Chapter 5
"Kyminn? The Guard's here." The village headman shook Kyminn's shoulder gently.
Blinking in the gloom, Kyminn automatically reached out with his Healing gift to see what had happened to Derris. It took a moment for Merell's words to penetrate the fog. He had curled up in a blanket at Derris's feet, with instructions that he was to be wakened every candlemark or if something changed. The rain was still a steady drizzle, but the water didn't show any sign of rising.
"Kyminn? This is Guard Captain Anden out of Ravenswood. He's brought some men to help."
Kyminn stood and gave the captain a grateful look. "Thank you for coming. I think we're going to need a lot of hands."
The captain looked from Merrell to Kyminn. "Are you in charge here?"
Kyminn shook his head. "Not really sir. Right now, I'm just trying to save Derris. There are two other Healers caring for Herald Randen."
"Three now," the Guard captain interjected. "We have a Healer posted with us and your…message said he was needed. He's up top with Herald Randen now." He looked back to Merell. "What do you need?"
"From what I understand from Kyminn, if he takes that wood out now, it will be days before we can lift the Companion out. But if we lift him now, the Companion might die." His gesture took in the cold rain. "This canyon floods, captain. We could end up drowning the Companion if we wait."
"What does the Herald say?"
Kyminn spoke up. "He and Derris don't want to risk flooding. They want Derris out now."
Anden looked speculatively at the steep slope, the debris and the Companion. "You're thinking of a hoist?"
"Yes sir. In stages. Three platforms, maybe four. A hoist frame at each platform. Derris gets lifted up and swayed over to the next platform. The sling gets attached to the next set of rigging and we repeat the process. If we go slowly, and are careful with the tension, he shouldn't get jostled too much."
The captain looked thoughtful. "You'll have to make sure to have room to draw the lines steadily, no hand over hand. It has to be smooth." He gave a quick nod. "One of my guardsmen has some experience with lines and rigging. He was raised in a fishing village but gets so sick on water that he couldn't work as a fisherman. So he joined the guard instead."
"Well, no lakes around here to shake him about," Merell said stoutly. "We've already been cutting timbers – we knew that sooner or later we'd need some kind of frame or hoist to lift the Companion out of here. And we've plenty experience in hoisting heavy loads. Some of the trees we cut weigh many times more than a horse."
Kyminn caught the look in Anden's eyes at this but both opted to tactfully not correct the headman.
"So then Merell," Anden took the headman's arm and guided him towards the ladder, "Let's figure out the best design then, shall we?"
As the two moved off, Kyminn turned back to Derris. The Companion was warm, and as comfortable as they could make him under the circumstances. Kyminn checked anyway, for what seemed like the hundredth time. As he examined – again – the shaft of wood marring the white chest, he paused. "Derris, does Randen have any gifts besides Mindspeech with you?"
Derris's ears cocked towards Kyminn and the equine head gave a decisive nod.
"I don't suppose one of them is Fetching, is it?" Kyminn's voice said he had the beginning of an idea.
A pause, then a slow, regretful shake of Derris's head.
Fatigue, frustration and fear bubbled out of Kyminn. "Damn!" He wrapped his arms tightly around himself, as though afraid he would fly apart. "I was hoping. Not that he could Fetch you out, but just a little bit, to hold the wood still. That's all we would need. Just a little bit." He sagged. "Gods. It seems like we just can't get a break."
Warm, hay-scented breath whiffed in Kyminn's hair. A soft nose nudged his cheek, then gave him a sharp shove.
Kyminn gave a raspy bark of a laugh. "I may not be able to mindspeak with you, but I know 'Shut up and stop feeling sorry for yourself' when I hear it." A real, if tired, smile creased his face. "Thanks. I guess I needed that." A gentle stroke along the neck. "I'm going to check on Randen."
