The Horns of Kern

  *

  Octavius brought himself to his feet and looked around to see where the dagger had come from. The room was littered with the dead and wounded. “Where is the commander of my guards?” Octavius hollered and then staggered over to a still upright chair and sat down to survey the room. Norman hurried in his direction with Prince Xavier at her side. He looked down at his wounds and shook his head. The cut in the flesh was deep and would require a needle and thread. He reached over to the nearby table and grabbed a linen napkin and held it firmly upon his wound.

  “Father, will you be all right?” Norman’s voice was still shaky from her experience.

  “Yes, I will be fine…and you?” Octavius had noticed the quivering in his daughter’s voice.

  “I am doing better, thanks to Xavier. He saved me from injury, perhaps death.” Norman looked at the prince and smiled.

  “Your admiration is misplaced, Princess, for it was Prince Thaddeus that took the blade in your stead. I merely pulled you out from underneath him. He showed great honor and bravery by doing what he did. He is a far better man than I…”

  Andre limped into the room, looking grim and battered, as if he had just lost a loved one. “Your Highness, I understand that you called for me. I have my men sorting the wounded from the dead. I am having those wounded taken down to the armory and the dead are being placed out in the nearest storehouse until we can build pyres.” Andre stood momentarily in a daze then slowly peered around the great hall. “A man should never know the horror of battle…” he audibly whispered. A tear came to his eye.

  Octavius stood up and wrapped his arms around his young commander. They stood there embracing, letting their emotions take their course. Octavius let go of Andre. “Thank you for your loyalty, my friend. You have carried your family’s honor well.” Octavius bowed to the commander. “You are already doing what I was going to request of you. Please have the kitchens cleaned and find Lady Harriet. We have many mouths to nourish.” Octavius watched as Andre turned and limped away. “There goes an honorable man, just like his father before him.” Octavius saw Gertrude helping the injured down to the armory. “Gertrude, would you please come here for a moment?”

  Gertrude stumbled over to Octavius as requested. He had put a piece of cloth underneath his shirt to catch the blood from his wound. He looked at Octavius’ wound and smiled. “We make a good pair, don’t we?”

  The dead and injured were being cleared from the room quickly. Norman walked over to where Thaddeus had fallen. She knelt down and put her hand on his head. She gazed at the long, deep gash across his back. To her surprise, she heard a low moan. She gently moved Thaddeus’ head to the side and another moan came forth. Norman looked over to where the others were still standing. “Please help me! Prince Thaddeus is still alive…!” Prince Xavier and a couple of guards came over and lifted Thaddeus to a chair. His complexion was white but he was breathing normally. Norman gently rubbed his cheeks.

  Thaddeus opened his eyes slowly and smiled faintly when he saw Norman. “I must be dead, for I see a beautiful angel in front of me…” He closed his eyes.

  “Let’s get him down to the armory so that he can be taken care of.” Norman walked beside Thaddeus, holding his hand. Octavius and Gertrude found themselves watching the activity around them. They both knew that they, too, should head down to the armory to have their wounds checked and stitched up.

  Gertrude lifted the piece of cloth that he had stuck under his shirt. The bleeding has stopped. “I guess I’ll make it.” He smiled wryly.