Fighting and Diplomacy

Chapter 1

Authors Note
This is a continuation from Journey Home.

"Jade."  Kit screamed racing towards Jade after she saw her fall to the ground.  Everyone turned towards Kit and then they saw Jade on the ground and moved towards her.  Kit got to Jade.  "Jade.  Jade open your eyes."  Kit said pulling Jade's head into her lap.  "Please Jade."  Kit begged tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm awake."  Jade said sleepily looking up at Kit.  Boorman and Willow moved to check her for injuries, they found her bleeding from her stomach.

"She's been stabbed in the abdomen."  Willow said.  "Can I have your dagger Graydon?"  Graydon handed him his dagger and Willow used it to cut Jade's leather armour open to see the wound. It was bleeding a fair amount and had soaked her under shirt. "Airk put pressure on that wound please." Willow ordered. Airk used both his hands and pressed down hard on the wound, Jade screamed in pain.

"I'm sorry so sorry." He said but kept the pressure on. Kit focused on Jade who had her head on her leg.

"Jade you need to stay awake okay. I know it hurts but they need to do this." Kit explained as Jade tried to shove Airk off.

Willow used some cloth from a spare shirt and poured water from the water skin on it. "Okay Boorman I need you to make a small fire so we can sterilise the knife and wound." Willow instructed and Boorman got to work. "Elora I need you to use this." He handed her the cloth. "And try and clean it as best you can when I tell you to. Graydon try and see if you can make a bandage to go around her torso with the rest of this shirt." Willow handed him the shirt. Boorman got the fire going a few minutes later. "Okay Elora you can clean the wound now." Elora wiped the blood away, but it kept coming, whilst Willow passed the dagger through the fire. "Kit this is going to hurt her, so keep her steady and comfort her. She also needs something to bite down on to make sure she doesn't bit her tongue." Kit nodded with tears falling. She placed her belt from her scabbard in Jade's mouth. "Elora you can move away now." Elora moved and Willow placed the hot dagger on the wound, Jade screamed which was muffled by the leather piece. Willow left the dagger on for a couple of rseconds to stop the bleeding. "Okay hopefully that will stop the bleeding and prevent an infection until we get it stitched up properly." Willow told Kit and but she kept looking at Jade who was passed out. "Graydon have you finished with makeshift bandage?"

"Yes."  He answered handing the bandage over to Willow and Elora.

"Ok Elora and I are going to wrap it around her whilst Airk can you lift up Jade so we can get it wrapped."  Willow said and Airk placed both hands underneath her torso and gently lifting it up.  Willow and Elora worked quickly to wrap up Jade's torso.  Once it was tied Boorman carefully picked her up whilst Kit kept one hand in hers and another around her sword in it's scabbard.  The group headed as quickly as possible through the barrier not wanting to be attacked by anyone else and needing proper medical attention for Jade. 

It took them about an hour to get through the Barrier.  Jade had woken up and fallen asleep several times whilst Boorman carried her, Kit looked at Willow worried about Jade, he said it was just the blood loss and not to worry.  "We'll head to the closest village it's before we cross the river but we should be able to get some rest and food there and hopefully they'll allow us to spend the night."  Kit said as they crossed the gorge.

Boorman put Jade down when they got off the bridge to get a drink for himself.  "Can we take 5 guys my arms need rest."  Kit nodded lifting Jade's head into her lap.

"Jade."  Kit whispered trying to wake her up.  "Jade."  She said a bit louder.

"I'm awake, I'm awake."  Jade said sleepily looking up at Kit. "Your beautiful."

Kit blushed and smiled at Jade.  "Thank you.  You need to drink something."  Kit held up the water skin.  "I'll help you."  Kit lifted Jade's head and gently poured water into her mouth, some water trickled down the sides so Kit wiped it off with the pad of the her thumb.  "You can go back to sleep now, I'll hold you until Boorman is ready to pick you up again."  Jade nodded leaning her head on Jade's stomach and kit leaned in to kiss Jade's cheek.  "Love you."

"Love you too."  Jade mumbled back.  Boorman waited until Jade was asleep and her breathing had evened before picking her up again, Kit again by her side.

They got to the village at around dinner time that afternoon.  They knocked on the manors door of the Lord of the village.  A servant opened the door for them.  "Hello I'm Kit Tanthalos, I'm sorry about being here so late in the day but we could use a place to rest and some food please."  Kit explained.

"Of course you're Highness."  The servant ushered them inside.  "I will inform Lord Millwell."  He left heading away from them as they stood in the grand hall.

"Eh guys.  Jade doesn't look good."  Boorman got everyone's attention, Kit whipped her head around and Boorman was putting her down.  Jade was sweating and very red.

"Someone get her bandage off I want to check the wound he said putting his hand on top of her forehead.  "She may have a fever."

"I thought you said that cauterising the wound would stop that."  Kit complained.

"I said it would help to possibly prevent it and Jade could have been infected prior, I can't imagine those swords are the cleanest to begin with." Willow explains calmly.

"You're Highnesses. Excuse the tardiness I was just having dinner with my two children please come through we have put out plates for everyone and we are preparing your rooms for the night. Is there anything more that you will be needing." Lord Millwell said bowing respectfully.

"Yes one of our companions Jade has been stabbed I was wondering if we could borrow a horse so that I can get her back to the castle as quickly as possible. I would like to leave as soon as possible, the rest will be staying the night but I really need to get her back." Kit explained.

"Of course your Highness. I will have one of my trusty steeds prepared for departure." He bowed before shouting to one of his servants.

"Sorry guys but I need to get her back. I'll send a couple of guards with horses for the morning. If I go at a quick pace I should be at the castle before midnight." Kit explained.

"Go, we'll be alright." Airk said.

A few moments later Lord Millwell returned with someone a couple of steps behind him. "Here is our stable master, he can take you to our stables and sort you out a horse. The rest of you your dinner's will be on the table in a few minutes." He bowed and left them to it.

"Just for now she is Dove." Kit said. "Until we get back to the castle let's be en guard." They all nodded their heads.