Free Dralin by John H. Carroll Page B

escape then. When he knelt
down over me again, I brought my leg up and drove my foot into that
thing between his legs. I think men have those. It’s different than
girls.” She looked questioningly at them and they both nodded
silently. Frath felt his blush go from anger to embarrassment.
    “He yelled in pain, so I think it hurt a
lot,” Sheela said. Frath nodded a little more briskly. “I got up,
but he caught my dress and tore it. I reached back and scratched
him in the face and he yelled again. I tried running, but he
knocked me down. I kicked him and got up. When he did too, I picked
up a spade next to me and hit him in the face with it twice.”
    She stopped speaking. They sat there
silently for a moment until Lady Pallon handed her a cup of tea.
Sheela took a drink, held the cup and saucer in her lap and
continued in a lower voice. “He curled up in a ball and started
crying. I think he was in pain. The spade fell out of my hands. I
couldn’t seem to hold it anymore. It was like all my strength fell
to the ground in a puddle with it. I was so scared.”
    Frath felt her trembling. He wanted to hold
her and never let go, but chose to sit silently so she would be
able to finish. Lady Pallon took the shaking cup of tea out of her
hands and rubbed her back encouragingly. “Go on, dear.”
    “I ran. I ran out the barn door and toward
the road.” Sheela frowned while remembering the events. “I ran down
the road and didn’t stop. The sky was completely clear and there
was no one around. Everything was silent except for the buzzing of
insects. It was like I was all alone in a different world.”
    Sheela picked up the tea and took another
sip. Her expression was far away as though she were alone in that
other world once more. “I just walked and walked. At night I would
sleep in haystacks or anywhere else I could find where I thought no
one would see me. I stole food wherever I could, but never tasted
it. I thought about my mother once . . .” She took another sip of
tea. “I wonder . . .”
    The tears broke in a great flood, ripping
through all the pain, sorrow and suffering the young woman had
experienced. The cup spilled to the floor and was quickly picked up
by Lady Pallon. Frath pulled Sheela into his lap and clutched her
as heaving sobs wracked her body.
    Lady Pallon sat quietly next to them, softly
running her fingers through Sheela’s hair. In a little while, the
tears lessened. Then a new round of sobbing began. A few more
cycles of crying, where she would get quiet and then begin a new
round, occured over the next half hour. Finally, she fell into an
exhausted sleep. Frath held her the entire time, rocking slowly
back and forth.
     
    ***
     
    Sheela woke up a few hours later still in
Frath’s arms. He woke up as soon as she did. Lady Pallon wasn’t
around, so they stood and stretched out the kinks. Snow was still
falling outside, which didn’t surprise Frath. When it snowed in
Dralin, it tended to do so steadily for days. He felt Sheela duck
under his arm, lifting it around her shoulders. She looked up at
him questioningly and he smiled at her as he drew her in close.
    “Ahh, you’re awake,” Lady Pallon said from
behind them. “I know it probably seems like you just ate, but you
slept for hours and it’s dinner time. Come eat what you will.” She
held her arms out to them and they accepted the warm hug she
gave.
    The meal was hot and delicious, tickling the
nose with delight as well as satisfying the tongue. Sheela smiled
easily and seemed lighter after having shared her burden. Her eyes
shimmered with cheerfulness whenever she looked at Frath.
    Frath enjoyed the light conversation about
what the weather would be like that winter and the details that
Lady Fallon shared with Sheela about the roses and trees in the
yard. He didn’t participate very much because he was reconsidering
his other plan for the day, especially since it would soon be
night.
     
    Chapter
5
     
    Lady Pallon saw them to