“No! No!” His strong voice rang out, and he bucked up, trying to throw us off. Thanks to the Goddess I had large men to aid me this time. The apprentices would have been flung off in a heartbeat.
“More help here. Now.” Joden’s quiet command was obeyed and more men moved our way. Joden gave up his position to kneel by the man’s head. He placed his large hands on the broad shoulders. “
Simus, you’re hurt. We’re tending it. Lie still.”
Simus did not see it that way. “Warriors! To me!”
I was glad that I had warned the guards, for the man had a voice like thunder. I worked as quickly as I could, fearing to cause more injury if I went too fast. It had to be cleaned, and better that I did it right the first time than to have to do it again.
“Joden!” Simus cried out as he writhed below us.
“I am here.” Joden put his head down by the other’s ear. “I am here. Hold on, my friend.” He glared at me. “Hurry.”
I ignored him.
Prest had both hands and his full body weight pressed on the man’s forearm. “We could burn it.”
“Shut up.” I snarled.
Simus howled and arched his back. I sat back on my heels as they wrestled him flat. Out of the comer of my eye, I could see the others watching us with looks of horror.
“Why not burn it?” Joden asked. He had moved his hands along side Simus’s head, and his thumbs were stroking his temples. The big man settled down and I doubled my efforts.
“Burning it will mean deep scarring.” I tried to think of the right words. “He may not walk. May not be able to ride.”
Joden grunted his understanding.
Finally the wound was cleansed. I bound the leg as tight as I dared, using fresh bandages, then pulled back, surveying my work. My audience looked as well.
Joden frowned. “You have not tied it.”
“No.” I glanced at him. “The wound must heal open. If I tie it, stitch it, it could…” I shook my head in frustration. “Sour. Go bad.”
“Putrefy.” Rafe had come up behind me.
Well that was extreme but I agreed with the translation.
Joden seemed to understand as he watched Simus. Now that we were finished, he had fallen into an uneasy sleep. I reached for fresh water to bathe his face, only to see my hands tremble in front of me.
“No.” Joden had risen and was standing next to me. He lowered his hand and held it out. “We can look to him now.”
I nodded, and grasped his hand, letting him pull me up. My legs were numb under me and I staggered a bit to the table where I had left my basket. The sun had fallen while we worked, and the tent was darker.
The bathing had finished, and I could see that the men were feeling better as a result.
Certainly, it smelled better.
I found the jar of fever’s foe and returned to kneel again by Joden. Simus seemed to be resting easier, his breathing a little slower and deeper.
Joden rumbled at me. “My thanks.”
I smiled. “Do you need tending?”
His face seemed to close off. “No. I am not hurt.”
Which was when the horn for the change of the guard sounded. I had overstayed my time.
“Joden, take this.” I put the jar in his hand. Joden looked inside at the thick brown paste. “Cover your fingertip with the paste,” I dipped my finger in to show him. “Then put your finger in his mouth. Do this every hour.” I opened Simus’s mouth and put my finger inside, spreading the medicine on the roof of his mouth. “It will fight the fever.”
