Marcus was everywhere, aiding where needed, and somehow keeping us fed. He and Isdrashared the. care of the baby, trading off when necessary. What amazed me was the ease withwhich the warriors dealt with her, for there was no shortage of volunteers. The rare smiles Isaw were at the antics of the babe, who kicked and cooed and laughed, the one sound of joy in acamp filled with despair.
For there was little joy in our hearts. There were so many deaths, regardless of the care wetook or the medicines we doled out. The darkest moments came when the ill outnumbered thehealthy. At that point, we were all exhausted. Whenever I emerged from the tent, I tried not tolook at the horizon where the smoke rose from the pyres. Instead, I tried to focus on the living.
Goddess love him, Marcus still found time to make sure that I ate. One morning, during thetime when the days blurred together, he was coaxing the morning meal into me when we lookedup to see Prest standing just inside the tent, his face grim.
"Prest?" I put my bowl aside and stood.
"Please come, Warprize."
"Who's ill?"
"Rafe."
Prest led the way, and I followed. Marcus came behind, carrying a basket of my supplies,refusing to let me carry anything. I protested, until the walk itself left me breathless. Mystrength was still not fully returned.
A few of the smaller tents had been cleverly fastened together to form a larger shelter. Prestheld the flap as I bent to enter. The tent was filled with people, but my eyes went to young Rafefirst.
He lay on a pallet, already covered in sweat, his black hair plastered to his forehead. His facewas pale, far paler than normal, and his eyes were huge and glittering as he looked at me. Hislips moved and I heard a faint "Warprize."
This caught the attention of the other people in the tent and they turned to look at me with wideeyes. Four girls, well, warriors… but girls to my eyes. They couldn't be that much older thanGils. Their surprise was only for a moment, then the one closest to Rafe's head wrung out acloth, and placed it on his forehead. She gave me a veiled look of mistrust, bright green eyesflashing through long black hair.
The girl closest to me was dressed in brown leather armor, with her brown curly hair cut veryshort. She inclined her head. "Warprize, I am Lasa of the Horse. We are tending to Rafe." Shestraightened, a confident look in her clear brown eyes. "We have talked to Gils, and we knowwhat we must do."
"And we will do it well." The honey-blonde girl kneeling by Rafe's shoulder pounded a stake inthe ground with a fierce blow. But she looked up with hazel eyes flecked with fear.
"I am sure that you will." I smiled, trying to reassure her. "But Rafe is one of my guards, andI'd like to check him myself. Would that be acceptable?"
The hazel gaze flicked over to Lasa, but she must have gotten approval. "Of course,Warprize." She got to her feet. "I am Soar of the Deer."
Marcus handed the basket to me, but remained outside with Prest, given the crash. The girlsarranged themselves carefully, leaving me to kneel by Rafe's head. He gave me a weak smileas I put my hand to his forehead. "I'm sorry, Warprize."
"You've nothing to be sorry for, Rafe." He was warm alright, the fever flushing his face. "Howlong have you been ill?"
He blinked, looking at me, lost and uncertain. As he had looked the first time I met him, in thehealing tent in the castle gardens. His head injury had been bleeding, and he'd been the first ofthe prisoners that had let me treat their wounds. He'd talked to me in a form of trade talk thatour people had in common. It had taken time to win his confidence, but Rafe had been the oneto ask me to treat Simus, and had reassured Joden of my skills. "Never you mind. Sleep,Rafe."
He closed his eyes, and relaxed. The scar from that old wound stood out, thin and sharp againsthis skin. The green-eyed girl wet her cloth and began to stroke his face and chest. "He's beenill for a few hours now, Warprize." Her gaze flashed at me again. "Gils has told us all that weneed to know."
"Fylin!" Lasa scolded. "Earth's sake, you have no courtesy!"
The green gaze disappeared, as Fylin bowed her head. "Forgive me, Warprize." The tone wassullen. "I am Fylin of the Snake."
"And I am Ksand of the Cat, Warprize." The new girl knelt and held out a half-full jar offever's foe for my inspection, her brown hair in a braid. "Gils has dosed him with the sleepease.
And left this fever's foe for us to use."
"We have taken his weapons, and removed ours as well. We are ready to bind him when theraving begins."
Soar sounded almost eager. I heard a snort from outside the tent, and knew that Prest waslistening.
I suppressed my own smile. "You are ready for the battle, then. Let me give you another jar offever's foe, just in case." I rummaged in my basket. It seemed that Rafe would be well takencare of by his friends. I wanted to stay, but I knew that I didn't have the strength, and that Iwas needed in the stilltent. Besides, I would insult the honor of these women if I tried to taketheir duties from them. "I know that Rafe is in good hands, and that you will see him throughthis."
I heard a grunt from outside, and knew that Marcus approved.
The women seemed pleased at my response, and even Fylin unbent enough to reassure me.
"We will send for Gils if we have any doubts or questions, Warprize."
I nodded, and bent down to brush the hair from Rafe's forehead. "May the skies be with you,Rafe."
