Sauragia: Journey to the Red Mountain

Chapter 11

“Check that support and see if it’s damaged. If not, heft it back into place.”

“Right away, sir.”

Astron sighed and shook his head. The storm had taken its toll and then some. At the c***k of dawn, he and half the Guard had ventured out into the city to inspect for problems caused by the violent wind gusts. The Palace grounds had taken a severe beating, with uprooted plants tossed about here and there, and countless branches scattered all over the lawn. The garden would require some serious clearing out before Alyssa could start planting in the spring. And that was not to mention the heavy snowbanks built up, especially along north-facing walls. But that wasn’t the worst of it.

Every street in Saurahall was likewise tossed about, and some were far messier. A number of windows had been broken by flying debris, and several walls actually bashed in besides.

“Astron!” Johnny came running up after an initial inspection of the perimeter. “We’ve found out that at least three were killed, with a couple still missing. There’s no total on the injured yet.”

“Thanks, mate. How many damaged homes?”

“Just about all of them, it seems like, ‘cept the ones right under the lee of the north wall. But the centre of town was hit hardest. The buildings there are older and more vulnerable than the rest.”

“But your family lives there! How are they?”

“They’re fine, thanks, but the neighbours weren’t so lucky. Lost half their top storey and half their rabbits besides. The rest are loose all over the place, so if you see any…”

“The kirk bell’s been knocked out!” someone cried hysterically above the commotion. “Doom is upon us!”

An even bigger commotion ensued as Astron rushed toward the sound of the voice. At the centre of the crowd he found an older Alvarosaurus beside his wife lamenting the loss of the bell.

“Here now, what’s all this?” asked Astron.

“It’s the bell from the kirk tower, Lord Astron,” replied the old wife. “It’s been knocked clean across the lawn and half buried in the snow.”

“‘Tis a sign of doom, my lord!” exclaimed the old male. “The Creator is angry with us.”

“Come now, what’s He got to be angry with us for?” Not waiting for a response, he shook his head and looked to Rob. “Captain, take a few troops and see if you can’t dig up the bell and put it back in place.”

“Righto, old lad.”

The Guard was put to work helping restore houses and build temporary shelters for inhabitants who required more extensive repairs. Alongside the volunteer Defence Force, they made significant progress throughout the morning, though their work merely scratched the surface. The Junior Defence Force, made up of dinosaurs from eight to twelve years of age, was set to work helping to pick up litter and turn it into a pile near the entry plaza that would be burned later. All but one of the missing rabbits had been found by noon as well.

More troubling to the officers were the rumours that reached their ear slits through fragments of conversation here and there. Many folks talked of a mysterious traveller who had come to Saurahall earlier that winter, and who some said wielded strange powers. They thought it more than coincidence that the winter had been so harsh since his arrival, and a few even approached the leaders about it.

“Is it true that there’s a strange mystic staying in the Palace, Captain Winstone sir?” asked one old lady.

Rob, who had already been asked about this twice, took in a deep breath to prevent from saying something he might regret later.

“No marm, all that’s in there is an injured dinosaur recovering nicely under the auspices of our dear Princess Alyssa.”

He then turned away to avoid answering any more such irksome inquiries.

At the end of the day, Rob rejoined Johnny and Astron to confer about their next move regarding the reconstruction.

“It’ll take the rest of the winter, no doubt, and most of the spring too, I’d guess,” said Johnny. “Even then, there are some things that can’t be completely mended.”

They paused in silent acknowledgement of the dinosaurs who had lost their lives.

“Is the kirk bell back in place, Rob?” asked Astron.

“Oh, yes. It’ll be tolling right on time for the services tomorrow.” He paused. “By the bye, old lad, I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there appear to be some unhealthy rumours floating around here.”

“I’ve heard, Rob,” replied Astron. “It’s just idle talk, you know that.”

“Yes, but not everyone here does. Some of them might actually start to believe these slanderous rumours about Bard.”

“I have to agree with Rob here, Astron,” said Johnny. “It seems harmless now, but if it’s allowed to spread, things might get out of claw.”

Astron sighed. “That may well be. But right now, our main priority is to get everyone back where they belong, whatever it takes. We can’t afford to get distracted.” He paused. “Besides, once everything’s back in functioning order, they’ll be happy and won’t have to go looking for someone to blame for their misfortunes.”

Leaving it at that, Astron went to make his rounds one more time before retiring to a late lunch.

Just as the city’s recovery progressed with the winter, so did Bard’s. His leg grew steadily stronger and less painful, and he needed less and less help getting around until finally, a couple weeks short of spring, he could move about freely on his own. In fact, though he walked with the slightest hint of a limp ever afterward, he was otherwise in perfect health—for which Alyssa took no small part of the credit. And Bard never begrudged her of it.

