Chapter 36

Ganz hadn't done field surgery in some time, but it wasn't something you forgot. All the same he was glad Tatjana was there to help. He pulled out a scalpel and cut open Kharg's chest. He could see the bullet's path clearly now, which was good and it had nicked an artery which was not so good. "We need to sew up the artery, but I think I should let you do it. You have more slender fingers. We don't dare widen the cut anymore then we have."

Tatjana nodded in agreement. Taking a needle from the medical kit, she threaded and sterilized it. She and Ganz shifted positions. After cleaning blood away again, she began to sew.

The process was slow and difficult, but finally it was done. Tatjana watched the newly sewn artery carefully for a while, but it didn't start bleeding or seeping. "I got it, let's sew his chest up. He needs to stay still and rest." Once Kharg's chest sewn and bandaged and exit wound tended, the bullet had went straight through fortunately without causing further damage, Tatjana sat back to rest.

Maru frowned. "But the guards, they'll catch us."

Tatjana nodded grimly. "Yeah, so we need to prepare ourselves for a fight."

Paulette hurried to Kharg's side and took his hand tightly in both of hers. "Will he be alright?"

Ganz laid his hand on Paulette's shoulder and gave it a comforting squeeze. "He'll be fine now. He just needs to rest."

Delma cursed in frustration. "But what about Darc? He isn't hurt, but he isn't waking up!"

Ganz glanced at Tatjana who shrugged. He looked back at Delma. "I can tend physical injuries only, all we can do is wait for him to wake up on his own."

"Damn it!" Delma glared at Darc. "You better wake up or I swear I'll kick your ass to Orcoth and back."

Kharg found himself standing in the castle ruins next to Yewbell. "Wha? How did I get back here?" He looked around then saw who was standing in front of their mother's grave. "Darc?" He walked over to his twin. "What's happening?"

Darc turned. "I think it's that link between us. You're dreaming and somehow I got pulled into it also."

Kharg can see Darc isn't particularly happy about that. "Sorry, little brother. It's not like I did it on purpose."

Darc snorted. "We have to do something about this damned link. I don't like getting dragged into your head." Darc smirked evilly. "To much open space."

Kharg blinked then shook his head. "Oh, ha, ha, you're a riot."

Darc gave him a toothy grin. "I thought so." He scowls. "So how do we get rid of this?"

Kharg sighed heavily. "I don't think we can get rid of it."

Darc shook his head. "It wasn't always there, so there has to be way

to stop it from happening."

Kharg folded his arms and studied his twin with a raised eyebrow. "Hasn't it?"

Darc gave his twin an exasperated look. "What are you blabbering about now?"

Kharg looked directly into his brother's eyes. "Can you honesty tell me that you've never had dreams where you're two people? Never felt incomplete for some reason that you couldn't understand? Never felt pain, but couldn't find a reason for it when you looked?"

Darc lowered his gaze and sighed. "I'd like to say I've never had anything like that, but I can't. How do we stop this damned link?"

Kharg shrugged. "Like I said I don't think we can."

"He's right, Darc. You can't just stop it or turn it off," a mellow and amused voice said from behind them.

Both of them started and whirled to see a Drakyr male standing behind them. The eyes told them both exactly who it was.

Darc scowled. "I didn't know you could leave the cave or take a different shape."

The dragon spirit laughed. "There are many things you don't know, hatchling." The spirit looked at Kharg. "You know even less then he does . You both need to concentrate on learning more about your other half." The dragon spirit shook his head. "Let the link connect you or it will form it." The spirit began to fade.

"Wait!" Kharg protested. "How do we connect?"

"Follow your instincts." The spirit disappeared.

"Damned lizard, a lot of help he was," Darc grumbled.

"Well, we linked before. We can figure out how to do it again," Kharg said. He paused and looked thoughtful. "Alright, let's start by relaxing and letting our minds go blank." He closed his eyes.

"Well, that ought to be easy for you," Darc jibed.

Kharg opened one eye and scowled. "No insults. This is important."

Darc snorted, but didn't say anything else. He closed his eyes reluctantly and tried to concentrate.

Meanwhile the rest of the group prepared for a fight. Volk and Ganz moved Kharg and Darc into the shelter of some thick brush.

