"Patroclus?" I blankly glance up from my plate.

Taren frowns down at me making me feel like I missed something important. Searching my mind I try to remember anything that Taren had been saying since we sat down. But when nothing comes, I offer up what I hope is a correct answer. "Yes."

Shaking his head while grumbling under his breath, Taren jerks his back towards Achilles's tent. "Let's go."

Pushing my untouched plate away, my body slowly rises. Nearby men stare at me and grunt under their breath. But none dare speak to me or make their opinions known...not yet.

Once we had made it to Achilles's tent, after- after my cousin took the punishment that should have been mine, Eudorus had summoned a healer.

Achilles had collapsed in a heap on his soft makeshift bed with a gut crushing groan.

Taren and me stood numbly by the door, while Eudorus clucked around Achilles like a mother hen mumbling about the "crazy cooc" taking too much time.

By the time the healer stepped through the door, we all were ready to scream.

The healer was thin with almost no hair, except for the slightest bit along his ear line and above his eyes. Any other time that would have amused me, but as his sharp eyes took in Achilles my stomach churned. The bushy eyebrows pulled together in a frown as he extended a knobby hand to Eudorus.

After speaking briefly with the stand in commander of the Myrmidons, the healer began opening a small kit of supplies.

He bustled around the tent collect other random items adding them to his growing pile. A few moments later, he finally presented a potion to my cousin. Achilles was laying on his stomach and shook his head in refusal.

The old man simple clicked his tongue in annoyance and handed the potion to Eudorus. Who somehow managed to coax my cousin to swallow with the following promise:

"You may kill me after you feel better, but you will feel better. If I have to sit on you and force this potion down your throat...you know I will."

Achilles grunted and mumbled something that I couldn't hear.

"Come on, Achilles. You don't want to have to kill your best friend."

And with the slightest nod, Achilles slowly opened his mouth and Eudorus managed to get him to drink.

My mouth falls open in shock as my eyes slowly cut to Taren to see that his mouth doing the same.

The healer nods, "Good. Good. That'll help with the pain. 'Nough to put down a horse that. Can't wait though. Can't wait."

Then he proceeded to clean the first deep cut falling in the center of my cousin's back that received the brunt of whip. Achilles's unexpectedly cries out again.

"Thought," Eudorus grunts looking a bit green, "thought that was suppose to take away the pain."

"Soon. Soon," the little man replied without looking up while continuing on to the next deep gash. Fresh blood begins to run down Achilles's already mangled back.

Another groan. Another lash.

Turning my head away, I am not sure how much more I can handle in one day. My body is already betrayed me once today, and I sway slightly afraid I might faint again.

His wrinkled hands do not seem to mind the blood or the groans of Achilles or even the paling warriors in the room, he slowly cleans and removes dirt and rock from cousin's bloody back.

"Hmm, Hmmm," the healer mumbled to himself. My head turns back to seem him peering thoughtfully, hands paused in the air. Suddenly, he reaches back using one of his tools and abstracts a piece of glass.

Achilles jerks with a howl of pain.

"Not again," I whisper as I feel my feet carry me awkwardly backwards, knocking over some of my cousins shields with a loud clash.

Three sets of eyes turn to look at me. Then blue eyes slowly blink open as Achilles turns his head to find me.

"Cousin?" his voice like gravel, and his eyes glassy as he blinks repeatedly as if to clear them before focusing in on me.

My stomach crumples and it takes all of my will to keep myself upright seeing the pain mixed with concern reflected there.

Guilt shames my face that I cannot even see to my cousins recovery with strength.

"Here," I managed to whisper back and his eye flutter close.

"Pale, pale, pale as an 'host." The old healer mutters and I wasn't sure if he meant me or my cousin.

"Ahhhhh!" Achilles bucks backwards eyes springing back open, as the healer removes another small sliver of glass.

The healers voice never becomes loud, nor did he break eye contact with his work again. Instead he gently whispers something to Achilles, then continues cleaning the wounds. My cousin grips the furs under him until his knuckles turn white causing him to groan.

