SFL 3 - Defiant Heart - Chapter 3

Chapter 3

Casey pulled himself out of his meditation to find that Vibeke had returned and the lithe spearwoman was standing by the door eyeing Casey curiously. When she saw him stir, indicating that he was returning to awareness, her smile grew, and she hurried out through the tent entrance once more.

I guess she is signaling the healer. I am glad whoever was with the troops recognized your state and did not interfere, Maude sent, and Casey had to fight back a sigh.

Whenever he spent time within the spiritual realm, either in his center or Maude’s, he could truly hear and appreciate her voice for all the tone and life that it carried. But whenever he returned to the physical world, he was reminded of how muted his lover’s mental voice was in her current form.

Not for much longer, Maude reminded him, picking up on the thought as it drifted over the top of Casey’s consciousness. At the rate you are progressing, it might be only a year until I reach the point where I’ll be the one who can tend your wounds after a fight.

I’d rather not get wounded and tend to you instead, Casey shot back as Vibeke bounded back into the tent.

“The healer is on his way. He was gratified to hear you had woken and were tending to your qi gains rather than losing them. There was a bit of an argument between him and the patrol-captain about it. The healer advocated for giving you the time to handle it, while the patrol leader wanted to get moving towards the mountain with those that could be moved.”

“Well, I’m glad that they didn’t try and shift me in my sleep. Wouldn’t have gotten a pleasant response,” Casey snorted, shifting carefully and reaching across to grip Maude’s handle with his right hand and adjust the seax.

While he might be inclined to trust these folk from the Roaring Mountain clan due to the testimonies of others, Casey’s life had not gifted him with an excess of the emotion to this point.

Yes, that would have been unfortunate. If the healer had added herbs and ointments to treat your injuries, it would have forced more qi into your body to try and heal it. That may have been more than I could have handled in the balancing act, and you’d have lost more qi as your pool couldn’t contain or process it without direction, Maude added as he wiggled carefully to settle in.

Yes, but if it is a choice between dying to retain the power and living but losing some of it, I know which one I’ll go with, Casey shot back with a mental shrug. He felt the ghost of a kiss on his cheek as Maude silently agreed with him.

“How are the others doing? I can’t remember if I asked about that,” Casey said after getting settled, the pinching in his side worse now, but he had Maude close enough to draw if he was called to fight and felt better for it.

“They’re doing fine. The healer saw to them first, and everyone seems excited to get moving towards the Roaring Mountain. The word I’ve been hearing is that they believe anyone who survived the trial of getting this far should have no problem claiming a place in the clan.” The frown and furrowed eyebrows on Vibeke’s face told Casey that she clearly didn’t agree with that conclusion, and he couldn’t fault her.

“If that confidence helps them overcome their trials, then it’s worth it to allow them to think that way,” Casey said with a shrug, and Vibeke’s shoulders slumped, but she nodded in understanding.

“That was what the healer said when I was complaining while he treated my leg—that sometimes people need a crutch for their minds as much as for their bodies. The problems that arise are the same, though. Relying on it for too long results in weakness and discerning the point at which you’re using it as a crutch is harder with mental issues.”

“That is why such matters should be left in the hands of healers, though your concerns for your friends and allies are noted, Vibeke Ylvasdottir,” said a sharp voice.

The words preceded a lanky man with a clean-shaven but scarred face entering the tent. He was dressed in a light tan tunic that hung to his knees while leaving his wiry arms bare and showed matching pants tucked into high-topped leather boots. His hair was a mixture of blonde and gray, pulled back into a short topknot. Over one shoulder was a leather satchel, closer to the size of a saddlebag, that clinked while he walked.

“Healer Gunnar, thank you for your wisdom,” Vibeke said quickly, bouncing upright like a guard who had been caught slacking.

“Oh relax, girl. I’ve delivered enough babies and stitched up enough warriors that I don’t care about all the titles anymore. Now, let’s have a look at this young man over here and ensure he’s going to stay one man and not turn into two half-men when he sits up.”

The dry humor in the older man’s tone got Casey smiling and relaxed a bit of the tension he’d been carrying.

“What do you need me to do, Healer?” Casey asked as the older man crossed to him, scooping up a folding stool along the way.

“Absolutely nothing, young man, besides refraining from sticking that blade you cling to in me,” the older man rumbled with a tired smile.

Now that he was closer, Casey could see the bags under his eyes that indicated the man often worked with little or no sleep, and the redness of his eyes confirmed that Gunnar had likely gone without rest recently as well.

But despite his exhaustion, the healer was still sharp, and he noted Casey’s gaze.

“Don’t you worry, young man. Considering the hack-job’s I’ve been working to repair the last few days, your little cooking accident will be nothing I can’t handle. Vibeke, go wash your hands and then come back to help me remove these bandages. Use the hot water by the fire, girl.”

“Understood!” Vibeke snapped, stiffening again before she turned and trotted out the door. Before she vanished, Casey saw her glancing back to lock eyes with Magnus and nod to the elk. He looked at the elk and was amused to find that Magnus was nodding in return before shifting to keep careful watch over the healer.

