"Epor."
"Sorry." His eyes crinkled in a smile that proved he wasn't. "He may be sick, Lara, but he'sstrong. As well for me that he's no warrior, eh?" Teeth flashing, Epor heaved the man over hisshoulder. "Let's get him bound to the bed before he wakes."
As we crossed the square, a warble rose from outside the walls. Even I knew that Joden wasasking our status. Epor tilted his head, and warbled what I assumed were reassurances. Helooked at me with a question in his eyes, and I knew I had to make a decision. "Tell them tosend 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 hadjust broken the skin on Epor's arm, but I insisted that I clean and bandage the wound. Isdramade 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 bickereda 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 wasconsidering drugging a patient into cooperating with me. If the lotus kept him asleep, perhaps Icould get water into him to replace the fluid he'd lost. Re-balance the elements in his body, asKeir had told me once. I flushed at the memory. But to give lotus to someone could also causethe deep sleep I was trying to avoid.
Deep in those thoughts, I checked on Rahel. She was still unresponsive, but I managed to gether to swallow some broth. Not much, but it was something. With that faint hope, I turned backto 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 thesearch?"
"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 stayhere."
"No, you need to finish the search." I reached for my bag, digging for the lotus. "I will screamif 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 emptybelly?"
"I didn't think—"
"Don't let him tease you, Lara." Isdra rolled her eyes. "Like he doesn't have a pouch of gurton his belt?"
"If it were up to the Warprize, I'd starve to death!" Epor led the way from the room. "Nothingbut skin and bones, yes?"
Isdra made a comment that I couldn't hear, but I heard Epor's laughter ring out in response. Itmade 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 theeffort. I could get no medicine or water into him, for he'd spew out anything I poured into hismouth. I talked until I was hoarse, but all he could do was curse me, in anger and fear, and forthe 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 toldme 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 feverof the man she had called Kred. Despite our struggles they were both slipping through myfingers like sand, and faded with each breath. Kred lapsed into the lassitude just as Rahelbreathed her last quiet breath. I pulled the blanket over her face, and settled back on my heelsby 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 thesepeople.
The babe chose that moment to cry out, unhappy about something. Isdra was there in aninstant, 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 ahand up in apology. "Sorry. Tired, I guess."
