Chapter 29
Afiona stroked Whisper's neck as the sun beat down on the train of wagons and riders. It was much to hot for so early in summer but as far as she was concerned it was better than rain. She had already sent word out among the Companions that they should be careful of dehydration both in themselves and in their Chosen.
:Mama-Afi! Watch!: Nico called from where he was playing among the flowers and browning grasses along the side of the road.
:What are you doing sweetie?: She asked as she reined Whisper in and turned to look at his antics.
:Watch.: Nico ordered as he reared up on his hind legs and pawed the air. :Like daddy!:
Afiona laughed. "Just like daddy." She agreed.
Nico pranced to her side to have his ear scratched before he resumed playing.
She would have preferred the young companion to have stayed in Haven but he was just too young to take from his mother. The only reason she had finally agreed to bring him along was because Leshya was going to be at the Army camp they were heading to and he had agreed to watch Nico and further his training when he could. Nico was nearing a year old and was already a powerful mindhealer.
"What's he doing now?" Stefen asked as he guided his bright little chestnut mare next to Afiona's grey warhorse.
"He is playing." Afiona answered simply. "I was worried he would feel lost away from home but he seems perfectly content after two weeks on the road."
"I hear the young are resilient. Not that I would know." Stefen shrugged. "My experience with children can be written in a limerick."
"I still say you didn't have to come along." Afiona said for easily the hundredth time.
"I am not about to write ballads based on second hand stories." Stefen pointed out. "And I want more songs based on Heralds without magic."
Afiona frowned slightly as his comment brought to mind something that had been troubling her for some time.
"What?" Stefen prodded.
"When I'm off…wandering I often pick up on people's thoughts and emotions and basically I think that the reason we are not doing well in this war is the army already feels half defeated without magic." Afiona explained. "I've even felt it with the council."
"I know." Stefen looked grim.
"Even the Heralds feel that way." Afiona admitted.
"That's why I want more songs about just ordinary Heralds using their Gifts." Stefen reiterated. "And I am not going to get that sitting in Haven."
"What about some songs of ordinary men and women facing down a mage and winning?" Afiona suggested. "I think there is a few of those floating around. And put some punch behind it."
"You mean use my Gift?" Stefen asked.
"Not the most ethical thing, I'll admit, but neither is using song to boost enrollment in the army." Afiona pointed out.
"Amazing how ethics suffer when we are facing being run over by the Karsites." Stef observed drolly.
Afiona looked around at the men in women in Valdemaran cavalry uniforms riding in two lines on the other side of the road. They were all grimfaced and silent. Too many were too young to wear those uniforms but the Army had turned a blind eye to their ages. "Why don't you find Medren and Mia and get a little trio going and boost morale here? I think Medren is at the back of the line sulking that Mia is head over heals in love with her secret admirer and ignoring him. Mia's up at the front talking to the Sergeant about saddles of all thing."
Stefen chuckled and glanced ahead at the cheerful Herald at the head of the column of men with her white puppy sitting happily on her lap. "You get her and I will drag Medren here." He turned his mare, Melody, around and cantered back to Medren.
:Mia, we are about to have a little concert back here. Care to join us.: Afiona asked. :It's all in the name of morale of course.:
:Certainly. Better than this endless riding.: Mia answered as she guided Lika out of place and cantered back to them. The puppy barked happily as they moved swiftly back down the road, he adored being on her lap as they rode and he was lucky enough to be small and could continue riding there for the rest of his life. "Some of the humorous songs wouldn't be out of place." She commented as she fell into step next to Afiona.
Stefen returned with Medren lagging behind. He had also stopped to collect a battered lute from one of the wagons. Medren had a small set of traveling drums over his saddle bow that were designed for just such a purpose and set of panpipes.
Mia gave him only a lukewarm, welcoming smile. The puppy barked and wagged his tail in greeting, as he always did when he saw Medren.
