Bellatrix: Swords of Chaos, Book One

***

  Rolin saw Range fall and the other Sicari making his way toward Sterlin. He knew these were Sicari, and Sterlin was not adept enough with his sword to defend himself.

  The situation was lost.There was only one hope.

  Three of the Sicari surrounded Cortibis. He feigned to the left and swept his sword to the right, clearing just enough room for him to step out of the ring.He was able to only defend now. He was not skilled enough to attack three Sicari at once.They played cat and mouse with him, causing him to fall back at every step.Rolin decided the Sicari didn’t want them dead.Good.

  Rolin took his fighting stance; he was prepared to give every ounce of himself to the imminent battle. He squatted down, holding his thick wooden staff to the side.

  “Come. Taste my venom,” he said, beginning his troska—his death-dance. He had only one advantage:He could hit anyone he wanted. His opponents, on the other hand, had to be careful to not stab their own. He immediately flew into his troska.He was unstoppable and terrible, connecting with more strikes than humanly possible. His opponents would become wheat before the scythe.

  Rolin swept the staff out, causing them to back off. As it passed by his last adversary, he knew the first would be coming for him. He immediately ducked under the thrust of the slightly curved sword stabbing through the air where he had just been. He knocked the sword to the side, spinning, and slid his hand up catching the man’s wrist in a numbing grip that caused him to release his sword. At the same time, he rolled forward and just missed being stabbed from behind. Rolin threw the man he held into two of the other Sicari. He could hear the man’s wrist snap as he did. The men attempted to move around the body hurled at them, one caught the butt end of Rolin’s staff in the face as he dodged, breaking his nose and knocking him out. The second got a swift staff to the side of the head, stunning him. The man behind Rolin got a slice of his sword through and gave Rolin a sharp cut on his left arm. It was inevitable, fighting this many skilled men at once --he was going to get cut.

  Rolin did not cry out, but spun his staff about him with such speed the man had no chance to avoid it and took the brunt of the heavy wood with his shins, losing his balance and falling sideways.Rolin’s staff was spun so quickly it slipped from his wounded left arm and rattled to the ground.The other man with the broken wrist, now weaponless, was coming toward Rolin.Rolin engaged the man in hand-to-hand combat.They thrust and ducked, both trying their best to ignore injuries. Rolin outmatched his opponent and he knew it. He moved like a mongoose in a dance. He connected on many of his punches, while his adversary either missed or landed glancing blows. Rolin succeeded in kicking the man squarely in the chest. Rolin jumped into the air, spinning like a top, connecting his foot to the man’s temple. His adversary dropped like a sack of wet meat.

  The other man, stunned by the stiff strike to his head was coming toward Rolin. This Sicari had a desire to fight. He must have a desire to die as well. He dropped his sword and stood ready for battle with Rolin. Rolin almost smiled. This man was one to be respected, a true warrior.

  The two men stood momentarily sizing each other up. His opponent was clearly in the mood for a skilled adversary. The bloodlust was upon him. He attacked Rolin first, which was his mistake. In his zeal, he forgot the first thing all fighting men are taught: never attack. Defend.

  As the Sicari approached Rolin moved his right hand so fast the man had no time for a defense. The man’s nose was shoved up into his brain in one, instant, death move. He dropped to the ground in an unhealthy plop and twitched silently.Rolin was impressed with the man’s gumption, but unimpressed with his skill.

  As the Zmarly lowered his arm, he was grabbed from behind in a bear hug from the man he had knocked off balance. He could not believe these were Sicari. They were making too many mistakes. It occurred to him they were probably not used to getting beaten like invalids and were overcompensating. He grabbed the man’s little finger and broke it with a sharp crack.While still holding it, he spun himself around and jump-kicked the man in the face as hard as he could.The man fell back, unconscious.

  Rolin could not utilize his staff to its fullest extent.He knew it was only a matter of time before he began to lose energy from the loss of blood.His left hand was growing quickly weaker. Time was against him and he had a lot of work yet to do. After Cortibis he had to check on Range and Sterlin.

