. "I've never seen someone so burned and live. God willing, we will keep him alive, but his injuries are beyond us. Some people came from an embassy. They left herbs and ointments. The doctor is using them as it's more than what we'd have on our own."
"Pentam must have sent them." Cal leaned over Bundo. "Hold fast, my warrior." She went from there to the Zithayan Embassy where she asked for Hyansea at the gate. The guards waved her through. She met her friend in the hall. Hyansea led her to a room where Pentam and Crysabel sat with the twins. They were practicing their Zithayan, voices not as musical as the native speakers, but they didn't stumble over words.
"This one must apologize." Hyansea bowed to Cal. "The people we sent to your home were more than we said they were."
"I heard they repelled an attack on the second floor of my home."
"Nyian and La are skilled warriors. We heard rumours and knew your home was being watched. We wished to keep our friends safe."
Cal stood and bowed low.
"This one is in debt for your kindness. Your warriors kept my friends safe."
"Sadly, your home was damaged."
"Wood and brick can be repaired."
"This one has heard you have influence with Her Majesty."
"Not a lot, to be honest."
"Would you be willing to carry a missive on our behalf and encourage her to consider its contents?"
"I will carry your message."
Hyansea took a scroll from her sleeve and handed it to Cal.
"If you are able, place this in the hands of one who stands by your Queen."
Cal tucked the scroll away and shared tea with Hyansea, Pentam and Crysabel, entertaining them with her attempts at Zithayan.
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