This was because over the course of his recovery, Bard had healed not only physically, but in mind and spirit as well. As a result he became an almost amicable fellow. Following the scene between him and Arnor, Alyssa had seen fit to apologize for her earlier coldness, and he in turn apologized for his rudeness. Afterward the two had become firm friends, and Astron was amazed to one day find them chatting the morning away in the nursery. His initial reaction had been shock, followed by great delight in this new development.

And so the season passed quietly at Saurahall, despite the cold and unusually frequent snowstorms that raged outside. At the end of it all, the residents were blessed with a spell of good weather a few weeks earlier than normal. Some of the older folks still talked of how strange it was, and how the stranger was most likely to blame, but most of the younger dinosaurs ignored them and just thanked the stars for this generous warmth. This was especially true of the children, who jumped at the first sign of an early break in the weather to go outside and play after being trapped in their homes for so long. The parents who had had to deal with them all that time voiced no objections, though they warned them not to play in any damaged structures.

It was on one of these fine late winter days that Bard first ventured out as well. He hadn’t really been outside since the accident, and longed for fresh air more than anybody. And so, with the help of a walking stick Rob had given him, he took a long, leisurely turn about the Palace grounds, enjoying all the sights, sounds and scents along the way. He even stopped to smell the flowers in the Royal Gardens (when no one was looking, of course) and at the end of his walk, he felt wholly revitalized. On the way back inside, he paused to watch the royal triplets playing in the yard. He suddenly felt a great sadness steal over him that he could not hold back. He did not even try to resist as a single tear ran down his cheek. He quickly wiped it away when another dinosaur approached.

“Ah, Bard!” Astron came strolling over. “I’m glad you’re up and about. Taking in some fresh air, eh?”

“Figured it’d do me good,” replied Bard.

“Couldn’t agree more.”

“That’s a very fine garden you’ve got in the northwest corner there. ‘Specially for this time o’ year.”

“Oh, yes. Alyssa takes great pride in the garden. She spends more time in it than the servants do. But she likes it, so I don’t try to stop her. Caring for things is just what she does.”

“That it is.” The two stood in an awkward silence for a moment ere Bard added, “I want to thank you, Astron. For all you’ve done for me this winter. You an’ your family, that is. Takin’ me in like you did…You didn’t have to do that.”

“Oh, it was hardly what I’d call taking you in. We were just doing what was decent.”

“There’s no just about it, friend,” insisted Bard. “You’ve done so much for me. I’ll never forget you for it.”

“I’m sure we’ll remember you as well. Wherever you go when you leave us. Especially Arnor. I think you’ve made a real impression on him.”

Bard actually smiled. “He’s a good un is that Arnor of yours, mate. All your little uns are quality dinosaurs, of course. But that one especially. He’ll grow up to be a fine and fearless fighter, you mark my words.”

“Nothing would please me more.” Astron paused. “I take it you’re still set on going after the Red One?”

“Absolutely,” replied Bard firmly. “Right after the spring festival I’ll be off.”

“I thought you would. And I wish you well, but…”

“But what, Astron?”

“Well, I’ve thought about it a lot lately, what you told me and all. And I realize what a big task you’ve been taking on all on your own. I just figured perhaps…Well, I wondered if maybe you’d like some help. I could accompany you to the mountains, if you’d like.”

Bard was at first amazed at what he was hearing. This Alvarosaurus, after rescuing him from a snowstorm and housing him all winter free of charge, was actually offering to help him further. It was unbelievable! He simply could not allow it. So, shaking his head, he replied, “No thanks, mate. I think I’d be better off alone this time.”

“You’re sure?”

“Sure enough. I’ve always done well on me own. Help will find me if I need it, just like always. Besides, I couldn’t ask your help again. You’ve got a family to look after, Astron, an’ they need you far more than me.”

Astron nodded. “Right you are, friend. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

Bard smiled and patted him on the shoulder. “Don’t worry ‘bout it. I’ll see you ‘round.”

“Right.”

But Astron did continue to think about it. Long after his friend had gone inside he thought about making that journey. Bard was right, of course. He did have an obligation to stay and look after his family. But he also felt a tinge of the old l**t for adventure gnawing at him. A sort of longing to go places and see new things like he had in his younger days. He savoured the thought until it was interrupted by the sound of his own name.

“Astron! Astron, could you come here for a moment, please?”

It was Alyssa calling him to help her in some distant corner of the garden.

“Be right there!” he called back, then hurried off to join her.

As he went along, he brushed aside any foolish notions of adventure that he might have had. Who needed that, after all, when he had so much to keep him busy right here?