The Wrath of Heaven-Part 4
Setting out for the second time that day, Rheya headed down to the camp outside the gates of Haven. She had to wait for a group of soldiers to pass by heading down the road toward the Pilgrim's Path before she could cross into the encampment. The training ground was unusually empty given the Commander usually had the troops running their morning drills. Peering down the rows of tents she made her way through the camp until she came to a large opened tent that functioned as the Commander's office. The former Templar was looking over a report of some sort as she approached, he passed the report off to a waiting messenger before catching sight of her.
"My apologies Commander," she said inclining her head respectfully to the man as he turned to face her fully, hands resting on the pommel of his sword in a seemingly unconscious state of rest. "Lady Nightingale and Seeker Pentagast required my assistance with the Prisoner."
"So I have heard," Cullen replied, in a tone that did little to hide his irritation at the delay but seemed resigned to the fact when the Spymaster and Seeker were going to do what they wanted even if it did delay his own plans.
"Have they learned anything from him yet?" He inquired, leaving his tent and Rheya fell in step beside him as they headed back up to the front of the encampment.
"I wouldn't know Commander Rutherford." Rheya stated decorously; she was only a small town healer after all; it was not her place delving into interrogations and politics, that wasn't her life anymore. "I merely saw to his wounds and left the interrogation to the professionals."
Cullen nodded dismissively before moving on to his original reasons for sending for her. "I need you to come up to the forward camp with the next group of troops. We have only a few of our own healers up there tending the wounded from those fighting the demons that are falling from the Breach. And from what I have heard none with your skill. Do you have any experience working in a combat situation?"
Rheya hesitated before answering, "I have seen my share, I can keep my head should things get hairy." She assured craning her head back to peer up at the Breach above.
"Good, good." Cullen said nodding, mentally checking one thing off his ever growing list of things he needed to see to today. "Collect anything you might need and meet back here."
Rheya nodded in confirmation before heading back toward the gate. Pausing before entering she waved over the old stable hand and asked him to saddle up her mount. Heading back to her hut she began packing supplies into her satchel while Rena raided Adan's supplies, much to the alchemist's ire and came back in with a saddlebag of various healing potions. While Rena stuffed more bandages into any available pockets in her pack, Rheya slipped into the back to change into more suitable attire for riding and exchanged her wool dress for trousers and a tunic. Slinging the saddlebag over her shoulder and picking up her satchel she headed back down to the encampment.
Exiting the gate for the second time that day she noticed an air of agitation among a number of the locals and soldiers crowding the road and talking in hushed whispers. Further ahead she could just make out the figures of Cassandra in her distinctive armor and who she could only assume was the Prisoner judging by his stumbling gait and posture that stated his hands were bound. She paused with the crowd watching the dwindling figures disappear around the bend and down to the gated bridge of the Pilgrim's Path.
Readjusting the bags on her shoulder, careful of the meticulously packed glass bottles inside as she made her way to the stable. The Haven stables were not much; it had room enough for a number of horses but simply lacked said horses. The building was large and well maintained to protect its occupants from the harsh mountain weather. Mainly it was used by the pilgrims, for a fee, to stable their mounts before taking the Pilgrim's Path up the mountain to the Temple. In winter the few travelers visited the area, the building housed the local work horses and druffalo in the area during the winter months. In return for the shelter for their livestock the farmers provided a good portion of the stables feed. Rheya's own mount was kept there as well at discount as she also saw to the health of the animals there when called upon. She had earned the favor of the stable owner in her first summer of living in the village when she helped his prize mare through a bought of colic and subsequently saved her and the foal she carried to term a week later.
Nagra, stayed in a stall at the far end of the stable, it had once been two stalls but had been altered into one large to accommodate the animal's bulky form. "Hope you're ready for a workout bud." the healer said, slinging the saddle bag over the stall wall before opening the door and stepping in. She was greeted by a snort as the large War Nug stamped its feet.
"Looks like you're finally going to get to stretch those old legs of yours." Reaching up she scratched the creature in the juncture of the chin and neck, resulting in rumbling purr emitting from his large chest. Moving on she checked the straps on the harness of her saddle to make sure the stable hand who saw to her tack had fastened everything properly before tapping the beast on the shoulder. At the touch the creature obediently folded it's legs up under its body.
"Good boy," she praised, scratching him about the horns, which were now in easy reach. Retrieving her saddlebag she fastened it on before securing her pack on the saddle as well before tapping the Nug's shoulder again and the creature stood. Despite the lack of bridle or any type of lead, as she opened the stall and walked out Nagra followed obediently, his soft nose bumping her shoulder every other step.
Exiting the stable, Rheya led her mount back toward camp to see a scout stumbling in. With a mental prod the Nug stopped and waited as Rheya ran over to the scout as he was caught by one of his comrades, who helped him to sit down on the ground by a tent.