  He found Cortibis, still running from his opponents. He was cut in numerous places, but looked no worse for the wear.His opponents were probably told to capture them and not kill them. Rolin swiftly snuck behind one of Cortibis’ opponents and snapped his neck.

  One of the other two men turned, the first man kept his focus on Cortibis, who was weakening.

  Rolin fought his opponent with tenacity, but this opponent was fresh and had a much longer reach. Rolin spent the majority of the time dodging the strokes of the bigger man, looking for an opening.He felt his head grow light, and was beginning to feel the first inevitable steps toward passing out. This battle must end soon.

  Rolin ducked from another thrust of the sword. Normally a man with a sword, no matter how well trained, was no match for him.They had thinned out their opponent’s ranks, but in the process they had been injured, which was expected.Rolin faked a dip to one side, and his opponent sensing his weakness, sliced that way, but Rolin quickly shot back the opposite direction and brought his foot up to the man’s groin. The Sicari leaned forward and Rolin delivered his knee to the man’s chin.

  The knee stood his opponent back up, and caused him to slightly lose his balance, but he shook it off and came again. Rolin was crestfallen.His efforts were getting weaker and he was slowing down.Blood soaked his left sleeve and dripped steadily from his hand.

  “Come again, Zmarly,” the man said.

  Rolin desperately looked for a saving move, or something, but he could find none.

  He waited for the sword to be lowered, and readied himself for the last defensive block or move. He’d only been bested once, and it would not happen again today.

  The man suddenly had a strange look on his face and presently a sword ground its way through his chest.

  The big Sicari dropped his own metal and fell forward.Rolin barely got out of the way before the man landed with a sick and meaty thump!

  Cortibis stood over the man. He was cut in many places and looked faint.

  “I told you I was not unmanned,” he said, as Rolin dropped down hard onto his backside.

  Sterlin walked up behind Rolin,”We must tend to you!”

  Sterlin and Cortibis both bent down to inspect the wound on Rolin’s arm.

  “I shall live, check on Range.”

  Sterlin was first up and ran over to Range.

  Range’s heartbeat was faint and his breathing shallow.His face was pallid. He had lost a lot of blood. Sterlin ripped up the remaining bit of Range’s sleeve and used it to plug the hole in Range’s shoulder.

  “How is he?” asked Cortibis.

  “Dangerously close to death. He needs a healer, and a good one,” he said, wrapping up the wound so it would stop pumping blood.

  A group of dead warriors littered the general vicinity.Rolin sat, leaning against a tree, tending to his arm.Their two horses were still in their hiding place.Two of their opponents’ animals had moseyed back to the scene of the battle.They had four horses, and three people able to ride.The ride to Rommel would take the rest of the day, and they would have to take it slowly as to not jostle Range too much.Rolin knew they were lucky the other horses had come back.If they had to travel by foot, Range might not make it.

  One of the dead men began to move.

  “Grab him,” Rolin said to the other two.

  They turned the man over and held him down.

  He was in poor condition and barely conscious. Rolin stood, and then wobbled over.

  “Tell us who sent you. Or die,” he said to the injured man.

  The man said nothing, but favored Rolin with a defiant look. A hu
ge wound ran down his face and blood dripped onto his shoulder.

  “I know you are Sicari. You were coming from the North.We had another group of Sicari attack us a few days ago.Tell me what I want to know, or you will die.”

  The man said nothing.

  Rolin dropped next to the man and pulled the man’s own knife from his case.He quickly drove it into the man’s thigh, twisted it, and then jerked it out.Blood spewed forth in a gush.

  The man did not yell out. He was quiet, but pain etched his face, and his breathing became labored.

  “Talk, or die,” Rolin persisted.

  The man said nothing.

  Rolin presently took the man’s left hand and held it out.He grabbed his blade and began to saw agonizingly slow across the man’s littlest finger.The man let out a slight yelp, but that was all.When Rolin was finished, the man’s finger was lying on the ground in a pool of blood. Blood flowed steadily from the stump.

