Author's Notes: Hi, readers. I want to wish everyone a Happy New Year. Here is chapter seven of "Running Around." The group finally arrives in Passili. It will be assisting in helping the war victims in the next one. Stay tuned for chapter eight.
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Chapter 7: Getting Into Town
The entire group came upon Passili within ten minutes. The horses whinnied in some nervousness before swiveling their ears. The town happened to be rather large. It consisted of huts, stores, and inns. Hills could be seen behind it. Carts containing various items for sale dotted it here and there. Smoke rose from a few areas, including a bonfire.
Chase looked around very carefully. He could see people with various injuries walking around. This included gashes in their foreheads and scratches on their cheeks. Argo and Amber whinnied fearfully and moved their heads upward a bit. Xena and Gabrielle patted their necks very gently. This calmed the horses down a bit. Solan drank a tiny bit of water from Belach's wineskin.
"It is obvious Argo and Amber don't like it here, Xena," Gabrielle said honestly.
"I don't blame them. It's been a while since they had been in a warzone," Xena responded with a heavy sigh.
"I will tell you one thing. This town is a pretty good size," Snow White added and cleared her throat.
"I am sure war patients are being treated in various places," Eric said while rubbing the back of his neck.
"Most likely," William agreed.
"It is funny how active Passili is. You would think everyone would be hiding in their homes and businesses," Chase said, raising his eyebrows.
"People have to keep going, regardless of their circumstances. It is how life goes," Xena commented and suppressed a yawn.
"Life is not worth living—" Gabrielle started.
"Halt! Who goes there?" a male voice shouted.
Everyone came to a stop when a soldier appeared with his sword in his hand. He pointed it at the group as he stopped close to it. Chase groaned and grabbed his wound. He could feel the bandage was soaked with blood. Solan looked at his mother, who turned to him.
"I think we are in trouble, Mom," Solan whispered.
"No, we are not," Xena said and glanced at the soldier. "We found this soldier. We have an injured bystander."
Gabrielle held up her hand. "We don't mean any harm."
The soldier looked at the group closely and nodded at it. "All right. Come on."
The solider turned and began walking away. Xena, Gabrielle, Eric, Snow White, and William followed him close behind with their horses. Belach gripped Argo's saddle horn tightly.
"Nice work, Xena," Belach said warmly.
"Thank you, Belach," Xena said, looking at him. "I have no doubt you are ready to get off Argo."
"I am, but I do admit it is better riding a horse than limping across a battlefield," Belach pointed out.
"You can't move anywhere near as fast with an injured leg. That's for sure," Solan said.
"I had to get away from Chase and his men before they killed me. Hiding in those bushes saved my life," Belach whispered, his voice showing great relief.
"It will likely be a few days before you can walk on that leg fully," Xena responded grimly.
"Perhaps someone could lend me a staff I can lean on," Belach suggested thoughtfully.
"Yes," Xena agreed. "Wherever we are going, there are bound to be a few of them."
"If I had my old staff, I would've given it to you, Belach," Gabrielle admitted, looking up at him.
"That's very thoughtful of you, Gabrielle," Belach said, warmth echoing from his voice. "Thank you."
"You are welcome," Gabrielle replied, giving him a nod. "It was a great weapon. It allowed me to hurt enemies without killing them."
"Then you lost your blood innocence by protecting yourself from a bandit," Xena mumbled sadly.
"It sucks, but it's life," Gabrielle said and yawned widely. "I think we are all going to be a bit tired from this."
"Who wouldn't? Treating war patients is a full-time job, even for experienced healers," Xena said honestly.
"Like you, Mom," Solan commented as he glanced at her.
"Exactly," Xena agreed while nodding slowly. "You can't just treat a few patients and call it a day. You have to be on alert for new ones coming in."
Solan stretched his arms above his head while letting out a long yawn. He rubbed his eyes before placing them at his sides. He clasped his hands together. He twirled his thumbs around.
"Could I help with treating some of the war patients, Mom?" Solan wondered.
"Of course. I must warn you. It can get quite graphic," Xena said, seriousness lining voice.
"I understand," Solan responded, nodding at her.
