Chapter 34
Afiona was still directing the placement of the wounded when the inspecting Healer arrived.
"You can wait in my office." Afiona suggested.
He dismounted carefully from his horse and walked towards her with his hands clasped behind his back. He was vaguely familiar but Afiona just shook it off. She had at least seen many of the Healers since she had started training. "I can't see anything if I'm in there, now can I?" He said stiffly.
Afiona ignored him. She wanted all the patients that required a closer eye in one area so she could keep better track of them. She was also trying to group them together so that they would have friends nearby by grouping them by which company they were with. She found they were less restless as they recovered when they could trade tall tales with friends. There were also two Companions that been injured brought here for her care. Both were already in the barn resting after the trip with their Chosen seeing to their every comfort.
As the last patient was settled she turned to the Senior Healer and was stunned to see the hate in his expression. "Why don't we get out of the sun?" She asked.
"I want to see your wards." He ordered.
Afiona glanced at the lone wagon of medicines. Shain hurried to it without any prompting. "Certainly." She said.
She led the way into the tent and waited for him to say something. Around them the wounded were chatting rather loudly but there was no alcohol in the tent, Afiona had a strict no party policy that was enforced no matter who possessed the libations. Healers were settling the new arrivals, bringing them water and trying to see to their comfort.
"Your discipline seems very lax." He commented aloofly.
Afiona suppressed a grimace. "I thought this was supposed to be an unbiased inspection."
He scowled at her.
"As you can see, I have encouraged a more familiar setting both among the patients and the Healers and I find that both groups have profited from it." Afiona said stiffly. "The patients especially have done noticeably better. We have board games and cards available, it was a suggestion from Healer Shain, and it takes the edge off the boredom for the patients. Many actually make pieces for Hounds and Hinds and other games by whittling during the night hours. I keep at least one empath on duty at all times and they are available to any of the patients or the soldiers stationed here, which the commanding officers have commented favorably on."
She glanced back and saw he was glowering, it was obvious he did not approve of something, but there was nothing he could actually ridicule. "My Healers have all proven themselves capable in crisis many times over when the over flow wounded arrive. We have lost patients, this is war after all, but none needlessly."
"And who are you to judge that?" He demanded.
Afiona stopped and faced him. "If you wish you can review our records which are complete and up to date." She turned around again and continued to walk. "We keep those who require the closest attention together in the middle. Since they are central and not at the far end of the tent my Healers can respond to them quicker no matter where they are."
"I understand you live apart from the others." He said.
"Yes, I am still the primary Healer for the Companions and the most familiar with their needs and weaknesses. I have three Healers assigned to them as well who are learning." Afiona pointed out. "My Healers know they need only talk to any of the Heralds here and I will come immediately."
"To a Herald?" He repeated dubiously.
"Yes, they can speak to their Companions who can then pass the message to me." Afiona explained.
"So, you wake up Heralds to relay your messages just so you can sleep in a comfortable cottage." He said derisively.
"I'd hardly call it comfortable. It's near the barn which is why it was given to me and also no tent is large enough to accommodate my son." Afiona explained as she started to wonder just how unbiased this inspection was going to be.
"Your son, you brought your son to the front." He said, obviously disgusted with her.
"I didn't have much choice. The Companions insisted I bring Nico south so long as it was safe. And in case you're wondering, Nico is a Companion foal I am raising." Afiona said curtly.
"Why don't you show me your medical supplies?" He suggested.
"Regrettably, we are low." She said as she turned about and led him to the locked cupboards. "We've been low priority for supplies since the camp started. However, we have found ways to cope. We have a Bard present that is very helpful, Bard Stefen?"
"That perv—" He started to curse when Afiona spun to face him.
"I have a strict policy in this tent that no one is permitted to bad mouth any of those working here. If you wish to finish that comment you will suffer the same punishment as the other Healers who have spoken rashly." She warned.
"Is that a threat?" He asked as if he hoped it was.
"Hardly, I am simply explaining the rules. We do not wish to undermine the confidence of our patients by gossiping maliciously." Afiona informed him.
"You tell him, Mama-Afi." One of the Healers said as she passed and gave her a wink. The young woman was the current empath on duty so Afiona knew she wasn't the only one picking up on the man's hostility.
"Now then, if you'll follow me. I was saying we have Bard Stefen available, we augment our supplies with medicines we make when we can. We also trade the medicines we make with the other camps for the medicines they can spare." Afiona unlocked the cabinets to reveal rows of bottles, all clearly labeled. "We are very low on sedatives but we've found that a Mindhealer can perform the same function faster and with less risk to the patient."
