Thalia and Earth

Chapter 4: Attack

Chapter 4: AttackLorenz landed his fliv at the Kenning Woman's Shrine at mid-morning. Diana seemed truly fearful of living here. He found a round, two-story building with every ground floor door and window smashed or missing.

The first floor contained an entry way, waiting chamber, cleansing room (Thalian for bathroom), a round room with shelves and one plasglass enclosed, empty nook towards what he presumed was the back of the room. The rounded walls of Thalia were still alien to his senses. There was a lume at the top of the nook to illuminate whatever was missing. The gym with an empty pool lacked any exercise equipment. A flight of stairs led to the upper section.

The first room was completely empty except for a rodent eaten chair. One room might have been a kitchen, but ragged splinters lined the walls where the cabinets and the Thalian version of a stove or a cooling cabinet should be. He wondered if it had been stripped for the contents or to obliterate the Kenning Woman. The round room before the kitchen may have been an eating area, but nothing remained. The same held true for the other two rooms branching off the welcome area. The cleansing room had been as brutalized and stripped as the kitchen. The only thing in this place was dirt and grime; not even footprints except the ones he was leaving in the dust. He looked down at the wall-wrapped garden area. Something was sticking through the overgrown shrubbery. Was it a statute or a fountain?

Outside, he found his way barred by the dramelberry's thorny branches woven together by nature. Lorenz bent low to crawl under them, but the way was blocked after a couple of feet. He took out his knife. Before he could use it, the air scents changed and the sounds of the earth and sky shifted. The tingling at the back of his neck stayed his movements.

Lorenz turned to edge his way back when the explosion shook the earth and debris flew at the bushes and over his head. One chunk slammed next to his hand and the next grazed the side of his head and kept going.

Lorenz came to looking at a patch of dirt while overhead dramelberry branches were laced in an embrace. The dirt seemed to lead to a clearing, and a loud bellowing tried to override the buzzing in his ears. The bellowing turned into Llewellyn's voice.

“Lorenz, Lorenz!”

Lorenz pushed up on his knees and the action sent the world spinning. He retained enough sense to close his eyes and breathe deep before looking around. Brambles were on either side and above. He must have crawled in here for some reason. Something sticky was running down the right side of his head. He raised his hand, touched it and looked at his fingers: Blood. He gritted his teeth and crawled out.

“Back here, Papa.”

Llewellyn rushed to the back and lifted him as if he were a child. Lorenz saw two more people behind Llewellyn, but the fog in his head kept recognition at bay.

“Would y'all put me down?” He muttered. He might need assistance standing, but there were other people watching.

“It would be helpful if he were in a sitting position, Llewellyn.”

“Aye, Melanie.” Llewellyn knelt and placed Lorenz on the ground, but kept his arm around him.

“Ye, laddie, were birthed under a lucky star.”

“Uh huh.” Recognition flooded through him as he looked up. Ishmael, Lad of Ishner, and Melanie, Lass of Medicine, were standing there. Both were slender by Thalian standards, but they were dark-haired and brown-eyed like the majority of House members.

Melanie removed something from the medical sack slung over her shoulder and did a quick scan. “Tis nay deep, but I need to cleanse, seal, and put a field bandage on.”

Lorenz felt a spray that seemed to numb the whole area. Within seconds she finished applying some kind of cover over the gash.

“It will be healed by nightfall.” Her large dark eyes sparkled and she smiled. “Ye are in luck. Tis nay deep, but head wounds bleed profusely.

“Shall I put off seeing the Kenning Woman until another day?”

“No, I'm fine. What happened?”

“Someone set off an explosion. Leta tis searching for any trace of the materials to find where it was constructed and who tis responsible.” Llewellyn answered.

“Do y'all have to guess? And who the hell knew I was going to be here?”

“We need proof of the bombers and probably all of Thalia kenned ye would be here.” Llewellyn started to reach for Lorenz, then changed his mind, stood, and extended his hand. Lorenz couldn't help but see the puzzled look on Melanie's and Ishmael's faces.

Lorenz grasped Llewellyn's hand and pulled to a standing position.

“By the way, Fither, I was glad to hear your voice.” He smiled and realized his mistake. Llewellyn pulled him into a full Thalian embrace.