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At that, Bannister laughed loudly. "Trust me, you'd be better off allowing a blind person with only one finger to make stitches for you."
Chrissy made a face but didn't contradict Bannister and not only dashed my hopes for her seeing to my arm, but any hopes of her to turning into a more domesticated kallini who would sit by the fire with me during the cold season doing needlework.
Who was I kidding though? As appealing as that image was, that wasn't the kallini I had fallen in love with. The kallini I had fallen in love with would sit by the fire with me, but more likely sharpening a sword than a needle. And that was just fine with me.
Sighing, I called for Drector, who had stitched me up before and would have to do so again it seemed.
Before that happened though, I made my way through camp, assessing the damage with Chrissy by my side.
"So, those were the fabled Udruns?"
"Kar. I'm not sure what made them attack a convoy like ours though. Usually, they stay clear of large war parties like ours," I mused.
"Could it have something to do with the cold season ending?" Chrissy asked.
I gave that idea some thought and nodded. "Kar, it's possible. We had some strong storms this year, they might have been more desperate than usual."
"Are there always that many of them?"
"It just seemed that way because they're fast. I bet if we had the opportunity to count them, their numbers wouldn't have been higher than eighty."
"And we are a hundred and fifty," Chrissy mulled this over. "Gutsy or desperate."
"They must have thought they had the advantage of surprise," I agreed and vowed I would double our sentries in the coming nights. Thankfully, we were only three days out from Dokkymburg.
"This could have gone a whole different way if it hadn't been for your human warriors," I acknowledged.
"They did hold their own, didn't they?" Chrissy's head turned proudly, and when I followed her gaze, I noticed human and Thyre warriors working hand in hand, gathering the injured and cleaning up camp.
"Warlord Kendryx," one of my warriors approached me.
"Holgix," I greeted.
"We are missing almost twenty horses," Holgix informed me.
I cursed. "The attack was but a distraction so they could get the horses."
"Didn't Alahna say that her outpost had been attacked before the cold season?" Chrissy remembered.
I nodded. "Kar."
She looked thoughtful and probably came to the same conclusion as me when she asked, "Have the Udruns always stolen horses?"
"More so lately," I allowed. I would need to send messengers to all outposts and cities to find out if more attacks like this had happened and to warn them to be on the lookout as well.
Gryck also needed to know because I couldn't shake the notion that something was brewing with the Udruns. I wondered if they had smartened up and were turning into a greater foe than they had been. So far, our advantages had not only been our fortifications, weapons, and wit, but also the horses that allowed us maneuverability. If the Udruns adapted to that, they would turn into a much more formidable foe than they had been.
TheUdrunsdidn'tattackagain, and we reached Dokkymburg unmolested.
First, we entered a sprawling city that was surrounded by large walls and reminded me of pictures of medieval cities. It was charming and beautiful, and I fell in love with it instantly, even before we reached the town's center where a large market was being held.
"Would you like to stop and look around?" Kendryx offered.
As tempting as his offer was, I knew he burned to return to his stronghold and show it to me. It had been a long journey, and our soldiers were just as eager to find some warm food and a bed.
"How often do they hold this market?" I asked.
"Twice a week."
