Jason McDonald - Blood of Cayn

Squire Patrick Anders burst into Lord Fergussons command tent. Around the central map table, half-a-dozen knights reached for weapons. Tall, blonde, and blue eyed, Dame Astrid Wolfelschneider, the only female Detchian knight Fergusson had ever served with during his years with the Iron Tower, had her blade half-drawn before she recognized the squire.

Laytenant Marchenkovas back, Sir! Anders shouted.

Commander Geoffrey Fergusson, sixth baronet of Yorkshire, closed his eyes and counted to five.

Squire!

Anders snapped to attention. Sir!

Step back outside and try that again.

Yes, Sir! With a nod, the young squire exited. Thirty seconds passed in silence.

Permission to enter, Milord? the squire called.

Granted.

Laytenant Marchenkova has returned from Chernigov, Sir. Theyve taken her to the healers tent.

Discipline, Squire, discipline. It makes the difference between a live soldier and a dead one, Lord Fergusson admonished.

Yes, Sir, Anders said with a bowed head. Ill take you to her when youre ready.

Lord Fergusson signaled for Leftenant Brian Gallagher to carry on with the planning before he followed his squire to the healers tent.

On the way, they passed the edge of the training field, where a small crowd of the curious had gathered to inspect Yanas abandoned glider. The soldiers parted to allow their leader a closer look at the holes riddling the dark silk sail.

After removing three black arrows still caught in the material, Lord Fergusson grabbed a random soldier by the elbow and instructed, Get those holes patched immediately. Move!

The man snapped a hasty salute and took off at a run.

Outside the field hospital, a group of camp runners, the young sons of sutlers and camp followers, huddled around one of their number. and when the chirurgeon shoved the needle and thread all the way through, blood just gushed out At sight of Lord Fergusson, the boys scattered, leaving the storyteller behind.

Zack, I take it Lady Sehraine is inside with Laytenant Marchenkova?

Yes, Sir, the boy said.

Inside the tent, a woman screamed in agony. Fergusson saw his squire grow pale. Anders, wait here with Zack. Ill call you if I need anything.

The wind rider lay face down, her right arm and left side swathed in thick bandages. A streak of bright red blood soaked the white sheets beneath her. Yana maintained a death grip on the edge of the operating table with her eyes shut tight. Sehraine gripped Yanas forearms, tears welling in her eyes.

Yana bit down on a wooden stick and screamed through the block when the healer shoved the barbed arrowhead through her thigh and out the other side.

The wind rider dropped her head to the table in exhaustion. A moment later, her torment by the chirurgeon resumed as he stitched and bound the wounds.

Lord Fergusson watched in silence until the bandage was tied and then said, I thought I told you to be careful.

I was, she replied in a raspy voice. The orcs didnt start shooting and throwing things at me until I blew up the first tower. I have the information you need about their fortifications.

Yana slowly pushed herself up to a sitting position, but it was too much, too fast. Her face drained of color and she slumped over. Sehraine caught her, holding her tight.

Im thirsty, Yana whispered, gesturing toward a cup.

You need to lie back down, Sehraine said.

Im fine.

Lie down anyway, Sehraine demanded. She eased Yana back onto the table and placed a kiss on her forehead. Stay still, she commanded before turning to Lord Fergusson with a narrow-eyed look that reminded the older man of the looks hed seen some of the sutlers aim at their children. She needs to rest.

I can come back later, Lord Fergusson said.

No, Sir. Im fine, Yana croaked. Sehraine, please get me some water.

The elf nodded and crossed the tent to retrieve a pitcher and cup from a trestle table near the washbasins. Beside her, the field chirurgeon scrubbed Yanas blood from his hands. Fergusson saw her lean close to the healer. The two of them whispered back and forth, casting glances at Yana. The man nodded and hurried from the tent, still drying his hands.

The commander waited patiently while Sehraine helped the wind rider sit up. Seeing the two of them sitting side by side, the elf with a slender arm around her friend, it struck him how much the average person could learn about kindness and friendship from these two women.

Yana drank greedily from the cup, draining it twice before she spoke again. Just so you know, Sir, those dragon pellets are not worth the money you paid for them. Theyre unpredictable.

He drew in a deep breath and let it out in a short sigh of acceptance. Some worked, though, correct? She gave him a single nod in reply. Considering their age, I suppose we should be glad any worked at all. So what do you have for me?

Lets go back to your tent so I can reference your maps. She slid from the table and swayed on her feet for a moment before sitting again.

Yana Sehraine protested.

Stop mothering me, the wind rider said. I have a job to finish.

You need to wait.

Theres no one else who can use that glider, Sehraine, and Im sure as hell not staying in this tent while Xandors in that cesspool of a city.

I know, she replied, laying a hand on her arm, but you need to rest a few more minutes until Bris returns.

Anders! Fergusson shouted. The squire stepped inside, eyes carefully trained on the ground. Take word back to the senior officers. Tell them Ill be there with Laytenant Marchenkova in ten minutes. Send Zack to ask Knyaz Dorinkov and his senior officers to join us.

Anders bobbed his head and took off at a run. At the tent flap, he barely avoided a collision with the returning healer.

Normally I recommend bedrest for wounds like yours, the chirurgeon said, but your friend was very clear thats not going to happen, so drink this. He offered Yana a small glass vial containing a milky, pale blue liquid. When she hesitated, he gave her an exasperated sigh. Its a healing draught.

Im accustomed to bluebut why is it so thick? Yana asked, tilting the vial side to side. She pulled the cork and took a whiff of the contents. Ugh! That smells vile!

Makes it work better, he replied. Drink up.