  “Perhaps you do not believe me.Or perhaps you thought I was going to kill you quickly?” Rolin said to the pitiful man.”Next I am going to cut off a toe. And then I will pop one of your eyes out with the tip of this blade. You will not die right away.”

  Sterlin looked away. Rolin did not care. He knew what must be done. Information must be gathered.If they did not have stomach for it, then they should leave.

  “Let us begin again.” Rolin said. He started to remove the man’s boot.

  “NO! Stop! I will talk, please do no cut me anymore!” came the wailing voice of the victim. Blood spewed from his thigh and his hand.Rolin grabbed the man’s tunic and ripped it, covering the man’s finger and leg.

  “Ah, good.Now tell me who you work for,” Rolin said.

  “I-I am a-a hired hand, helping a mage travel south to the c-city of Spadix!”

  “Why?”

  “I am merely paid to take him there.”

  Rolin leaned over him more.”Why does a mage need a group of Sicari to go with him anywhere?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “That’s like an elephant asking a group of rabbits to protect him.”

  “I was merely paid to go with him.”

  “What is his name?”

  “Lozuk, or something like that.”

  “What is his apprentice’s name?”

  “Gidas.”

  “Why did they send you into the woods?”

  “They said we should go into the woods and bring whatever we found to them.”

  “The mage told you no more?’’

  “He would never tell someone like me. He kept his mouth shut and never said much to us anyway.We were beneath him and he was above us. One does not question his master. Nor tell his dog why he goes here or there.”

  Rolin nodded his head.”True is that.”

  With that, he reached up and slit the man’s throat.

  “Ah! What are you doing?” Sterlin asked, standing up in alarm.

  “We deal with the Sicari and a mage now. Perhaps you have not been staying up with current events, but we are injured and in need of a healer.I may make it to Rommel, but I do not think Range can. His life will be short without quick attention. This Sicari, if we were to let him go, would immediately inform the mage of our whereabouts. Our only hope is to head north and get to Rommel. I have been paid much to see that Range gets to Romus alive, and I plan on making certain that he does.”

  “Aye,” Sterlin said. He made his way over to where the horses were and pulled out a small flask from his bag. The flask was amber in color, shaped like an oval and held some dark fluid.

  “This is solutari poltari.It is sometimes called ‘drink of life’. Once imbibed, it imbues the drinker with energy and vitality beyond ken.Here, take a sip and swallow it.”He handed the bottle to Rolin, who removed the cork stopper and smelled of it first.He could discern no odor so he tilted it back and let a little hit his tongue and then swallowed it.

  A warm feeling began in his throat and flowed out from there. He could feel his vigor return and his mind clear like a fog had been lifted.He felt as if he had just taken a nap.He stood up, refreshed.

  “Incredible,” Rolin said.

  “Be wary, do not tax yourself unnecessarily.The fluid is precious and only lasts for a while before its effects wear off.Your body is not healed.”

  “This is a false sense of wellness?”

  “Yes and no. Your body is healing right now at an accelerated rate. But it’s not as well as you feel.”

  “How does this work?”

  “I do not know.”

  Rolin scratched his chin reflectively.”How did you come by this?”

  “I don’t see how that matters at the moment.We must get some down Range’s throat and now.”

  Rolin could not deny that he felt better, and if it could do that for him, then it could no doubt help Range.

  “Let us get this fluid in his mouth.”

  They gathered around him and poured some of the elixir into his mouth as Rolin attempted to wake Range.He could not bring him to full consciousness but they got him to swallow the fluid.

  Some of his color returned, but he was still sickly looking.

  “We must be off to the town of Rommel and a healer,” Rolin said.

  “Are we just going to lay him over the horse?The blood will all go to his head,” Cortibis asked.

  “Is there a better way?” Rolin asked

  “Can we rope him up?”

  “How about one of us rides with Range in front of us, so that we can hold him up as we ride along?”

  “Let us set him on the horse and tie himto it.”

  “Nay, none of those ideas has merit!We must lay him over the horse and be done with it. Unless you want to stop and build him a litter?”

  “We do not have that luxury.”

  “But if we kill him, then the time will be for naught!”