Dropping a blood stained cloth to the floor and picking up a fresh one, "Pale. Soon." Then he stops and looks at me again, before addressing the other men in the room.

"Eudorus 'elp 'old 'im still. Taren take the boy to get 'ome food. And make sure to get 'ome ale on his stomach for the 'ickness."

It took me a moment to realize that the healer had spoke in a complete sentence without repeating any words. Then I realized what he said.

Taren caught me around the elbow, but I resisted. "No."

"It's goin' to be a long process, boy. Fire soon, soon," the old man directs, as Eudorus place strong arms across my cousins's shoulders. "Till be longer if I have to stop and 'end to you too."

"I wont -,"

"The worse is yet to come...,"

"But -,"

"Go," Achilles voice grits out, stronger than it has been since he entered the tent.

"Come on," Taren mumbles, "you're looking green."

"Green." The old man agrees, before turning back to his patient. Eudorus nods at him that he has a good hold on his shoulder.

My argument dies in my throat and I turn to leave the tent. It should be me with him. No, it should be me lying there in pain instead of him. Sickness again washes over me as I step outside into the warm humid air.

Taren is beside me again, but he does not speak or offer me any help as I double over. I am thankful for his silence. Once I am able to catch my breath again, he nods his head towards the food tents.

Now as we make our way back to my cousin tent, I feel sluggish. I couldn't take more than a few bites of my meal and couple sips of ale. The old healer slowly emerges from the tent, Eudoros by his side. They both turn to look at me as I step up.

I open my mouth but no words come.

Seeing the struggle, the doctor smiles up at me. " 'e should be okay, son."

Tears feel my eyes and I cannot help but throw myself into the little man's arms standing in front of me. He looks just as unfrazled as when he came in, except for the slight sheen of sweat across his head.

"Needs to rest," the healer instructs breaking my awkward embrace with a sloght pat. He turns towards Eudorus now, "Rest."

A grunt escapes Eudorus lips and I know we're thinking the same thing. If Achilles sets his mind to moving, nothing will stop him.

The old man crocks a finger into Eudorus's chest, but the old warrior does not move. "I mean it, son. Needs to give that back time to heal."

Stepping into the tent, I note two things. One: Achilles was indeed rest silently. A prayer of thankfulness leaves my lips. And two: besides the thick bandages wrapped all the way around my cousin's body and a couple of potions on the table the healers presence could not be detected.

"He packed his back with salve," Eudorus speaks lowly beside me.

Realizing that Taren did not follow us into the tent, I stare at my cousins most trusted friend. My mouth goes dry, but I mange to ask the searing question. "Now what?"

He grunts, eyes starting at Achilles sleeping form. "He cleaned the wounds, then used fire to hopefully prevent infection."

My fist squeeze together as I stare at my cousin's sleeping form. "Once he's able, we'll return home."

The sinking feeling returns as I stare into Eudorus's cold eyes. "There's some furs there," he gestures to a corner. "Make yourself a pallet here. He'll sleep better knowing you're close."

I can only nod, as Eudorus scans Achilles once more. "He's resting now. Do not let him up by himself. If you need anything me or Taren will be outside."

Then the hardened warrior turns and leaves the tent without another word. I stare at my cousin almost afraid to move, afraid that I will disturb his rest. Finally my feet shuffle forward grabbing a fur blanket dropping it on the floor near my cousin's prone form.

My body groans in protest, as I finally drop to the ground, the tension of the day slowly starting to ease out of my shoulders. A soft snore escapes Achilles lips, and it may be the best sound I have ever heard as my eyes quickly flutter close.

A weird noise causes me to stir. My head pounds and I know that I have not been asleep very loud.

Something is not right. My body freezes as I listen.

Another snore from my cousin.

My body starts to relax again till I hear it.

Suddenly I am wide awake, my headache forgotten as I hear the odd noise again.

The sound of a knife cutting through tent fabric.

My feet scramble beneath me just in time to see Ezio step through a cutout in the tent.