"You have a Mindhealer here?" He said in surprise.
"Yes, myself." Afiona closed the cabinet and locked it again.
"I would like a key to your cabinet." He said imperiously.
"No." Afiona said firmly. "Some patients have arrived with unhealthy dependencies on painkillers, which is why these cabinets are locked. Each shift supervisor has a key and fills out the sheet for which patient received which medication at what time from which Healer so we can keep track. If you require access you can come to me."
He glared at her again but she was swiftly reaching the point of not caring.
"Now, if you are ready, we can adjourn to my office where I have detailed notes on all the patients ready for you." She said as she strode from the tent. She heard a few snickers from a patient as she passed.
"Even better than when she tore the strip off that Herald who was trying to sneak back to the front." He commented to a friend.
Afiona hurried to her office and collected the thick leather folder. "This is a listing of all patients and is current as of yesterday. The supervisors bring me the updates reports at the end of their shift so I can have them all in a central location."
He reluctantly accepted the folder.
"By the way, I am Healer Afiona." She said in belated introduction.
"Don't you mean Mavelan?" He asked with a sneer.
"Actually, no, I'm a bastard so I have no last name." Afiona corrected him. "You should see to your horse before he wanders off."
She stalked past him and back into the healing tent.
Shain quickly caught up with her and redirected her to the Karsite wagon. "You won't believe what we have." He said almost bouncing in excitement.
Afiona let him lead her around the wagon to see the haul and found many familiar medicines, as she expected from watching the Karsites. All were labeled in Karsite but many names were similar enough for Shain to see what they had. There was a small bag in the corner with what appeared to be clothing spilling out. She remembered that for later.
"Oh my…" Afiona said at the sheer amount in the wagon. "This is more than we can keep in good conscience."
"I know." Shain said excitedly. "We should test to make certain these are not poisoned and meant to fall in to our hands before we use them but if they're good we should relabel the stuff we use and send some to the others. One of the Healers on my shift is half Karsite and speaks it fluently. Her family fled here after the Sunpriests slaughtered the royal family. She can organize the proper labeling, she has been a little drained lately because she's my best at knitting bones quickly."
"Don't over use her." Afiona reminded him. "Definitely test to be certain there is no poison."
Shain pulled one straw stuffed crate towards them and pulled out a bottle of what looked like argonel. "It feels right. You know what I mean?" He asked.
"I know." Afiona lifted a bottle herself and stared at the bitter liquid. "A lot of Karsites are suffering because we have these."
"I don't have much sympathy for them." Shain said harshly. "They found another Healer, dead."
Afiona nodded. "They are using our own natures against us. They know we can't bear to see someone suffer. And what can we do but cooperate?"
Shain leaned to the side. "That investigator finally left your tent." He said.
"Inspector." Afiona corrected. "I know. He is trying to find some reason to remove me from my position. I'm going to have to spend candlemarks straightening my desk after this."
Shain snorted. "What kind of healer could do that when you are obviously doing so much good?" He asked.
"Even Healers are human, Shain, and it sounds to me like he has a thing against my family." Afiona watched him gather his horse and stalk away. "Don't really blame him, they were blood path mages for the most part. Good riddance if you ask me."
"I'll talk to the others." Shain told her.
"And do me a favor, would you, find out his name for me. Introductions were incomplete." She said. "I want to go check on the Heralds, I heard they might be getting anxious just lying about."
"An anxious Herald is never a good sign. Means there is something they need to be doing." Shain observed.
"How true. Remember to get some sleep today." Afiona reminded him and headed toward the tent again.
~ * ~
"Sleeping already?" Lance asked as he shook her shoulder.
Afiona opened her eyes and smiled to see him. "Just resting a bit. Thanks for letting me sleep last night."
"What's a few cold baths for the woman I love?" He asked teasingly.
Afiona laughed and sat up, tucking her legs underneath her. "I missed you today. Had to deal with an officious bigot."
"I heard. Apparently he tried talking to all the Commanding officers, seeing if he could find fault with you but they all swore you were the best thing that happened to this camp." Lance informed her.
"Nice try." Afiona shook her head. "I know they wouldn't say that."
"They did." Lance insisted. "Every one of them. Apparently word got out he is out to get you, and they don't like someone after one of their own."
Afiona frowned thoughtfully. "That's nice of them."
Lance stood and offered her a hand up. "Nico wants to go for a sunset swim, I told him I'd convince Mama-Afi to take a few minutes and join us."
Afiona sighed. "Actually…"
"No excuses." Lance protested.
"Very well. I'll join you two in a few minutes. I have some things to see to first." Afiona capitulated.
