Rafe nodded his agreement. I gave him a doubtful look as we continued walking. “No, its true, Warprize.
We all practice our riding skills in the same fashion. Each is required to be able to mount a galloping horse.”
I sighed. “Rafe, you used my name in the city.”
Rafe nodded. “True. But you are now the warprize.”
Prest nodded in agreement.
At the healing tent all was well. It took almost no time to check the wounded, and take care of their needs. The worst was the one who’d been whipped, but he was still asleep, so I waited to check him.
Instead, I started a pot of water boiling on one of the braziers and corralled one of the wounded into watching it. I was careful to explain that he had to add water as it boiled away. As I moved among the cots, the only problem was that I kept bumping into Prest and Rafe as they hovered over me. Finally, I turned to Prest.
“This is foolish. Go sit in a corner of the tent and watch me.” Rafe frowned and opened his mouth to protest. I snarled. “Take your big feet, and go over there out of my way.”
Prest laughed and pulled Rafe with him. They settled down off to the side. Soon, Rafe was working his sword with a whetstone. Prest appeared to be carving something from some wood. Some of the mobile wounded joined them, and they were laughing and talking quietly as I worked. But I noticed that one of them always had an eye on me.
I gathered up the boiled skunk cabbage and some clean cloths, and went to where the warrior lay sleeping on the cot. His back looked good under the bandage; the lash marks hadn’t been as deep as I feared, and there was very little redness or swelling. The warrior stirred as I started to work more of the ointment into his wounds. “I know it hurts, but it will aid with healing. Lay as still as you can.”
The warrior turned his head and looked at me with bleary eyes. “You a warrior-priest?”
Prest had moved up behind me with Rafe, who shook his head in disgust. “Sleeping on watch, Tant?
When will you learn?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “When are you due back on?”
Tant blinked. “Nooning.” He glanced at me again. “Where’d the warrior-priest come from?”
“She’s the warprize,” Prest responded.
Tant jerked, his eyes wide.
“Fool.” Rafe turned. “Finish your work, Warprize. I’ll get kavage so we can get him on his feet. If he doesn’t report, its another lashing.”
“The warprize?” Tant’s voice was a squeak.
Finally, I had time to sit down and look at the supplies that were available to me. I sorted through the tables and baskets. It was pitiful. There were few herbs and none of the traditional remedies that I knew.
One bottle smelled so vile that I asked one of the wounded what it was for. Turned out it was a well known remedy for coughs that was rubbed on the chest. It was made from goose grease and horse dung.
He offered to help me gather the makings. I declined, emptied the bottle and set it to soak.
A scream in the distance caught all of us by surprise. Rafe and Prest stood and moved to the tent entrance. I followed, emerging to find them gazing out at the practice field. I could just make out a crowd around a downed figure. There was all kinds of general ruckus, but no further screams.
Prest was sucking on his lower lip. Rafe looked gray. “I’ll wager it’s broken.”
Prest nodded his head. Both men looked grim. I looked, but could see no one moving to render aid. “
Will they bring them here?”
Rafe turned in surprise, his eyebrows raised. “Why? Most like they’ll just grant mercy where they lay.” I looked at him, offended, and started off immediately toward the crowd. Prest and Rafe scrambled after me. “Warprize, where are you going?”
I ignored Rafe, and kept moving onto the practice ground and right up to the milling group. They were certainly upset, so much so that I had to push my way forward to get through.
I dropped down next to the wailing figure. It was a woman, the blonde who had leaped to her horse. She lay on the ground, her hands over her face, moaning. I cast a quick look at the leg, but could tell nothing through the leather trous. “Rafe, lend me your knife.”
Silence cut through the crowd. The blonde gasped in horror and moved her hands. Even though her face was red and swollen, I recognized her. It was the woman who had grabbed my arm. Her eyes filled with fear, she covered her face again and started to wail.
Rafe slowly handed me his knife. “You’ll take the leg, Warprize?”