"What shall we do?" Medren asked.
"What about 'The Maid of Ismor'?" Mia suggested.
"Has a catchy beat." Stefen agreed and tuned his lute.
Sensing something interesting was happening Nico hurried over and watched.
:Singing stories?: He asked hopefully.
:Maybe some. These are mostly dancing songs.: Afiona explained.
:Daddy, dancing stories!: Nico said happily.
Daric, much farther back on the line speaking to a Companion whose Herald had just earned his Whites and trying to soothe their jitters, only sent an amused acknowledgement.
Afiona fell back to listen as the trio started. The maid in the song was certainly no maid; it was a silly tale of her fleecing a traveler with promises of a bedroom romp that always ended with him in an embarrassing situation and her keeping the 'token' of his admiration.
The song was designed for a man and woman to sing as a duet; in this case it was Mia and Medren. By the time they reached the second chorus most people within hearing distance sang along with Mia, who was batting her lashes and simpering at Medren. By the fourth song the mood of the entire group was obviously cheerier.
Nico stuck close to the trio listening to every word, not understanding the more ribald verses but enjoying every minute of it.
Afiona, whose singing voice was best described as deplorable, didn't sing along.
The group was singing a drinking song from the north when they entered the army camp. Mia, now playing rather than singing to prevent losing her voice, winced when a few people's voices clashed or hit notes that were not exactly pleasant to the ear.
"That was fun." Mia grinned widely and chuckled as she fell back to mingle with Afiona and some heralds, most still so new to their uniforms that they still squeaked when they turned around too fast.
The heralds were all hanging back as they entered the camp, they had a separate camp from the bulk of the army in case they had to charge out in the middle of the night with messages or Foresight visions. Something that was likely to happen at least once a night. Afiona assumed she was going to be near the Heralds since the Companions were her charges.
"It certainly was." Afiona agreed. She was pleased to note the new Heralds were looking much less anxious. "I am looking forward to having more than stars over me tonight."
"I'm hoping that my 'secret' admirer will appear again." Mia said with a wink. "Medren hasn't done a thing but glower since we left Haven."
"Is that a hint that I should give him a nudge?" Afiona asked.
"If you want." Mia answered mischievously. "Beyond the fire it's completely dark. It would be a good place for a little…rendezvous. Don't you think?"
"I am not going to recommend it. Ask Stef to do it if you must. I still think you should stop playing with him and tell him that you know." Afiona shook her head.
"I will ask Stef then. He thinks this is all great fun." Mia said. "Besides, if I told him I knew all along, right from the beginning, it would wound his ego and then I wouldn't stand a chance with him, now would I? He can say it was him at any time, or he could stop leaving little notes and what not."
"Just don't break his heart. He may be thick and a pain at times but he still one of my dearest friends." Afiona requested with an exasperated look as her flighty friend waved off her concerns with a flick of her hand.
"I certainly don't want to break his heart." Mia assured her. "I am not playing with him, you know. I wouldn't mind cuddling up next to him at night."
Afiona shook her head in defeat. Even Stefen thought this little farce, which had been going on for months now, was still amusing to watch.
"Enough about me and my love life." Mia said with a devilish gleam in her eyes. "What did Lance say when you told him you were coming?"
Afiona blushed. "I didn't tell him. I've been too tired to go talk to him and he's still out there scouting and so I would be here before any letter I sent reached him."
"I can't wait to see his face when he sees you." Mia said cheerfully.
"Healer Afiona?" A brisk, stern faced sergeant called as he strode towards them.
Afiona pulled up Whisper. "Yes?"
"Follow me." He ordered and spun on his heel.
"I'll find you later, see if you need any help." Mia called as she led the young Heralds towards the neatly lined up tents.
Afiona waved in recognition to several of the Heralds as she was led towards a dark, ancient stable next to a small little house. By the waves of pain she felt beating against her shields she knew that was where they were keeping the injured Companions.