"I would like to help treat the wounded," Snow White said, warmth showing in her voice.
"I would too," Eric added while raising his hand.
"Aye," William said, smiling. "The healers on duty could use all the help they can get."
"Sure," Xena said and ran her tongue all over the inside of her mouth. "Come on."
The entire group picked up its pace a bit. The horses whinnied somewhat quietly. They bobbed their heads before adjusting the metal bits in their mouths.
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The entire group arrived at the Eagle Inn on the northern edge of town within twenty minutes. The inn was large and happened to have three floors. Two lion statues stood on either side of the entrance. They stood up as if they were looking proud. They had their mouths open and their left paws seemingly reaching out.
Xena, Gabrielle, Eric, Snow White, and William brought their horses to a stop not far from the entrance. Solan and the soldier halted themselves. Xena went to Belach and grabbed his hand. She put her arm around his waist and helped him off Argo carefully. She slipped his left one over her shoulder. They took slow yet even breaths.
Gabrielle approached Chase, who dismounted Amber carefully. He moaned once he was on the ground. He touched the bandage, feeling a tiny bit of blood on his hand. He pulled it back to see a red spot at the bottom of his palm. The soldier went over to him, grabbing him with an angry snarl. He squeezed his arm, alarming Gabrielle.
"Hey, what gives?" Gabrielle asked.
"We have a place for Kiforthians like him," the solider said.
"But he's—" Gabrielle started.
He narrowed his eyes at her. "Don't question me, woman. I mean it."
She held up her hands. "Okay. I won't."
The soldier pulled Chase along in which it caused him to groan painfully. Xena, Gabrielle, Eric, Snow White, and William followed them close behind. Everyone entered the inn. They gasped at the sight of many injured people laying on cots or sitting in chair, except for the solider, who pushed Chase in another direction roughly. They stood on the edge of a small staircase.
"I don't think I have seen so many war patients in one place," Belach whispered, swallowing hard.
"There is plenty more where that came from. Let's get you to a chair," Xena admitted and helped him down the stairs. The others followed suit. "How are you feeling?"
"I feel really tired," Belach said, his heart skipping a beat. "The pain in my leg is pretty bad."
"It will likely be that way for a while," Snow White whispered, her breathing turning to shudders.
Eric circled his arm in a slow manner. "Unfortunately."
William sighed. "It is the way of war."
Xena spotted a chair and guided Belach over to it. She helped him sit down before letting go of him. He took his backpack off his back as his friends and brother stood close to him. He laid it down as Solan gave him his wineskin. He smiled at him.
"Thank you, Solan," Belach said gratefully.
"You are welcome. Someone had to hold it," Solan said with a shrug.
"Some people will put alcohol in their wineskins before they go on the road," Belach said, sipping some of his water. He ran his tongue all over the inside of his mouth. "They have no problem getting drunk while riding their horses or guiding them along. I have seen it several times."
"That is really dangerous, especially since horses can break their legs if they are pushed too hard by their drunk riders and end up falling," Eric said, shuddering in disgust.
"When a horse breaks its leg, its fate is sealed. It must be put down," Xena said, frowning a bit.
"The most common method is by sword or spear. Either weapon provides the quickest death," William commented.
"A year before Sarah died, I had to put down a horse named Axe. He tripped in a hole he stepped in and broke his front left leg when I was riding him. I was thrown forward. I suffered a few scrapes and bruises, but I was okay. We had a veterinarian check him out. He realized his leg was broken. He advised us to put him down. She found a spear and gave it to me. I placed it against Axe's chest. I stabbed him right in the heart. He died quickly," Eric explained and sniffled. "It wasn't easy, but it had to be done. He was suffering so badly."
"I had no idea that happened, Eric," Snow White said in shock.
"It's not someone you wrote home about," Eric admitted and touched her arm. "Just pray you don't have to deal with such a thing for a long while."
"Oh, we will," William said with a nod.
Just then, thirty-year-old Jason walked up to the group. He was around Eric's height. His brown hair was short and straight. His skin was so pale that he appeared to be a ghost. His eyes were blue and contained bags underneath them. His forehead had a scar going across it.
"Hey, you people don't look like you are from Kiforth or Passili," Jason said, his eyebrows raising as the group looked at him.
