Warsworn

asking our status. Epor tilted his head, and warbled what I assumed were reassurances. He looked at me with a question in his eyes, and I knew I had to make a decision. "Tell them to send the message that it is the Sweat."
    Even as he raised his voice, I prayed that I was doing the right thing. It was no problem to secure him, the man was still unconscious from Epor's blow. The bite had just broken the skin on Epor's arm, but I insisted that I clean and bandage the wound. Isdra made a few pointed comments about the difference between helping and hurting my patient. Epor protested his innocence, asking if anyone was concerned about his welfare. They bickered a bit as they carried out the body of the archer.
    The new patient was still sweating heavily, rank with the stench. For the first time, I was considering drugging a patient into cooperating with me. If the lotus kept him asleep, perhaps I could get water into him to replace the fluid he'd lost. Re-balance the elements in his body, as Keir had told me once. I flushed at the memory. But to give lotus to someone could also cause the deep sleep I was trying to avoid.
    Deep in those thoughts, I checked on Rahel. She was still unresponsive, but I managed to get her to swallow some broth. Not much, but it was something. With that faint hope, I turned back to the man. Maybe a very small dose would aid him.
    Epor and Isdra returned. They obviously washed before coming in. Isdra shook her head.
    "He's still out?"
    "Yes." They started to settle by the fire, and I frowned. "Aren't you going to finish the search?"
    "I don't want to leave you alone with that one." Epor responded.
    "From what Epor says he could awaken and break his bonds." Isdra replied. "Best we stay here."
    "No, you need to finish the search." I reached for my bag, digging for the lotus. "I will scream if he looks like he is breaking free."
    Epor shrugged. "I'm too tired to fight you, Lara. We'll be as fast as we can." Isdra stood as well. "We'll scrounge for breakfast as well." I looked up with a guilty start, and Epor laughed. "See? Does the Warprize consider my empty belly?"
    "I didn't think—"
    "Don't let him tease you, Lara." Isdra rolled her eyes. "Like he doesn't have a pouch of gurt on his belt?"
    "If it were up to the Warprize, I'd starve to death!" Epor led the way from the room. "Nothing but skin and bones, yes?"
    Isdra made a comment that I couldn't hear, but I heard Epor's laughter ring out in response. It made me smile.
    But that faded when I turned back to my patients.
    * * *
    The lotus helped, but not as much as I'd hoped. He woke eventually, but he remained crazed, yelling and crying out. He fought the bonds until the skin on his wrists was rubbed raw with the effort. I could get no medicine or water into him, for he'd spew out anything I poured into his mouth. I talked until I was hoarse, but all he could do was curse me, in anger and fear, and for the most part his words were past understanding.
    Epor and Isdra returned before the worst of it. There was no one with them, and their faces told me the horrible truth. Rahel, the babe, and the man were all that were left of a thriving village. My eyes filled as I turned back to my work.
    For hours, we worked together in the cramped room, trying to rouse Rahel and break the fever of the man she had called Kred. Despite our struggles they were both slipping through my fingers like sand, and faded with each breath. Kred lapsed into the lassitude just as Rahel breathed her last quiet breath. I pulled the blanket over her face, and settled back on my heels by her bedside. All her knowledge gone, all these people gone. I'd risked our lives for nothing. Tired, I lifted my hands to rub at the ache in my temples, knowing that I had failed these people.
    The babe chose that moment to cry out, unhappy about something. Isdra was there in an instant, but Epor scowled. "Can't you keep her quiet?"
    The irritation in his voice cause both of us to look at him in surprise but Epor already had a hand up in apology. "Sorry. Tired, I guess."
    Isdra accepted it, and turned back to the babe. But I fo-cused on Epor and really looked at him. At the furrow between his eyes, and the stiff way he held his head. "Epor?" He straightened, empty buckets in his hands, and gave me a weak smile. I took a step closer to see the sweat on his forehead.
    Goddess, no…
     

 

     
     

Chapter 6
     
    "So. I will be the first of the Plains to face this enemy."
    Epor put his warclub