As always Judy thank you for the review
I check on the King, he is still unconscious. The internal damage from the Ogre must have left him almost dead, if he hadn't woke up yet. Or my skills as a healer were abysmal. Our retreat had pushed us back all the way to where the Kings tent originally stood. We lost more soldiers, but scattered ones had come to our aid finding out the king was still alive.
But at this rate, all we were doing was losing men and women. I am getting a better feel for attacking without a plan. The men have stopped again and put the king down. His motionless form stretched across the top of two steel kite shields.
I took the opportunity to check on him again. There was still breath in Cailan's body as the reflective metal placed under his nose fogged over. I pulled the last potion from my pouch and poured it down his throat. That would make two healing balms and two injury kits. And if that didn't wake him, breathing or not he might be dead.
"Duncan, we have to do something other than this. I've used all my supplies. We are running around in circles and loosing good men."
Duncan bent over with his hands on his knees breathing heavily. The battle had been a disaster. He was grateful for the moment that the Archdemon had not shown. He wondered if the beast was testing their defenses or reactions.
Then there was the treachery of the Teyrn. He'd dealt with the man's stupidity years ago when they'd come to get information from King Maric. But to hold on to the stupid notion that Grey Wardens were going to usher in another Orlesian take over was absurd.
She was right they couldn't continue this way and they couldn't give up. "I am open to suggestions Rhiannon."
"His Majesty is not waking up. I don't know if it's because he was hurt more than my healing can repair or … I. This is going to sound absurd, but I think we should take him to the witch of the wilds. The darkspawn are no long in the wilds. And the witch helped Aedan and I."
Duncan focusing on me or that there were too many darkspawn in the area, but he didn't sense them until it was too late. I screamed as the Hurlock swung his ax and my commanders head was no longer attached to his body.
Enraged I fling a fireball at him. He continues to advance screaming in pain as the fire burns at his flesh. Two arrow land in his chest. And I slam him with a round of lightening. The Hurlock falls to the ground in death throws.
There are ten of us right now not including the two carrying the unconscious king. And they were looking to me for direction. And right now, all I wanted to do was sit in the middle of the battlefield and cry. But I didn't have time for that.
I reverent picked up Duncan's head, swiped that stray piece of hair back and carried it over to where his body was. I gently place the head on the body, gather the mana and create a ball of fire. I know that we are wasting precious time staying in one place, but I am not leaving him to be eaten by some disgusting creature.
I throw the fire ball onto his body and say the words he said us recruits before the joining. "As you perished know that your sacrifice will not be forgotten. And one day we shall join you. Until that day Duncan stay safe at the Makers side."
"If you choose to follow me, we are going to make our way through the camp and travel into the Wilds. There is a Witch with powers greater than mine. I believe it is the kings only opportunity. If any of you don't want to follow me, you can take your chances out there. No one will think less of you."
I watched loyalty in action as it stiffened spines and squared shoulders that those outside of Ferelden called stubbornness. "Good then. I need a volunteer to see if the kennel master has any mabari left that were not on the field. If so, bring them. They can augment our force and give us more warning as well as stand guard."
I wasn't sure why no one spoke up. Did they believe that it was the easy job, or that alone they would be killed, or did they feel that they were abandoning us? "Demons and Abominations! Fine then I will assign someone."
I looked at our rag tag group and sent the youngest two I could. "Go now. Meet us at the gate to the wilds. It is west of here. We will try to keep out of sight but moving in that direction. Change position and someone else carry the king and give the men a rest."
Duncan's body was still burning when we left. Burdened with the overwhelming knowledge I might be the last of the Grey Wardens I thought Maker help Thedas because I didn't know to do this on my own.