"What happened?" One soldier questioned as another went off to get Cullen as the scout insisted he needed to get to the Commander quickly.
"Make way, I'm a Healer." Rheya called pushing through the group that was forming around the scout and began to look over his wounds. Kneeling down she brushed his hair out of the way to see where the blood running down the side of his face was coming from. There was a sizable lump growing on his head with a jagged gash bisecting it. The group collectively moved out of the way at their leader's approach as Cullen stalked up.
"What news do you have?"
"The second bridge is out; most of the last group made it through before it was destroyed. The Seeker and Prisoner were crossing at the time, someone reported spotting them leaving the rubble." This news disquieted the remaining soldiers, the bridge had been the only way for the troops to get up or down the mountain. Now they could not reinforce the forward camp nor could their comrades get down.
"Blast it all," Cullen cursed at the news, running a hand through his short cropped hair as he tried to think of a way to get himself and the rest of his troops to the forward camp without access to the main route of roads and bridges.
"Just a minor graze, go see Rena at my hut and she'll clean it out as soon as you can. It's minor but best not to invite infection." Rheya stated as Cullen sent someone off to find a local map in hopes of finding an alternate route up the mountain.
"Commander, if I may?'' The Healer voiced as her patient was dismissed and began the long walk up to the gates of Haven and up the stairs to Rheya's hut. Cullen nodded in acknowledgment, looking around the area past the camp and toward the frozen lake she pointed further down the body of solid water. "the lake is frozen enough, you could have your troops cross over down that way where the ice is thickest. There is an old ram path that runs all the way up the mountain. I use it when I go to collect herbs. During the summer it is so overgrown you could not hope to get more than one man at a time but this time of the year, the foliage has died off enough that it could be easily widened."
Cullen contemplated this new information before nodding. "That might just work."
"It isn't as quick as the main road but it will get you up near enough to the top of the mountain to find an alternate route to the camp. It would be faster with mounts."
"Which we are sorely lacking in good supply," Cullen stated regretfully wishing they had enough mounts to outfit his troops.
"I have a mount," Rheya supplied, "if you'd like I can ride ahead and clear the way somewhat. It might make the path easier. I could even take one or two with me no problem, Nagra is used to these mountainous areas."
"Do that, I will ride up to the camp with you and the rest can follow. They will be needing me up there soon if not already."
"Are you sure this thing is safe?" Cullen asked cautiously, gripping at the cantle of the saddle as the War Nug moved into a brisk trot up the barely visible path; crashing through the overgrown bushes and branches like they were nothing. Leaving a clear path gouged through foliage and snow alike.
"Safer than you'd be on any horse." Rheya commented lightly, unfazed by the unusual jerky gate that was more akin to the rise and fall of the bow of a boat than a horse. While far slower and bulkier than horses and not as graceful or sure footed as Halla, Nagra made up for it in sheer endurance and power. He didn't bother tip toeing around things when he didn't have to and simply barreled right through making full use of his large size and massive horns; even toppling small trees should it prove easier than going around. The unique hand-like feet of the Nugalope were, while not as sure as the cloven hooves of Hart's, gripped the rocky path well and despite it's large size it's footsteps were far more silent than it's hooved or clawed counterparts.
"That is debatable." Cullen quipped, as he gave another dangerous lurch in the saddle as they broke through the undergrowth onto a rocky path that led along a steep ridge and down a frozen river bed that led to a lake, smaller than the lake near Haven but fed into it during the warmer seasons.
"Almost there, you see that?" the healer said, pushing her shawl back off her head to free her field of vision and pointed up as the crumbling remains of a fort came into view. It was still smoking, much like many of the destroyed bridges they had seen on the way up.
"That's Penitent's Crossing. It has a bridge, longer than the rest, but leads right to the Temple." Nagra came to stop where the river met the lake, dancing impatiently in place. Rheya soothed the beast as the smell of smoke filled their nose.
"Maker's breath," Cullen breathed looking out over the lake. "I didn't know anyone lived up higher than Haven." Smoke billowed out of one of the two buildings as it burned unhindered. The second house further around the lake was remarkably untouched.
"Not year round, mostly fishermen and hunters stay here in the warmer months. We can only hope no one decided to come out early." Over head the Breach flares violently bathing the world below in more vibrant hues of green as more demons spilled forth. Spurring the nuggalope forward, they headed out across the frozen lake. Passing the remains of a number of demons along the way. Approaching the stairs a ball of flame crashed down at the base, a Lesser Terror crawling from the crater. The demon shrieked as it spotted the mounted pair, tearing a hole in the ground below and disappearing into the Rift.
