The column stretched out behind me, the men's tired faces lit by the light of the setting sun shining through the trees. Not one lifted his voice in song as we made our way back to the barracks nor was there any joking about to celebrate the coming week of rest. The only sounds were the soft plodding of the horses' hooves and the rumble of the wagons over the leaf-strewn trail. It had been a hard two weeks out on patrol. The petty skirmishes and fruitless chases from one end of the region to the other had taken a heavy toll on our spirits but at least by the Light's grace we were returning with an empty meat wagon.

I looked ahead to where our new ranking officer, Lieutenant Ravencrom, led the column. Rather closed with the mouth, that one. When Lieutenant Dumont had turned the command turned over to him he hadn't made one of those encouraging speeches and gossip about him was thin. Neither had he said much when I had requested an escort through the northern region for tomorrow.

Had I expressed the need to replenish my supplies strongly enough? Even though I have been among humans for several years, I still found them confusing at times. They were too quick to anger, too quick to judge, too quick to love and just as suddenly to love no longer. As a nightelf I found their lives not unlike the strange decorative explosions called fireworks. A loud jarring noise and a bright flash of light soon no more than smoke on the wind. Joining the army as a healer to get to know them better had not been as good an idea as I had first thought. The murky layer military regulations added to the mix made me feel sometimes as if I were beating my forehead against a stone wall.

Rallying my courage I decided there was only one way to find out and urged my tired mare closer to Ravencrom's charger. "Sir, I hate to ask again," I said as I drew up to him. "But I do need to restock my supplies."

He frowned at me and then looked away. "I told you I would see what I can do, Healer Gladefire," he said, his voice a harsh rumble. "I thought night elves knew the meaning of patience."

Stung, I shut my mouth with a snap and slowed my horse to fall back in line. At least I still had a head on my shoulders.

As we pulled into Amberpine Lodge, Ravencrom motioned to sergeant Haraldsen and I waited patiently as the two men talked. Next I knew I was jerked awake as my horse moved under me. I rubbed my eyes only to find when I dropped my hands to the saddle horn that Ravencrom had dismounted and was holding my horse by its lower jaw. At first shocked at seeing him there, I wondered if he had been waiting for me to fall out of the saddle.

"You mentioned wanting to go tomorrow, healer. What time did you have in mind?" If he was as tired as I was, his voice did not betray him.

"First light, sir. The earlier we can get out and about the earlier we will be back and enjoying the remainder of the rest day." I got down off my horse and the moment my feet hit the ground I had to grip the saddle again to keep from falling. Every bone in my body ached.

"He'll be waiting for you at the main table," Ravencrom said over his shoulder as he walked away.

I murmured my thanks, wondering if I had rightfully heard a touch of amusement in his voice. Every joint in my body shrieked in pain as I carefully walked into the inn. The innkeeper's wife, Bessie, was at the kitchen door in full bellow at the scurrying help hauling buckets out the kitchen's back door.

"Lass!" she yelled across the room as soon as she saw me. "Get yerself upstairs. Yer bath a'waits!"

I smiled at the short, stout woman and would have hugged her if I didn't know it would hurt too much to do so. "The Light bless you, Bessie. You're a healer in your own right."

"Be thankin' that officer of yers, Miz Aengeal," she said, weaving her way through the crowd to my side. "He sent word ahead ta start the water boilin'. Gotta love a man that's no afraid of a bath!"

The next morning my muscles were still complaining as I went down the stairs but I did feel sure I would live through the day. A glance out the window earlier had showed the sun a half hour or so from rising so I was hopeful I would enjoy breakfast in peace before the man assigned to me showed up. Trying to savor my first meal of the day under the eyes of a disgruntled man burdened with the onerous task of shepherding me was an experience I would rather escape.

I could hear noises from the kitchen, which meant either Bessie or one of her staff was up and I would be saved from making my own breakfast. The main room was empty except for Lieutenant Ravencrom, geared in full armor with his helmet on the table beside him. From the appearance of the plate in front of him, he had just finished his own breakfast. He looked up at me as I stood at the bottom of the stairs, confused by this unexpected turn of events.

"Let Bess know you're here so we can get going," he said, looking down into his mug.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the kitchen door swung open and there was Bessie bustling in to set down a full plate and a mug of tea on the table. "We, lieutenant?" I said as I took my seat. Bessie laid her hand on my forearm, a light, quick touch, before going back into the kitchen.

"Well, you know, sometimes it works out that way." He leaned forward to inspect my plate, the sound of his armor shifting setting my teeth on edge. "Eggs and bacon? No gently boiled carrots and foliage for you, heh?"

At first I frowned at his teasing insult but then came a memory that brought a rueful smile to my lips. "My mother would say I have allowed contact with humans to lead me down dark paths, lieutenant." I dug into the food with great appetite. "I'll 'graze' among the foliage later." I held up a slice of bacon smeared with honey, watching the sweet liquid drip into the plate. "You're welcome to join me then if you'd like."

He made an odd sound and when I looked at him his face was flushed while the fingers holding his mug were white. Finally he swallowed the liquid in his mouth and set down the mug with a thump. "Thank you," he said, his voice rough, and got to his feet. "I'll make a note in my list of things to do while drunk as a dwarf. You finish up while I get the horses."

Now there was a grumpy man, indeed. Well, I'd better not to keep him waiting, I thought, rolling the rest of the eggs into the toasted bread. Herbs don't pick themselves and potions don't magically appear.

At the door to the outside Bessie met me with a small bundle, which she held out to be taken. "Here, I've packed you two a bit o' somethin' to bide you over while yer out and about."

I could only smile around the food in my mouth and nod my thanks as I took the cloth wrapped package.

"I hear yer goin' to that troll place up north. Dangerous place there, Miz Aengeal. Be watchin' yerself."

"We'll be fine, Bessie" I finally managed to say. "We know to be careful"

"Not only that, lass, but I also be speakin' of the lieutenant. That man's worth a little patience." She smiled at my puzzled frown and held the door open for me. "See you soon!"