“You must pay close attention to those who are bleeding. Their wounds must be closely inspected for pus or maggots, and detoxicants must be boiled and given three times a day without fail. Also, try to keep the hands and feet of every patient as clean as possible, and change their dressings at least every three days. Herbs and firewood are stored in thecentral tent, and you are free to take as much as you need for the day.”
The cleric then divided the women into six groups of seven and assigned each group to look after forty wounded men. Maxi was luckily assigned to the same group as Idsilla.
“I was told that most of you know how to administer basic treatment,” the cleric said. “If you encounter anything outside your knowledge, come to me immediately. You will find me near the north gate.”
After the cleric left the tent, the women in each group promptly divided the workload among themselves. They decided that two of them would take turns checking on the wounded while the remaining five would be responsible for preparing meals and collecting water.
Maxi was assigned to help draw water from the well with two other women. Drawing enough water to last the whole day was an exhausting task in and of itself.
Each group of women administered remedies to a total of forty injured men, served them two meals a day, washed their hands and feet, drained the pus from their wounds, and changed their dressings. Even after all this, their tasks were still not finished; tending to the horses and preparing the soldiers’ meals were also their responsibilities.
Days passed as though someone were snipping off chunks of time. Maxi gradually got used to the hard labor. Though life at the camp was far more difficult than she had anticipated, she felt no inclination to grumble.
Her heart ached when she looked at the men who faced becoming crippled, and she was sorry that she could not be of more help. Had it been possible, she would have gladlyhealed all of them with her magic. However, she could not even dream of doing so with her meager mana supply. Just healing three or four men was so draining that it would barely leave her enough energy for her remaining duties.
Ultimately, Maxi made the grim decision to refrain from using magic as much as possible. It simply would not do for her to exhaust her energy on a few men when there were dozens of them in her charge. She tried to lessen her guilt by meticulously checking their wounds whenever she could and giving them herbal tea at hourly intervals to numb their pain.
One day, after days of endless work, Idsilla furtively came up to Maxi.
“Lady Calypse.”
Maxi looked up inquiringly from a remedy she had been preparing. Idsilla placed a finger over her mouth and motioned with her head for Maxi to follow her quietly. After glancing about, Maxi stepped out of the tent.
The hot summer sun stung her eyes. Maxi paused to rub her throbbing forehead and wipe away the beads of sweat on her nose.
“This way,” Idsilla called impatiently.
The girl walked around the camp and stopped near the city walls. She hid behind a bush and pulled Maxi down, forcing Maxi to crouch next to her.
“Wh-What on earth…are we doing?” Maxi asked.
Idsilla pointed beyond the bush. “Look over there.”
It did not take long for Maxi to realize why the girl had brought her here. A line of knights was entering through the wide-open gate.
Idsilla leaned closer and whispered in Maxi’s ear, “They are knights from Wedon who have come to collect provisions.”
Maxi grew wide-eyed. True enough, the knights’ surcoats bore the crest of Wedon. Her heart raced at the thought that Riftan might be among them.
“They will probably leave as soon as they’ve collected their rations,” Idsilla added.
Maxi whirled to face Idsilla with surprise. “S-So quickly?”
Idsilla nodded. “Now would be the only chance for us to talk to them. What would you like to do?”
Maxi bit her lip. Even if Riftan were not among the men, she might be able to hear news of him. Concealing her face further beneath her hood, Maxi cautiously stepped out of the bush.
“I’m sure no one would notice me…i-if I pretend that I am helping,” she reasoned. “I might be…able to o-overhear some conversations.”
Idsilla rose beside her. “I will go with you.”
Maxi shook her head. “T-Two of us would be conspicuous. You should return to the tent…before anyone n-notices your absence. If I hear news of the Livadonian knights…I-I will be sure to tell you.”
Idsilla considered this for a moment. Seeing the logic in Maxi’s words, she nodded and obediently turned around to leave. Maxi hastened toward the Wedonian knights. As she approached the knights’ barracks, she heard Duke Aren’s booming voice.
“It must have been a tiring journey. Come inside. You should try to get some rest while the soldiers load the provisions onto the wagons.”
Hiding behind a wagon, Maxi watched the knights as they entered the tent one after the other. She intended to approach one of them to inquire about the situation on thefront lines. She was eyeing each one to find the mildest looking among them when one of the last to enter caught her attention. Maxi’s eyes widened.
