51 Healing Hands (2/2)
It wasn't like I was torturing myself, but as the unit commander, I needed to know how many more soldiers died because I asked them to stay behind.
”Five,” Ashley whispered. ”I'll give you their names later... I just... don't want to think about it for a while.”
Wordlessly, I patted her on the shoulder with my uninjured hand. It was the only comfort I could provide.
”Well, you've got a fractured arm, Dean...” Ashley unclasped the vial of healing potion from her belt and offered it to me. ”I'll bandage it while you drink this. It won't heal the arm but it'll strengthen you enough for the ride back so Berrian can heal it.”
Ashley leaned closer to my arm so she could start bandaging it and it was only then that I noticed how nice she smelled. Despite the sweat clinging to her brow, there was a scent of lavender clinging to her clothes. I recalled this same scent was prevalent inside the training hall of the Shieldmaiden's Tower where we first met.
”You smell nice,” I said, without thinking, while I took the small vial from her. ”Um, I mean, you smell like lavender?”
”I use lavender oils when I take a bath... the Shieldmaidens believed it helps us keep evil at bay and attract other fairies to our cause,” she answered coolly like she didn't mind my earlier compliment.
I managed to say, ”You have time for a bath?” right before I chugged down the contents of the minor healing potion she gave me. She was right. It wasn't enough to heal my broken arm but it did make it hurt less.
Once Ashley was done bandaging my injury and Edo was finished tying up all loose ends, our group with our newly acquired swiftharts—twenty-one in all—left the battlefield and traveled the route our caravan had taken in hopes of catching up to them. We managed to reunite with them a mile or so away from the battle, right before Aura's convoy would cross into a narrow pathway between two hills with steep cliffs.
Cheering rang out from the soldiers who stayed to protect the convoy—with Shaqs' yells being the loudest of the bunch—as they saw us approach. But the clamor quickly died down when they noticed the five dead bodies of our comrades that we carried over the backs of our new swiftharts.
Luca and I reunited with Aura at the front of the convoy. She took one look at my arm and immediately sent for Berrian. They had me sit inside one of the wagons so Berrian could treat me properly.
”I wasted most of my spells on our other wounded but luckily for you, Commander, I still have one healing spell in reserve,” Berrian said as he inspected the bandaged arm. ”Shieldmaiden Ashley did a good job splinting the arm. Makes the recovery much easier.”
Berrian placed both of his hands on my arm. Warmth flowed out of him like a heater that had just switched on.
”May the light of Idunn, the blessed golden moon, shine down on this wound and restore it back to health so that this soldier of the Fayne may fight once more...” Berrian chanted like a prayer. He finished his chant by calling out the name of his spell, ”Healing Words.”
As golden light—not unlike the glow of the golden moon—wrapped around my arm, it was accompanied by a soothing heat similar to the feeling I get when I activate Fool's Insight. It flowed into and through my arm, overwhelming the throbbing sensation of pain until it was no more. After the golden light dispersed seconds later, the throbbing in my arm was gone.
Berrian leaned back while looking exhausted. His brow dripped with sweat like he'd just finished a marathon. Yet he was smiling at me when he said, ”You're healed now, Commander.”
Slowly, I lifted my still bandaged arm. It moved at my command without any complaint. I twirled my fingers and felt no pain.
”Nice job, Berrian,” I said gratefully. ”I know you're out of healing spells but,” I glanced over at the frightened kids who'd backed away to further into the wagon when I was put in here. ”I don't suppose you still have it in you to help them?”
”It's true that I am out of healing spells but...” Berrian followed my gaze. His smile turning into a frown at the sight of the kids. ”I believe I can manage one last spell tonight provided I can use one of the mana potions you've got stashed away...”
”Get one from Edo. He's got them kept,” I said right before I jumped out of the wagon.
Berrian followed me out and thanked me for my generosity because he understood just how precious a resource our mana potions were. The fact that I was allowing him to use it for purposes not involving our unit's survival showed him just how important this issue was to me.
”This is priority one, Berrian. If we can save these kids then this night wouldn't be a waste at all,” I said.
He nodded in agreement and trotted off to Edo's position near the back of the convoy.
Luca and Aura, who were idling outside the wagon and waiting for me, walked over as soon as Iw as done speaking with Berrian.
”What do we do now?” Luca asked.
”Should we proceed to the checkpoint as planned?” Aura added.
I looked up at the night sky. It would be hours before dawn but there were new things to consider now.
”Yeah... let's head back to the camp Zarz set up. We need to get those kids out of dodge... and I need to let Darah know what we're up against... things are definitely not what they seem,” I answered ominously.