"Stay alert, it could pop up anywhere." Cullen warned drawing his sword and scanning the surrounding area with a trained eye. Rheya guided her mount toward the stairs all the while allowing her mind to go blank as her senses extended. The sleeping fish frozen solid in the ice below, the sleeping squirrels in their tree nests, the bright life of the man behind her and the beast beneath them. All this she saw as she extended further feeling for that tell tale ripple. There it was right below them.
Rheya had trained Nagra since he was small in the old method of riding, to obey mental commands rather than those given by bits of metal and harness. Over the years they had developed a bond and with that bond was a modicum of trust, it was because of this history that the usually ungraceful beast lept to the side without a moment of hesitation at a prod. The ground rippled an instant later and glowed.
Cullen, shouted in alarm at the sudden unexpected shift but quickly regained his balance. They cleared the edge of the Rift just as it opened and the Terror was met with Cullen's blade as it bolted out of hiding.
"We need to get to the Forward Camp now." Cullen shouted, yanking his sword free from the Terror even as more demons rained down. Rheya nodded and spurred Nagra into a gallop, trampling two Lesser Shades in their path as they charged up the stairs. Cullen swung his sword in a deadly array of movements, slicing any demon that drew too close as the war nug bellowed; ramming his horns into any demon in his path before trampling over them as they climbed higher. Clearing the final flight of stairs, the demons lessened as they approached the gate leading to the camp. The great wooden doors swung open at their approach and Rheya coaxed the nug into a stop.
"Commander, I am glad you have arrived, I was just about to send someone to find you." Leliana called jogging over as Cullen sheathed his blade and dropped down from the high saddle.
"Wouldn't do you much good; most of the bridges all the way down, are all destroyed. We had to find an alternate route."
"So I can see," the Spymaster commented watching Rheya coax the nug to kneel so that she could dismount easily. Turning her attention back on the Commander she continued, "We need you to lead an attack to distract the main horde that had formed. Cassandra, the Prisoner along with Varric and the Apostate have taken the mountain pass in hopes of slipping by unhindered."
"Right-" Cullen said stalking purposely across the bridge, Leliana at his side as they talked strategy on the way to see his troops.
After some asking around Rheya found herself in the collection of tents that served as an aid station to treat the most seriously injured and prep the less serious for transport back to Haven. She did not have to be told when the attack charged, she knew when it had begun as the cots in the tent she had been assigned began to fill. Soon enough there were patients lying on makeshift gurneys, as the beds had filled and more were pouring in.
"We need some help over here!" called a woman in scout armor who was supporting her partner as he limped in.
"Colbey, how are you doing over there." Rheya asked, one of the two assistance assigned to help here. Their skill in healing was mediocre at best but with the simpler cases and some crash course lessons in triage she had put them to good use.
"I think, I'm going to puke.'' The twenty-something recruit replied his hands currently holding flesh and organs clear as the Senior Healer stitched up the internal damage resulting from a vicious set of five inch claws meeting a man's chest.
"Deep breaths Colbey, in your mouth out your nose." Rheya soothed before continuing in her near constant muttering in a foreign song-like language as she worked.
"I said we need some help!" The scout shouted, more of an order this time. "Someone get over here and see to this man!"
"Frarin, what's his status?" the healer asked, allowing Colbey to leave their current patient for some air as she readied the wounds to be closed.
"Superficial, looks like a broken leg."
"Right, wash up and come close this man." Rheya stated, moving to a wash station to clean the blood from her hands before moving her next patient. "You, take your friend and go to the other end of the tent. He'll be sent back and treated at Haven."
"No, he'll be seen to now!" the scout shouted angrily, storming over and grabbing the healer roughly by the shoulder. "I am Lieutenant Gerald and I order you to see to him now."
"I am neither military nor under your command Lieutenant so I will do nothing." Rheya stated in a voice reminiscent of a high ranking officer that brokered no argument. "There is an order to the way things are done here, Lieutenant and I am in command of it. Your friend is in no immediate danger from his wound and so he can wait where they can not." She snapped pointing at the rows of cots waiting for her. "If I stop and see to your friend, three maybe more of them will die. Now get him out of my way, I've got more pressing matters to see too.''
The Lieutenant, properly cowed, moved to collect her friend as the Healer called Colbey in to check over a new arrival sporting a bloody lump of flesh where a foot used to be.
So it went on, time did not seem to matter as the three moved from patient to patient; saving some, losing others. It seemed like they were in an eternal loop with no end insight as the hours crawled by and the bodies still came. It was finally broken some hours, or was it days, later as the Breach flared erratically before sealing.
Those conscious enough celebrated; Rheya did not. Her hands deep in someone's gut as she tried to remove fragments of his chest plate from the wound. Far above them, she could still hear the cries; the Breach was not healed merely temporarily patched. Soon enough that patch would break unless they found a way to heal the sky itself.