"Wonderful." He stooped to kiss her before leaving.
Afiona got up and closed her door before opening the trapdoor. Her guest stood quickly.
"Was that a Herald?" He asked curiously.
"Yes, Herald Lance." Afiona explained. "How's your shoulder?"
"Sore, but not as bad as I expected." He said honestly.
Afiona lit her lantern and descended the stairs. "Let's take a look." She suggested. "I also found some clothing for you to return in."
"How would you find Karsite clothing?" He asked doubtfully.
"Simple, they were brought to me." Afiona said. "They are clean and should be about the right size. They're yours if you still wish to return."
He looked surprised. "You still think that I should just walk away?"
"There are no royals left for you to put on the throne, and no one strong enough to wrest control from the priests." Afiona pointed out. "They made certain of that by feeding them to the fires."
"You spoke to your Lord Martial?" He said in surprise.
"Yes. Or rather he spoke to me. He felt I should know why you are risking life and limb to go back. He said you are a royalist and are helping us because it is convenient to your cause. Personally, I don't care why you are helping." Afiona probed the wound carefully. "I am worried about this wound though, it will leave a large ugly scar, not an easy one to miss. It may make someone suspicious. If you were here longer I might be able to prevent the scarring but that would keep you away too long."
He actually smiled at her concern. "Don't worry, I have ways of hiding it. They haven't fed me to the fires yet."
"What do you mean?" She asked.
"I can make others see what I wish." He explained. "Like you said you could."
"You're a projective?" Afiona said in disbelief. "You're lucky to have escaped this long."
"That's why the men who shot me think they shot a Valdemaran." He explained.
"Well, that eases some worries." Afiona said honestly. "I think you can leave tomorrow night so long as you are careful with that shoulder. Pretend you wrenched it or something."
"Thank you Healer." He said gratefully, then gave her a considering look. "You haven't even asked my name."
"Less to give away if I'm caught." She pointed out.
"Wise woman." He said with approval. "Your husband waits for you."
"That he does." Afiona agreed as she set down her lantern. "If you hear a cat yowl, turn this off. The light can't be seen outside but it can bee seen through the floor."
"You have someone watching?" He asked with a slight frown.
"Not exactly, I asked a cat to watch tonight. She'll call a warning for you." Afiona started up the steep stairs without waiting for his reaction and lowered the door into place. She left a small parcel of ointments and the Karsite clothing along with what a Valdemaran farmer would wear so he could get to the border safely.
Collecting her towel and soap she left her little cottage stopping only to call the grey cat, Whiskers, and charge her with guarding the door until she returned. She was only to call if someone came close, not if they were leaving.
At the river Nico was still playing, chasing Lance around in the water.
She left her robes of a rock and waded out to them. "Having fun boys?" She asked lightly.
:Mama-Afi! You play too?: He splashed up to her.
"I have to wash up first, baby." Afiona scratched his ears and waded past him to Lance who was still trying to catch his breath.
"He's fast." Lance observed.
"Makes you long for the days of hide and seek." She commented. "Hold this please." She handed him her soap and ducked under the water.
:It smells like flowers.: Nico informed Lance.
Lance sniffed the soap. :Definitely girl soap.: He confirmed.
Afiona emerged from the water and pushed her hair away from her face.
Nico snorted, his version of a laugh, and wiggled his lips at them. :Lance want to kiss Mama-Afi.:
:Mama-Afi likes Lance kissing her.: Afiona pointed out.
Lance leaned forward take up the invitation.
:Papa! Lance is kissing Mama-Afi!: Nico broadcasted.
"Why do I get the feeling that half the Heralds heard that?" Lance asked with a sigh.
"Because they probably did." Afiona echoed his sigh. Taking the soap from him she used it liberally on her hair. "Love me, love my colt."
"I do." Lance assured her. "He's just a little awkward to have around every so often."
"You missed the worst parts." Afiona assured him then ducked under to rinse out the soap.
When she came out again Nico was standing practically on top of her.
:Play time now?: He asked hopefully.
"Just a moment." Afiona waded out of the river and set her soap on the rock next to her robe then rejoined them.
:Tag! You're it!: Nico said gleefully as he butted Lance in the arm and splashed away.
Afiona splashed out of Lance's reach.
After a few minutes of play, when she was the one chasing the others, she felt the hairs on the back of her neck rise and sensed she was being watched. Turning she saw the Karsite in the shadows of the tree watching them. She smiled slightly and turned away, she had a feeling that he was going to leave tonight, which was why she left him her lantern and the clothing.
Afiona was actually grateful that he'd left. She had enough to deal with without worrying about a spy hiding under her floor.