  “We must vote.”

  “I say we put him on the horse,” Rolin said.

  “Me too,” Cortibis said.

  “Okay, let’s be on with it then!” Sterlin said.

  They tied Rage on his stomach over the horse and each mounted up. They rode at a fast pace, but not a gallop. Sterlin thought that would prove too much for Range in his present condition.If they had to go at a walking pace as before, then they would have been traveling in vain.

  As they rode, Sterlin piped up,”What will we do with the Sword if Range does perish?”

  The Sword was still strapped unobtrusively to the saddle on the horse Rolin rode. Neither of the other two had a ready answer.

  “I think the best plan would be to take the Sword to the man named Garon Pourghadiri.”

  “Perhaps,” said Sterlin, pondering.

  “What is on your mind?”Cortibis asked.

  “Nothing. Just wondering if perhaps we should consider our own search for the other two Swords.They are out there and if we have one, we’re already ahead.”

  “I do not think that searching for the other Swords was in any plan of Range’s,” Rolin said.

  “We will own the Sword if he perishes.”

  Cortibis eyed Rolin, clearly deferring to him.

  “We must discuss this later, after all have had a chance to ponder.Besides, Range is not dead yet, and his life still hangs in the balance.We should not speak of it any more unless he dies. It dishonors him and his family.”

  “Aye,” Sterlin said. But it was clear the idea still chased around his head.

  They stopped momentarily and checked on Range. His condition was unchanged so they began again.The cold wind had abated, and the sun warmed them slightly, a pleasant day, all things considered.

  Soon they noticed the trees thinning and the Argoth plains spread out before them.

  The Argoth plains were endless to the east and west. A sea of low-lying scrub brush was prevalent. The brush was drab and gray as it ebbed and flowed with the slight breezes kicking up.They could see for miles in the unhindered land.To the north was the beginning of the mounds
that housed the great city of Rommel and to the west was the river flumen amnis. Many, many miles to the west was a great deposit of iron the king of Rommel kept continually stocked with men who extracted the ore and brought it to the city to be worked.

  “The city looks a long way off. Will we make it by today?” Cortibis asked to no one.

  “Aye, it is not as far as it looks. The land here is flat and easy to traverse,” answered Sterlin.

  Rolin hopped off his horse and inspected Range. He was looking more haggard than earlier.Rolin was too.He could feel his injury welling back up in him and internal feelings of pushing himself too hard.

  “Is it time for another dose of your medicine?” he asked Sterlin.

  “Nay, not for a few hours yet.” Rolin could not help but silently question the man.He was uncertain of Sterlin’s motives now and would keep a close watch on him.

  Rolin remounted and they began heading north again.

  As they rode over the vast plains they talked about what had transpired back in the field of battle.

  “How is it that you came to my rescue?” Rolin asked of Cortibis.

  “The last time you saw me, I was being harried by two assailants. I was losing too. I kept them at bay and bided my time hoping for an opportunity to present itself.I was getting tired and knew that it quickly getting bad.”

  “So what happened?” Rolin asked.

  “Well, I ducked under a thrust of one sword, and when I came up, I had only one opponent. I was wondering where the first man had gone. I was certain that he had somehow rounded me and was coming up from the rear. But no sooner than I thought that, I spotted him on the ground with an arrow sticking out of his throat.Before I could look back, the second man had an arrow coming through his shoulder and was trying hard not to pass out. So I assisted him and ran him through. I saw Sterlin and then you. Sterlin was out of arrows, so I launched myself up behind your assailant and drove my blade through his insides.”

  Rolin nodded,”Well then I will thank you both for saving my life. I hope to one day repay the favor, and am in your debt.”

  “If we are to be as a group, then we must act like a group.There is no repaying of a life-debt in battle. It is every man battling to save ever other man’s life. You would have done the same for me, or Cortibis. If we are going to travel with each other, then we must depend on each other, without hesitation. A profusion of portentous perils plague us every step of the way. Besides, without your taking out most of our adversaries we would have been lost.” Sterlin stopped to admire his fierce control of the language.”If Range lives through this, then I see our paths crossing many more dangers.Sharpen your blade and say your prayers.”