“She’s a good girl,” Gunnar continued, unslinging his bag and setting it beside Casey’s knee before flipping the flap back to rummage inside of it. “Sat watch over you even with your big fellow here already on guard. If you’d believe it, the two of them would take turns so that one could rest or relieve themselves. When you’re in strange lands, it is good to have solid friends from home, isn’t it?”

The healer’s gentle speech further helped to relax Casey as the older man set out his tools on the edge of Casey’s cot before producing a sharp iron knife. A brief flare of fire in the old man’s palm heated the edge until it glowed, and he began waving it back and forth to cool it.

“Vibeke is a close friend, and so is Magnus,” Casey answered while the old man sterilized his blade, something he was relieved to see happening. Magnus gave a snort that Casey knew indicated amusement, but the healer eyed him with a bit of annoyance in his eyes.

“If you are going to make such noises, master elk, then please direct them away from the injured. It would be unfortunate if your mucus caused contamination to enter into your companion’s wound.”

Normally, Magnus would double down against such orders. The elk had never been one to appreciate or respect authority in any fashion. But to Casey’s surprise, Magnus ducked his head and glanced to one side, to ensure his various sound effects wouldn’t blow a mist of spit over Casey like they usually did.

That’s a good boy, Magnus. I’ll make sure Casey rewards you for your hard work when he can get up and around, Maude crooned happily to the animal, getting a pleased grunt from him.

They’d discovered that spirit beasts and elementals could hear the weapon-woman speak with her mental voice, but only a select group of humans could hear her, and Casey only because of their partnership, so he wasn’t overly concerned about the healer hearing her.

“All right, then,” the healer said as Vibeke returned and collected a stool for herself to sit further down Casey’s body by his waist. “Now that we are both washed up and ready—so you are aware, good drengr, I washed before coming to see you.”

“I had gathered as much,” Casey responded, shifting again to try and ease the throbbing in his side. “Please, go ahead.”

Healer Gunnar nodded and set to work carefully cutting the bandages away on Casey’s good side. As he cut, Vibeke would pull the cloth apart carefully under his direction, being cautious to not tug on any part of the injury. While he worked, Gunnar explained what he was doing to Casey so as not to surprise the younger man.

“The sword blow cut between two of your ribs, but the bones themselves stopped the blow from going excessively deeply. Due to the heavy bruising of the surrounding flesh, I know that either you used a technique to protect yourself that was pushed until it failed, or you were hit with an exceptionally blunt weapon.”

“It was a technique. The other fighter in the duel used a technique to force his way past it at the last second, but it cost him his life,” Casey answered the unspoken question.

Gunnar nodded slowly, his pale green eyes fixed on his work as he cut through the last of the cloth and took over the job of pulling it back from Vibeke. He used a few drops of liquid from a bottle in his bag to wet the bloody cloth so it wouldn’t pull on the wound.

“That was my assumption as well, given the other evidence. The wound had scorch marks around it and was showing signs of burns indicative of high heat. So someone with a flaming sword cut your side deeply after overwhelming your defensive technique, but between your ribs and the technique you avoided organ damage.”

Vibeke flinched at that statement, which told Casey she had been unaware of the severity of his injury. But she hurried to get a bowl of warm water when the healer sent her for it, returning in a minute with a wooden bowl of steaming liquid that they began to use to wipe at Casey’s side gently after the healer sprinkled some powder into it that released a strong, astringent smell.

The warm water stung, and the scent settled over Casey like an unpleasant cloud, but he didn’t protest. Instead, he listened while the healer continued to speak.

“Now, when you came into the camp, you were messily bandaged, but still bandaged. That told me you were smart enough to know you needed to do something about the wound. You would be surprised how many drengr return to the gods early because they think they can just ignore their injuries and survive on ‘grit.’ ”

“Oh, I can do that, too,” Casey joked through his teeth as the older man prodded the wound gently with one finger. He felt the injury tug and pull, but not very much.

“Well, I’m glad that you chose not to this time. Though it did not harm your lungs or other organs, the wound was still deep and bled profusely. I was able to stitch you up and get the bleeding to stop by pressure, but doing more than the basics would have been dangerous. The little bit of qi I felt was safe to administer in your condition was used to heal the burns enough that I could stitch you up.”

“Appreciate that, I was able to proceed to the fourth Step because of it,” Casey answered, getting a soft gasp from Vibeke and a sound of amusement from Gunnar.

“Then you will be ahead of the other aspirants by a good distance. Most of them are no further than the second Step, and the vast majority remain at the first. The bounty of your duel, no doubt.”

“Damien was the one who demanded holmgang, and that it be fought immediately,” Casey said defensively. Only after the words left his mouth did he remember the reactions of the observers when that had happened and grimaced. He hadn’t intended to bring that up after all.

“Holmgang? Really now…” Gunnar murmured thoughtfully while Vibeke’s face twisted in disgust. “I’m glad that we were able to take a few captives, and even more glad that I bothered to ensure they would survive to be questioned. This is sounding more and more like a single family's vendetta, rather than an intentional attack by the entire clan.”

