Something Bigger Part 1

Chapter 6

CHAPTER 6

         As Aden crested the last hill between him and the estate, he sighed in relief that he'd indeed walked in the right direction. Then, as he adjusted his course to head to the stables, he noticed the amassing riders just outside the stable's closed main door. He could hear a man shouting orders above the dull shh of the gentle rain. Then he saw the heads of the riders turn. A few of the men pointed at him. The shouting ceased and a large form mounted his horse a started toward Aden, leaving all but a few men back at the stabled door in silence.

         Aden continued walking, eager to reach the man approaching, who he could now recognize as his father. Lord Lockwood was pushing for speed, but Aden didn't dare run in the slight water-logged soil. As they drew closer, Aden braced himself for his father's angry words. At time, Lord Lockwood's temper would bring forth a harsh lecture that could bring a grown man to tears. Aden couldn't help but expect his father's wrath after he's so plainly risked his life.

         But when The Lord was almost upon him, he only slowed and dismounted before rushing toward Aden on foot. There was no shouting, no demands for an explanation. Lord Lockwood reached Aden and, before Aden could react, The Lord embraced him. Lord Lockwood didn't release for several seconds, neither did he say anything.

         Just as the few men following his father reached them and dismounted, Aden's father released him. The men silently took the horses' leads and stood quietly to the side, awaiting instructions. Lord Lockwood held his son's shoulders firmly, sweeping his form for any sign of injury.

         "Are you hurt?" He firmly asked, releasing Aden's shoulders.

         Aden shook his head. "I found shelter." He lowered his head. "Please forgive me, father. What I did was foolish and reckless." He set his jaw, once again reminded of his ultimate failure. He'd set out to save Iris and, while she was safe - as far as he knew - he hadn't been able to bring her home with him.

         "Indeed it was." Lord Lockwood resumed his stately posture, but with a somewhat softer than normal expression. "But bravery has an element of both of those." He sighed. "I'm immensely glad you're safe." He glanced toward the mare before noting, "You found the mare. Any sign of the girl?"

         Aden hesitated, regretting the lie before he spoke. "No," he cleared his throat in an effort to clear the regret spilling from his mind. "I found a cave with the mare and some of her belongings laid out, but she was nowhere to be seen." He looked into his fathers eyes now, instead of the place just below them. "That's where I waited for the storm to quiet."

         Lord Lockwood's brow furrowed. He didn't say anything for a while, his mind trying to find an explanation. When no explanation sprung forward, he instead said, "We'll find her tomorrow." He set a heavy hand on Aden's shoulder. "Ride home and help with things there."

         The Lord instructed his men to take Admiral and Clare back and give Aden one of their own mounts. with a nod, one of the men handed his reigns to Aden.

         Aden rode the horse the short stretch to the stables, his wet breeches making the seat slippery. He didn't let himself think about the fruitless search his father would go on tomorrow. A few moments later than Aden had arrived, he heard his father's mount clop into the smaller door of the stable.

         The entire building had flooded. Aden could see where horses had knocked into their stall doors in the chaos of the tempest. The makeshift barrier they'd built to hold admiral still separated off a stretch of the stable, but the door he'd crashed down in his escape had been hoisted up and nailed shut temporarily. Servants from the house rushed through the stable in an effort to clean up the area where the Lord's prize horses resided. Puddles littered the floor. As Aden dismounted, he landed in an inch or so of muddy water. Of course, it wasn't terribly noticeable unless you were unfortunate enough to catch your foot on a hidden stone and trip into the mess. He could see from the many individuals covered in muck that conditions was were better still than during the worst part of the storm. A few glanced his way with faces of relief, but none stopped - everyone kept at their tasks which, Aden noticed, involved quite a bit of rushing.