"No, we are not, young man. We were just passing through. We found an injured soldier and bystander. We brought him here," Xena explained. "What is your name?"
"Jason," Jason answered. "What are your names?"
"I am Xena. This is Gabrielle, Solan, Eric, Snow White, William, and Belach. Solan is my son. Belach is his brother," Xena introduced.
Jason felt his jaw drop to the floor and his eyes widen to the size of saucers. He shook his head rapidly as Xena furrowed her brow.
"I can't believe the legendary Xena, Gabrielle, Eric, Snow White, and William got caught up in the war between Kiforth and Passili!" Jason exclaimed.
"We weren't expecting to be here, but the discovery of my brother and that soldier forced us to come here to seek medical treatment," Solan commented, pressing his lips together.
"I don't blame you. Xena, you really shouldn't be here. You could harm your baby," Jason said seriously.
Xena rubbed the back of her neck. "That doesn't matter right now. Could you get some medicine for Belach? He is in a lot of pain due to his injury."
Jason nodded at her. "Of course."
Jason walked away while whispering inaudible words. Belach started talking about how he stayed hidden in the bushes.
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The soldier pushed Chase toward the back of the inn. He mumbled inaudible words while looking around. Chase winced when he was smacked in the shoulder hard by him. He looked over his shoulder at him with a snarl. The soldier pushed him somewhat roughly. They came upon a group of Kiforthians standing in a circle. They had various injuries that appeared to have not been treated well.
"Get over there, Kiforthian crap!" the soldier shouted and pushed his enemy toward his comrades. "You make me sick."
"Not as sick as me seeing your friends slaughter some of my best men," Chase retorted defiantly.
The soldier spit at the floor. "Shut up."
Chase regained his footing. "You first."
Chase approached a table as the soldier walked away. He pulled out a chair and sat down with a quiet groan. He touched his shoulder, feeling blood had seeped through the bandage. He pulled his hand away, seeing a little bit on it. He squeezed his eyes shut. He breathed deeply in an attempt to will the pain away, but it didn't ease much.
Just then, forty-year-old Joshua walked up to the general. He was slightly taller than Eric was. His skin was quite tanned with blotches of paleness here and there. He possessed a lean frame, but he had some muscle. His brown hair was short and straight. Bags could be seen underneath his blue eyes. He had stubble of a beard. Chase looked up at him.
"General, you're alive!" Joshua said excitedly.
"Shh!" Chase responded, standing up as he touched his comrade's arm. He grasped his wrist. "The war is going well."
"You won't believe this, but the Passilians have given us little medical care," Joshua whispered intensely. He pointed his finger at a gash on the lower part of his left arm. "They wouldn't even bandage this gash."
"What? That is cruel," Chase hissed angrily.
"It sure is," Joshua agreed. "The good news is it isn't deep at all. It should heal well."
"It still needs to be bandaged," Chase said and gestured to the chair. "Sit down."
"Okay," Joshua said, nodding. "I will."
Joshua sat in the chair as Chase reached into his pouch. Chase pulled out a long bandage. He placed it on his friend's wound and began to wrap it at a slow yet steady pace.
"Who brought you here?" Joshua wondered, his eyes showing much curiosity.
"Xena found me injured. She brought me here along with Gabrielle, Solan, Eric, Snow White, and William," Chase admitted and swallowed hard.
"The legendary Xena and Gabrielle are in Passili along with the trio from Tabor?" Joshua asked shockingly.
"Yes. Xena is actually pregnant and not far from her due date," Chase commented. "Her son, Solan, has been traveling with her and Gabrielle for a long time. None of them should be in a warzone with the exception of Eric and William."
Joshua blinked twice. "You know Xena. She is too stubborn to be told she shouldn't be here."
"As for Snow White, she should be tending to her kingdom along with her husband and friend. She is not fit for fighting a civil war, even if she defeated Ravenna," Chase said with a scoff.
"Snow White is said to be quite stubborn," Joshua pointed out.
Chase snorted. "That doesn't mean she should be here."
Chase finished wrapping the bandage and tied a knot in it. He started talking about how he regained consciousness.