“I couldn’t say,” Casey said diplomatically, and the healer grunted in understanding.

“That is fair. I will let the patrol-captain know. He has already requested to debrief you, which will happen either later today or tomorrow after we depart. But back to your wound. The stitches are holding well and show no sign of tearing, and the swelling is not bad. I will make a poultice to assist in the healing and restore your energy. Remain where you are while I do this. If you try to get up, I will tell Vibeke to sit on you.”

The older man’s tone went from serious, to thoughtful, to teasing as he spoke. The final part of his sentence made the young woman blush furiously, but she nodded sharply as if accepting orders from a general. Which set off a round of titters from Maude in Casey’s mind.

Oh, I knew I liked Vibeke before, but she is reminding me of my half-sisters from Mother Glut right now. I am somewhat glad I cannot tease her, because I’m sure she’d be tired of me in short order.

Soon enough, love, Casey reminded the spiritual woman, pressing the sensation of a kiss through his connection to her. Maude purred happily and projected sensations of love in return to distract Casey while he lay there waiting for the healer to finish his work.

Gunnar was quick with his hands, grinding and mixing herbs into a powder before adding a few liquids to it to make a paste. That was gently smeared on the wound and Casey felt it the second the cool, sticky substance hit his skin, because a jolt of qi entering his body came right along with it.

He didn’t need to look into his center to see that his body was already ravenously processing all the qi it could while more of it worked to speed the healing of the injury without over-stressing his body’s natural reserves. At least that was what Gunnar explained as he worked, going into detail about the different herbs he was using and what they would assist Casey’s body in doing. In truth, Casey was struggling to retain the information after the third ingredient he listed with the speed that Gunnar was working at.

It’s fine, love. I know most of this from watching grandmother work, Maude reassured him after a bit, and Casey just let it go until the paste was applied and the energy surged through him.

“There. We will give the paste an hour to work and be absorbed, then wash it off and bandage him again. By tomorrow morning, you will be fit to ride and we will remove the stitches. If you give it a few hours, you can sit up and eat something.” Gunnar’s declaration was a welcome one, and Casey nodded his understanding to the healer’s orders.

“What about the patrol-captain? I know he wanted to speak to Casey. He’s asked after him every time he sees me,” Vibeke reminded Gunnar, but the older healer just waved her off.

“I’ll handle him. Don’t you worry, lass. Lucas is a sensible man and knows better than to argue with a healer.”

Gunnar remained and made small talk for the hour, ensuring that Casey did not move while gathering more information about their forced march through the forest over the last several days. After that, he inquired about where Casey had traveled and listened with interest to what he said of the trouble stirring in the lands of the Bronze Fist.

When Casey revealed that he’d made use of fae-honey candies, the older man grew excited, before despairing when Casey admitted he had used the last of them. Only a promise to give the man one to study if Casey happened upon another perked him back up.

“The Small Folk are notoriously hard to please, and it is rare that they share their bounty. You were right to save such resources until they were needed, and I cannot fault you for choosing to make use of it to evade capture. From what you described, those folk would not have hesitated to make you into a thrall or worse.”

The grave tone that Gunnar used convinced Casey to not mention the fact that he’d actually had several of the magical candies and used them over the last several weeks. Or that he’d shared one with Magnus, since he wasn’t sure how the older man would react to the idea of the elk devouring one of the extremely rare treats.

Once the hour had passed, Gunnar carefully scrubbed the poultice off of Casey’s side before rebandaging him once more. The formerly sticky poultice had dried into an almost ashy consistency in that time, the muddy green-brown paste fading into a sickly gray color that seemed to satisfy the older man.

“It is proof that your body readily accepted the healing qi. It will process the nutrients and finish sealing this up while you rest,” Gunnar said, waving his hand at the now freshly bandaged injury. “Do not try to dress until tomorrow. The last thing you need is to tear the wound while it is healing. It will leave a faint scar, but if you tear it, the scarring will be worse.”

“Understood. It’s just one more scar for the collection,” Casey said flippantly, forgetting that he’d lost all of the scars his previous body had born at that moment. Thankfully, the healer seemed to take it for a joke, only nodding before leaving the tent now that his job was done.

“Well, that was less painful than I expected,” Casey sighed, shifting again to try and get comfortable. His side still ached, but it was more the ache of a deep bruise than the sharp stabbing he’d felt earlier.

“The mark of a good healer,” Vibeke said with a small smile that he returned. “I’ll go and find us something to eat. Magnus, sit on him if he tries to get up, okay?”

Magnus grunted in agreement and started to scoot across the ground towards Casey, clearly planning something.

“No! You stay right there, you menace!” Casey barked quickly. “I’ll stay here and not move, but don’t you dare take the opportunity presented by her words to be a pest!”

Waving his hands at the animal to stop it didn’t help, but Magnus only crept a little closer before he tossed his head in agreement and chuffed a laugh in his throat, and Casey growled in annoyance while Maude laughed.