"Are there any windows?" Afiona asked.
"No." The Sergeant grunted.
Afiona glanced up at the hot sun and at the dark stable. "You have got to be kidding."
He grunted again.
Afiona slid off Whisper, trusting the mare to follow her, and ran to the stable and threw back the doors. The smell of dust and mold assaulted her along with the smell of blood.
"What Healer is in charge here?" She demanded.
"She's here somewhere." He shrugged.
Afiona clenched her teeth to keep from saying anything she never wanted Nico to hear let alone repeat. "Find her, and have her report to me, now! Then I want some windows made in this place by dusk, am I understood?"
"Now see here Healer. We don't have time to go primping up a stable, we are at war here." The sergeant said churlishly as he crossed his arms over his chest.
Afiona spun to glare at him. "That is not a request. That is an order. We need a breeze in here to keep the Companions from collapsing from the heat. Now, I also want lanterns hung from the ceiling every six feet or so."
"This is hardly the time to worry about little luxuries, Healer, we are at war!" He shouted at her as he protested again.
"Luxuries?" Afiona repeated as she advanced on him. "You think this is a matter of luxuries? It is hotter than hell in here, which is bad for their health. Now, unless you want to be the one explaining to me why they are being treated like this, you will find me their healer now!"
The sergeant backed away involuntarily, staring at her like she had grown a second head.
:Now that's telling him.: Daric chuckled in the back of her mind.
He strode, just shy of running, to the far end of the stable and pounded on a closed door hidden in the shadows there.
Afiona busied herself opening both large doors at this end of the building and taking a quick look at the Companions nearest her. From all appearances they were being Healed properly and were not as neglected as their surroundings indicated.
A woman answered the sergeant's pounding, and after a short exchange that Afiona didn't hear, the woman scurried down the stable to Afiona.
"H-h-healer Afiona?" She said nervously.
Now, on second glance, she was much younger than Afiona expected. She had probably just earned her greens.
"Why's it so dark in here?" Afiona demanded.
The other healer nervously glanced at the Sergeant, who was still standing back gloating that he was no longer the one receiving the new healers displeasure.
"I'm waiting." Afiona ground out. "Why would you play with the lives of your patients like this?"
The healer started to sob.
"Ah, damn." Afiona grumbled.
"I asked to have w-w-windows made b-b-but they said they didn't have time." The healer wailed.
"Did you just get your greens?" Afiona asked with a much gentler tone of voice, reminding herself that just because she was exhausted from the long trek she didn't need to take it out on others unnecessarily.
She nodded again.
Afiona turned on the sergeant, who had obviously thought he was no longer in her line of fire. "How could you take advantage of a young lady's uncertainty just so you don't have do a little more work? Get out of here before I decide to report your shameless laziness to your superior."
"You don't have the right—" He started.
"As a Healer I do have the authority." Afiona interrupted. "Now out."
He stomped out of the stable, leaving the women alone. Afiona turned back to the younger healer.
"If they try it again, yell at them. Nothing is more important than the welfare of your patients." She reminded the other healer. Glancing over her shoulder she grinned. "And don't be afraid to yell at dolts like him, it is the only way to get through to some of them."
The other Healer sniffed as her sobs ebbed.
"You may as well go over to the Healers; they could probably use your help. I assume you have detailed records for everyone." Afiona said in dismissal. She had been on the road for entirely too long, her legs ached from the unaccustomed ride and she was tired. The last thing she needed today was a girl who had been trying her best to do right wailing like a banshee and disturbing the Companions.
"In the t-t-tack r-r-room." She sniffed.
"Wonderful." Afiona was glad at least that was done. Some of the older Healers would neglect that simple duty but the new Healers practiced it religiously, as they had been taught.
"I'm sorry, it's j-j-just—" The younger healer started to defend.
"Don't worry, just learn to stand up for your patients." Afiona counseled.
