Rise of the Warrior of Everfen

Chapter 88: Flowers in Bloom

Lothar was sweating as she rode him through the crowded city streets behind Khash's horse. They'd had to ride farther out into the forest just to find the herbs they needed for the healers. They were using so much lately...

"Move! Make way!" Khash called and the crowd parted. They were nearing the tents now, the two guards that had left the city with the two of them behind her. She dismounted, thinking it would be easier to make her way through the people on foot. She rushed past everyone and towards the healers.

Inside it reeked of blood and sweat and she almost gagged at the harshness of it. As she looked around, she realized why the man that told her she was needed had been so urgent. These were certainly survivors. They were battered and bruised, many had wounds that were oozing and covered in dirt. Some were already dead, laying on the bed they'd been placed on. They never had a chance of a healer reaching them in time.

"Vel? Khash and I brought more herbs!" She couldn't see him but he had to be in here somewhere. From no place she could distinguish, an elf appeared at her shoulder and she turned, spying the Seer. She still didn't understand the strange kinship she felt towards the woman, and she hadn't gotten to talk to her but for a brief moment. They were always so busy.

"Give them to me. I'll begin mixing them."

"Milady, you need rest." Erinne gaped at her. There were dark circles under her eyes and she was shaking.

"No," she shook her head. Erinne studied her harder as she passed a satchel full of herbs to her.

"You should sit down, please, I'll mix them."

"No," her voice cracked and she went to the nearest table and Erinne stared after her until Khash nudged her elbow.

He leaned his head in low, near her ear so he could tell her quietly, "Alleuess has seen their deaths. All of them. All around her." She turned to face him as he said it, watching the way he looked at the elven woman. "There will be many more deaths here today."

"Sometimes I wonder what you can see, too, Khash."

He shook himself as if throwing off an eerie feeling within his bones, "Not as much as she does. I am no Seer. But some of it, it jumps out at me. Not like it does for her." There was a graveness to his tone and then motioned to one side of the tent. "See who you can help over there. If they're dying, leave them. Only focus on those you know you can save."

She swallowed as he walked to the opposite side of the tent from her, speaking to a young man who was drenched in sweat and blood. Her chest tightened as she realized the gravity of the situation. Judging by the state of their shoes, they had walked a long time. They all looked ragged and beaten.

She found the person with the greatest need, bypassing one she thought was already dead, "I'm here to help."

The man's wife was quick to answer for him, "Yes, please, help him!" She had a death grip on his hand. He was staring up at the top of the tent, expressionless. Erinne hoped it wasn't too late. His chest was soaked with blood, his breathing labored.

"I have to cut away his shirt, milady." She warned before she used a knife to pry apart the fabric and examine the wound. He was cut clear to the bone, but his ribs had protected the vital organs underneath and Erinne smiled, "He's going to be fine. I can fix this. Help me clean his wound, the bleeding has stopped. I just have to stitch him."

The woman burst into tears before she heard Vel calling her name and someone set their hand on her shoulder, "Milady, I am naught but a farmer," Erinne turned to look at the woman speaking, "but I can see you're busy. Stitching a man should be easier than stitching a wiggling pig."