Page 23 of Sapphire Queen
Chapter 16
Broken houses littered the land. Smoke continued to billow into the sky, turning it a somber gray. The ground was charred, covered in rock and debris. People were stumbling around, confused, and injured. Guards searched the area for anyone who might still be alive. Sarifena couldn’t hold back her cries of anguish.
“I will kill whoever is responsible.”
Heath wrapped his arm around her shoulder, fitting her against his side. “We will, but for now, we need to help the wounded. My staff tells me there are more than they can accommodate, right now.”
“Let’s go. I can bandage someone if I need to.”
Hand in hand, they walked the short distance to the makeshift medical center. It was a large white tent, lined with sheets covering several deceased. Sarifena sucked in a breath, “These people didn’t deserve to die.”
“No, they didn’t.”
A child who looked to be about two, sat alone, crying on one of the cots. “Where are his parents?”
“Dead.” Heath looked at the child with a forlorn expression.
“What? Who will take care of him?”
“Social services will probably take him. We haven’t been able to locate any other family.”
“Orphaned?” Sarifena slowly made her way to the toddler, “Hey there, fella.” She held her hand out, trying not to scare him.
Sarifena was shocked when he leaped into her arms and clung to her neck. He buried his head into the crook of her neck and sobbed. She pressed her hand to his back, rubbing gently as she tried to ease his distress.
“There, there. I got you.” Sarifena smiled at Heath as she swayed with the boy in her arms. “Do we know his name?”
“Yes. His name is Alex Brigham.”
“Alex,” Sarifena whispered, “He’s so scared, Heath.”
Heath stepped up next to her, placing his hand on the toddler's head, “Come over here, let me check him over again.”
“Come on, Alex, we’re going to look you over, ok?”
Alex squeezed Sarifena tighter, his sobs echoing through the tent.
“Hey, little man,” Sarifena sat down, propping him up in her lap, “We just want to make sure you’re not hurt.”
Peeling his hands from around her neck, she turned him around, so he was facing out. Keeping her arms snug against his waist, she nodded toward Heath.
“This is my friend Heath, he’s a doctor. Do you know what that is?”
Alex stared at Heath, his eyes filled with trepidation. As Heath approached him, Alex stiffened in Sarifena’s arms.
“Hey, it’s ok. He won’t hurt you.”
Heath ran his fingers over the boy, checking him for any apparent injuries. After listening to his chest with a spare stethoscope, and changing his dirty diaper, Heath was confident he was only suffering from shock and confusion.
“Amazingly enough, he had no injuries – aside from some smoke inhalation, he’s good to go. Should I call social services?”
Sarifena looked at Heath and then to the boy. Something in her gut told her she couldn’t just walk away from Alex.
“No… I can’t send him off like that.”
“Ok…” Heath tilted his head, “Sarifena, are you saying you want to take him back to the castle?”
Alex nestled into her arms, relaxing against her chest. A warm sensation pooled in her belly and radiated throughout her soul.
“Yes…” She looked up at Heath, “I know you don’t understand, but something inside me is saying I can’t toss him aside. Just for a few days, then once he seems better, we’ll call them.”
Heath ran his hand down her hair, tangling her locks in his fingers, “I think that’s a brilliant idea. He seems comfortable with you.”
Sarifena stood, “I should get back. They should be back with my mother,” her voice cracked.
“You aren’t alone, baby.” Heath hugged them both to his chest, “We’ll get through this, together.”
Sarifena nodded, tears welling up in her eyes. She couldn't speak for fear of losing it in front of the child. He was an orphan now, just like her. Sarifena knew deep down, taking him home wasn’t the smartest thing to do, but she couldn’t let him go.