"Can I st-st-stay?" The younger woman asked hopefully. "I c-c-could take night watch."
Afiona vaguely remembered a very shy girl with a stutter several years behind her. "If you wish, but I am the senior Herald here."
She nodded quickly. "The h-h-healers are alr-r-right but the p-p-p-patients—"
"They have a hard time taking you seriously? I understand." Afiona quickly assured her. "Now, where am I sleeping?"
"I am s-s-sleeping in the t-t-tack r-r-room." She explained.
"Speak slowly." Afiona advised. "And relax, the Heralds may call me a tyrant but that's only because it's the only way I've found that they'll listen to me."
"You have the c-cottage." She said, much slower this time. "I'm Tika."
"I'll see you later, Tika. I am just going to make certain that idiot listened to me." Afiona said. "And see about some supper for us, would you? I'm starved."
Tika nodded and hurried back to the tack room.
:At least you don't have all of us on your own.: Daric observed.
:From the looks of it, she is thorough, otherwise I would have sent her packing.: Afiona admitted.
:I know. I asked about Lance for you, he is expected back in within a few weeks.: Daric informed her.
Afiona beamed.
:Nico's hungry and that lump of laziness is out here complaining about you to the others assigned here. Not one word about the windows.: Daric warned. :So enough 'thinking happy thoughts' and time for work.:
:Like I need to be reminded four-foot.: Afiona retorted as she hurried from the barn and headed straight for the small circle of soldiers assigned to do the heavy work for her and Tika.
~ * ~
Afiona was curled up on her pallet, reading the precise notes Tika had made by the light of the lantern when Mia knocked on her door and hurried in without waiting for an answer.
"Quiet, Nico's sleeping." Afiona hissed, gesturing to the colt standing in the corner with his head hanging low and snoring softly.
Mia quietly sat on the pallet next to Afiona. :The Lord Martial wants to see you in about a candlemark. He didn't say why.:
:Good thing I have a night watch Healer then.: Afiona said as she quietly got to her feet and started to dress. :You'll baby-sit?:
:Of course. Auntie Mia is always ready to baby-sit.: Mia grinned impishly. :How was the first day?:
:Well, my predecessor is too self-conscious about her stuttering to go back to the Healing tent just yet, I have a bunch of lazy oafs that spent all day dragging their feet about making windows in the stable so they are doing it tonight and they are mucking out stalls first thing in the morning, come hell or high water. There are no major injuries at the moment, but I am short on several necessary medications and to top it off, one mare is pregnant so I am going to have to order her off the front lines.: Afiona listed.
:Which mare?: Mia asked.
:Tansin. She has been trying to hide it, even from her Herald.: Afiona explained. :She lost the last baby quite early on if I remember correctly, so she can't even run messenger duties.:
:Right. I know her Chosen. Atheric must be rather annoyed, he has been trying to get assigned to a scouting group.: Mia said thoughtfully.
:I don't know if he has even been told yet or if their destination has been decided. Maybe Haven, maybe they'll stay here. I have no idea.: Afiona shrugged.
:Just not in a scouting group or on the front.: Mia lounged back against the wall. :Any others being shipped back?:
:No. But there aren't many here, most Heralds are still out there.: Afiona sat next to Mia and stretched her legs out in front of her. :It's the calm before the storm.:
:Don't remind me. There are no other trainees ready for Whites otherwise I wouldn't be here. That is never a good sign.: Mia admitted, letting her worry show.
:I know some of the new recruits are not of age. It's sad that we have sunk so far that we are knowingly accepting children to fight.: Afiona said sadly.
Mia sighed. :What I wouldn't give for a mage.:
Afiona leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees. :What have you heard? About the other side I mean.:
:Nothing good, of course.: Mia admitted.
:They outnumber us a good two to one. And they have mages.: Afiona admitted. :They blocked Tashir, he can't fetch from there anymore.:
:I wondered why they sent him down here.: Mia admitted.