Miko climbed into a tree and after a moment Maru, and Delma followed. Everyone else found places to hide. They would wait for the soldiers to come then ambush them.

It seemed like it was a long time before they heard metal clinking and brush rattling as the soldiers approached the clearing.

Maru notched an arrow and drew it back then waited. A shot from Tatjana would be the signal for the rest of them to attack.

The first few guards entered the clearing slowly and carefully. Guns in hand, they paused o scan their surroundings warily as they advanced.

The soldiers finally were all in the clearing. There were less of them then the group had thought, only fifteen. They were outnumbered, but not to badly.

A shot rang out from Tatjana's gun and a guard fell.

Maru aimed and released an arrow. It struck a guard directly between the shoulder blades and he toppled forward onto his face.

Delma leaped from the tree, landing on a soldier's back. She slashed his throat with one of her katars.

The soldier screamed as blood sprayed from his ruined throat and he fell.

Volk charged a guard, axe held high. He let out a sharp yelp as a guard shot him in the leg. The wounded limb gave out under him and the Lupine fell.

"Die, Deimos!" The soldier aimed the weapon.

BANG!

The soldier dropped the gun then toppled forward as blood poured down his face. When he hit the ground a bullet hole in the back of his head became visible.

Camellia was standing there holding a pistol, smoke curled from it's barrel. "Are you alright, Volk?"

Volk stared at Camellia in shock. He managed to get back to his feet. "I'm fine, but you? Using a gun?"

Camellia shrugged. She whirled and fired another shot, bringing down another soldier.

Howling a battle cry and forcing himself to ignore his injured leg, Volk leaped past the sage. A powerful blow from his axe cleaved another soldier's skull.

Meanwhile Darc and Kharg were still trying to trigger the bond, but weren't having much luck.

Darc cursed and opened his eyes. He scowled at Kharg. "This is so stupid and it's not working."

Kharg opened his eyes and sighed. "You're right, but I'm not sure what else to do."

Both of them were silent for a while then Kharg realized both of them had their hands covering their birth marks. He burst out laughing.

Darc glared at his twin. "What the hell is so damned funny?"

Kharg laughed even harder. He pointed at his arm then Darc's.

Darc got it then. He moved his hand quickly. "Stop sniggering like a drunken Orcon, you idiot."

"Sorry," Kharg sniggered. He took a deep breath and managed to get himself back under control.

Darc snarled in annoyance and frustration. "So now what the hell are we supposed to do?"

Kharg sighed and paced, thinking. Suddenly he stopped as a thought came to mind. He turned to Darc and offered him his left hand.

Darc looked at the extended hand then looked into Kharg's eyes. Slowly he reached out and put his palm to Kharg's.

A strange tingle shot up Kharg's arm and he shivered. He saw Darc shiver as well. "You felt that too?"

Darc hesitated and nodded.

It felt like something was whispering instructions in their minds. Once again their eyes met. "I accept," they said together.

There was a sudden brilliant flash of light that they weren't sure was visible to anyone but them then everything went black.

Back to the battle...They were doing better then they'd hoped, thankfully it appeared there were no more soldiers or they would have been here.

Ganz killed the last guard then leaned heavily on his axe. Blood ran from several painful wounds and he was utterly exhausted.

Tat Tatjana came up to him. "We almost lost that one. She was holding her left arm and blood dripped between her fingers. "You're hurt. Let me patch you up."

Ganz eyed her wound with concern. "So are you, I should patch you up as well."

Tatjana laughed at that. "Fine, I'll do your wounds then you can do mine, deal?" She frowned when Ganz just stared at her. "Ganz?"

Ganz didn't hear her. He was just thinking that Tatjana was truly a beautiful woman. Her eyes were lovely especially whgen she laughed. he couldn't believe he hadn't noticed it before. Suddenly he registers Tatjana is talking to him. "Sorry, guess I was thinking...you have a deal, on one condition."

Tatjana raises an eyebrow. "Which is?"

Ganz smiles. "You let me take you out for dinner and drinks when this is all over." He waited, fully expecting her to punch him.

Tatjana studies him then smiles. "Alright."

Ganz couldn't keep from grinning. "Great, tend away." He can't stop grinning as Tatjana goes to work.

I know, bad author, slow updating author! R/R please?