Neal did as Arie taught him and checked their patients over, both were clean of the taint. Though looking over the battle field they couldn't say the same thing for it. The black poison was splashed over the bodies, whoever had done this had hoped to infect the people that came to take care of the bodies. Anger spiked in Arie's veins. These people had been killed to spread the poison on those who came to honor the fallen.

"What are we going to do," Neal asked. "We can't just leave this place like this."

Arie nodded and grit her teeth.

"First let's get these two away. That way they aren't at risk of getting infected." Arie whistled for Neal's horse who came along with SandStorm. "You two will need to be very careful. Walk slowly and keep the same distance between each other."

SandStorm threw his head to tell her he understood while the other horse snorted. Arie grabbed her tent and rope and laid it out between the two horses. She then attached ropes to the four corners of the fabric throwing two over the back of the horse closest to that side. Carefully Neal and her loaded their charges onto the canvas before hoisting them up in the make shift stretcher.

"Take them back to safety, then don't come back until I give a signal. Make sure no one comes out here and no one tries to shoo the Stormwings." Her words didn't make him happy, but Arie insisted. "They could know what happened here."

He blew out a breath and finally, "I don't like it, but I'll do it. Mithros knows that was half of being a page. Shutting up and doing what we were told."

Some of Arie's anger seeped away.

"I'm sure that was a difficult lesson for you to learn."

Neal snorted.

"The Stump threatened to tie my tongue in knots on a daily basis."

"The Stump?"

Neal opened his mouth to say something, but one of their patients groaned in pain. "A story for another time."

Arie agreed and let it go. The young man turned and lead the horses back to the train. Even from where she was standing Arie could see some of the people gathering on the tree line. She only hoped none of them tried to shoot the Immortals before she got a chance to speak with them. She sucked in a deep breath before turning to march out to the bodies. As she walked she sent a silent call to any animal in the clearing.

"Friends. There is poison here. The only way to destroy it is to kill the vegetation. Please move to the trees. It will be safe there." She received no answer, but Arie could see little bodies moving through the brush to the tree line. She would wait to insure they had all left before she began the purge. In the mean time she made her way over to the Immortals who seemed to have finished rolling in the dead. One came swooping at her, razor wings slicing inches from her face. Arie didn't flinch. But the smell of him was enough to make her stomach roll. That and the smell of the dead on top of the Immortals was going make her throw up very soon.

"I wish to speak with your queen," she managed to say it without coughing or gagging as the stench filled her nose and mouth; it was so strong she could taste it. Arie fought the urge to spit foul taste out of her mouth.

"Why should I care?"

Anger burned in her mind and gave her the strength to control her heaving stomach. She knew the Stormwings were doing what they were meant to, but this still angered her.

"Two reasons."

The Immortal tilted his head curiously.

"First, I have let you have your sport and have prevented the soldiers in the trees," she gestured to some of men standing back in the trees. "From shooting you. Second, there is a poison here that you all have been rolling in. I want to make sure it does not affect you as it does us."

"What is this about a poison," A haughty female Stormwing asked.

Arie was startled when she recognized the icy green eyes that stared out of a pretty face. She bowed her head respectfully.

"Queen Rehah. A pleasure to see you again."

The Stormwing tilted her head to get a better look at Arie then cackled once she recognized her. "You have grown from the child who took a tumble down a cliff, Arie."

"It's thanks to you that I got the chance to grow up."

The Immortal clearly uncomfortable with pleasantries quickly changed the subject, "What were you saying about poison?"

"A mage created it. It works by growing the darkness that exists in humans. It can be spread through blood, water, and by spell of a Gifted person who carries the taint. I'm not aware if it does affect Immortals or not. I'd like permission to look over your flock."

Rehah looked over at her gathering flock and nodded.

"What do you want in return?" The Immortal's sharp eyes saw straight through her.

"I want you to tell me everything you can about this battle." She gestured to the bodies around them. "And I may need help stopping the one who did this."

The Immortal flashed a wolfish smile.

"This sounds like it could benefit us to stop you. If it increases the darkness in people's hearts that means there will be battles a plenty."

Arie nodded and let herself smile with her winged friend. There was nothing funny about her next words. "I might have agreed with you. Let this world rot and let the nobility be crushed under the weight of their own avarice. Then I considered something. The poison drives people to infect others. Which includes children, and parents. Some of the things parents have done to their children because of this," Arie clenched her fists and when she looked up at Rehah, she let the Immortal see the rage, and grief that were on verge of ripping her soul apart. "Well, let's just say even you would want to end all war if that was something that would happen."

Stormwings had a soft spot for children, her life was a testament to that. That was her advantage here. Rehah was old and wise; for a Stormwing, but she was not cold like a few of her kind that Arie had met; she was certain of that.

"You have a deal then."

Arie bowed her head in thanks to the Queen.

"I need to clear the battlefield. Tell your flock to land in the trees." Arie waited for the flock to clear out before she made her way to the center of the field. There she knelt down and laid her palms on the ground. "Father, give me strength." she prayed. The feeling of a hand on her shoulder made her turn, but there was no one there. "Thanks."

Arie reached into herself. She found the well of fire in her soul. Grabbing hold of a flame, she then throw her Gift out over the land like a blanket. Blue green fire raced toward the tree line in every direction. Grass and any form living plants withered instantly. Seconds later all the vegetation that had been passed over was completely gone leaving only barren earth. Arie had to concentrate once her Gift started reaching bodies. She didn't want to destroy them; merely cleanse them. Her Gift parted around each body and rolled over them. Cleansing them of poison, but leaving the bodies themselves untouched. Finally Arie was satisfied the land had been cleared of poison and she drew back the fire into herself. With it came the power of all the life she had taken.

It took a moment to get over the heady feeling of the energy rushing through her veins. It was actually the sight of a young man's body that snapped her out of it. Quickly Arie went to the body. She wasn't entirely sure what she was doing, but she felt compelled to do it. Her Gift wrapped around the man's body. It cleared away the dirt and fluids from the Stormwings, leaving the man looking like he was asleep; even the arrows were gone. When the fire of her Gift faded a name whispered across her senses. Arie blinked. It was the man's name, she didn't know how she knew, but she wasn't going to lose this chance. She checked herself frantically looking for a dagger. Once she pulled a knife from her boot, she carved the man's name in the dirt next to him. Then she went to each man and repeated the process until everyone was cleaned and her Gift was spent. Breathing heavily she caught sight of the steely wings before she fainted.