:They don't know about me yet.: Afiona admitted. :But almost nobody knows about me.:
:Which is a good thing.: Mia said quickly.
Afiona hung her head. :I don't know about that. Some of the things I've seen…:
:None were worse than what you've lived.: Mia pointed out.
:Some of it is. They have demons. I recognize them from my family's magic.: Afiona admitted. :They are turning them loose on their own people, trying to raise power.:
Mia stared at her aghast.
:I am not supposed to discuss it but I need to. Daric seems to have a hard time understanding.: Afiona confessed. :I Feel everything they're feeling as they do it and I still don't understand.:
:Well, he's not an empath.: Mia pointed out. :They seem to see 'evil' people as emotionless blobs. I had a discussion with Lika several years ago and that was certainly how she saw it. But you obviously don't see it that way. How could you?:
:They believe they are doing what's right.: Afiona admitted. :That they are being directed by their god to send out those demons.:
:Idiots.: Mia cursed silently.
:I better get going before I wake him.: Afiona stood, she needed to leave before any of her anger leaked out and woke the sleeping colt. :Hopefully I will be back before dawn.:
:And hopefully you will still be standing when you get back.: Mia bid her farewell.
The night was still hot causing beads of sweat to form on Afiona's upper lip. She could see the men slowly going about creating the windows. Of the five, three were sitting down.
Afiona stalked over to them, they jumped when they saw her approaching and tried to look busy.
"Either those windows are done by dawn, or you will all be facing charges. Am I understood?" She demanded.
"What charges?" The sergeant that had given her a hard time asked belligerently.
"Failing to follow orders resulting in harm to others." Afiona informed him. The other four froze. Such a charge could result in incarceration and would certainly keep them from ever advancing through the ranks. They would also lose the comfortable position of aiding the Healers in favor of the lowest and dirtiest of tasks, such as latrine trenches.
"Harm to what?" He countered.
"Companions. Which is also treason." Afiona reminded him and met the eyes of the other four men. "Is he your superior?"
"No ma'am. You are." One answered with new humility.
"Then may I suggest you don't let him drag you down with him." Afiona said as she stalked past towards the main camp.
:Just think, once you would have just ignored them.: Daric observed. :What did you do? Ask Rissa for pointers?:
:You know I did.: Afiona responded. :That and being a teacher helped. Nothing like having over two dozen children under your command to teach you to raise your voice above a whisper.:
:You were not that bad.: Daric protested. :You have always been vocal in the care of your patients. And you were always a good teacher; patient, understanding, and approachable. When this all over I am going to suggest you teach basic healing to the Trainees since you can't always trance and go out and heal them.:
:We'll see. First we have to win this war.: Afiona pointed out. :Speaking of which, if you're close, can you give me a ride? I feel like my legs are about to give out on me.:
:I'll be there in a second.: Daric assured her and she heard the chiming thunder of his hooves as he raced for her. It had been weeks since she had been able to ride him and he missed her.
Afiona didn't have long to wait before Daric stopped next to her and Afiona pulled herself up on his back. He carried her swiftly through the darkness to the massive ten sheltering the Lord Martial.
It was packed with uniformed bodies, mostly white and dark blue, and it didn't require empathy to feel the tension in the tent.
"Sir?" She said as she stood on her toes to see over the men in her way.
"Ah, Afiona, you arrived." He greeted her with relief.
"I'm sorry I was late." She said as she stepped further into the tent and found herself the focus of every eye.
"Healer Afiona here is our miracle worker." The Lord Martial said by way of introduction. "If you could join me here, my girl."
Afiona made her way around the table and waved a greeting at the few Heralds she recognized.
"Anything I should know?" He asked her obliquely. She knew he meant if she Felt anything out of the ordinary among the gathered men and women; a sign that someone was not who they pretended to be.
"No, everyone feels normal." Afiona assured him. "Tired, hungry, and a few are sexually frustrated."
That earned a chuckle from a few of the gathered people.
"Afiona is an empath and will be serving the same function here that Jisa is performing further to the south." The Martial explained.
"She's our spy catcher?" One of the generals repeated dubiously.
"Who better than a Healer?" A Herald asked. "They can go anywhere, and no one will comment on her going among the troops. Besides, she is a trifle more practical than most healers when it comes to the safety of the citizens of Valdemar."
Afiona blushed.
"So, we get suspicious and we call you. Not a problem." One of the female officers nodded in understanding.
"Anything else sir?" One of the other officers asked impatiently.
"That is all, you are dismissed." He said. As Afiona moved to leave he stopped her.
"I have something to speak to you about." He said curtly. "Have a seat."
Afiona sat on the edge of the narrow cot.
"Anyone close?" He asked.
Afiona did a mental sweep of the area and found only Daric close enough to hear what was said. "All clear."
"I've told our—informants that if they can't get to me they can go to you." He said bluntly. "You are relatively secluded and your nearest neighbors can all be trusted completely. They're Heralds after all."
Afiona gaped up at him. "Me? Why?"
"I am constantly surrounded by people which makes it hard for anyone to get to me secretly. There is also the advantage of if they are wounded you can patch them up." He pointed out. "Also, I trust you completely."
"I don't work on humans." Afiona pointed out.
"You do now." He informed her. "If I'm here you can always come in and interrupt. No one but a Herald argues with a Healer. Just say you need to speak to me about some healing problem."
"But, the Healers. I don't have the seniority to tend you!" She protested, shooting to her feet.
"You do now. The Healing Circle made you the Healer in charge at this camp." He explained. "Weren't you told?"
Afiona sat back on the bed with a thump. "Me?" She squeaked again.
"Why not?" He asked with a shrug. "You're certainly capable enough."
"In case you haven't noticed, I'm not in favor among the Healers." Afiona pointed out. "And they expect me to run a camp full of them?"
"Well, fix whatever the problem is." The Lord Martial suggested briskly. "I need you in a position of authority here, and I know you can handle it."
Afiona stared up at him hopelessly.
"You better go talk to the Healers." He reminded her.
"Do they know?" She asked.
"Of course."
Afiona stood slowly. Her Greens were stained with horse sweat and the other signs of travel. It was bad enough she was introduced as their 'spy catcher' looking like this but now she had to face the Healers that had shunned her for the past several months looking like this. "You are going to regret this." She warned him direly.
He looked confused.
"Ask the Heralds, I'm a bloody tyrant." Afiona said with a strained smile as she tried to smooth out her uniform.
"That's my girl." He said with a grin.
In the months she had acted as his eyes in Karse they had struck up a friendship. He had taken to calling her 'my girl' and she had dropped the sir in private.
"What about when you go to the front?" Afiona asked. "If the others come to me how am I going to tell you?"
"Send messages by Herald." He said calmly. "If there's anything desperate I will have my Herald with me at all times and whatever you know will reach me immediately."
Afiona sighed. "So, I'm now a spy, a contact for the other spies, a spy catcher, primary healer for the Companions, and the senior Healer for the camp?"
He nodded slowly. "That about sums it up."
"How am I supposed to get anything done?" She demanded. "I have Nico here, I can't do all that and be his mother."
"I'm sure you'll do wonderfully. Now, I have some maps I want to leave with you for when you're surveying the land." He collected several nondescript tubes from his portable table and placed them in her arms. "Oh, and see what you can do about morale here. You are an empath so I'm sure it won't be a problem."
Afiona glared at him. "I'll make certain you regret this." She warned.
He only laughed and patted her on the back.
Afiona gripped the tubes under one arm. "I am going to ask a Herald to help me if it gets to be too much and I am not asking you for permission, I am telling you. As you said, only Heralds argue with Healers."
He laughed. "Then I won't say a word."