  “It was a true group effort,” Rolin said.

  They did make good time, and were arriving at the edge of the Argoth plains and the beginning of the area that housed Rommel.

  “Ah the valley is beautiful!And look at the river; it is such a stark blue! It almost shines!”Sterlin pointed out as they rode toward the valley.

  The valley was an oddity coming from the south, as if someone had placed a bowl on the ground and cut out a notch on the south side.From the north end, one could peer down into the valley, like normal.But from the south end of the valley, it seemed as if one was walking between two huge earthen walls that grew up out of the ground. When a traveler came from the south, he was on the same level as the city.

  The two great mountainous walls they rode between were quiet and unattended. The road was tight and well packed, and they caught the smell of a fire burning from far off.Their spirits rose when they spied the actual city of to the north.Rolin was feeling more and more exhausted.

  “Is it time for another dose?” he asked Sterlin.

  “Perhaps. Let us stop and give you some more. You are beginning to look peaked.”

  They stopped and first gave Range some of the elixir and then Rolin.

  They rode into the city, and passed a checkpoint where the guards asked them their business in the city and their names. They offered names and said they were looking for a healer to help their friend who had been waylaid by a band of brigands on the road. The guard gave them directions to a healer who lived close by and bid them on their way.

  They made their way through the city and were amazed at all the people and buildings. Everything looked clean and well-tended. Large gray stones bricked the streets; the buildings were either bright white or olive colored.

  They passed down the street and turned where the guard had said, and they saw a large sign over a building that had the common sign for healer painted in red on a wooden plank: an eye with a fire under it.

  The little shop had square windows and a hearty looking wooden door.As Rolin pushed the door open, he heard a tinkle of a bell emanate from somewhere.

  “Be right there!” a voice shouted from the back of the shop.

  Rolin peered about the murky darkness. His hood was up hiding his face in the inscrutable darkness, the smells of herbs and spices assaulted his nose.Small vials and nick-knacks were arranged in some fashion that seemed to be both cluttered and organized. Some sort of labeling system was attached each one.The ceiling was low and the floor was earthen.A red embroidered blanket covered what appeared to be a doorway to the back of the store. The store was cozy.He could see a black kettle hanging on a hook above a fire.Steam rose vigorously from the kettle’s spout.

  Presently a short, rotund woman entered from behind the curtain.She was old, her face a map of lines. Her hair was salt and pepper and tied into a bun.She had a warm, but commanding smile.

  “Good day, sir,” she said, in a clear round voice,”How may I be of service?”

  “Good day, madam.I have a friend who is gravely injured and we were informed that perhaps you could help,” Rolin said. Sterlin stood quietly behind him.

  She nodded grimly.”Perhaps.I am the best healer in this city, if I do say so myself. You can ask around, and you’ll hear most people say it. But I prattle. Where is your friend?”

  “Outside. His wound is grievous and his life ebbs from him as we speak.He is a brave man and deserves more than death on a horse.”

  Rolin opened the door for her. They stepped outside into the waning daylight.Shadows were more prevalent than sun at the moment.

  She walked to the horse where Range was and lifted his head.After peering into his face for a moment, she turned to Rolin.”What has happened?” she asked.

  “We were waylaid on the road from Spadix.”

  “Indeed, he is at the point of no return.Death is reaching her cold hand up for him. I may not be able to help him, and the price will be steep.I do not work for free, but I do get results.You can ask about if you don’t believe me.” She stood waiting.

  “Madam, please do what you can, payment is not an issue.”

  Cortibis and Sterlin came up with him.

  She scratched her head.”Get him off of this horse and inside. I will get my shop ready.” She peered at the sky,”It is getting late anyway, I was just about to lock my doors for the night. It’s not good to be out after dark anymore.”She walked into her shop.

  The three men pulled Range off of the horse and brought him inside.The tinkle of the door merrily greeted them again.

  “I am back here!” she yelled.

  They lugged him to the curtain and Cortibis lifted it.Beyond was a cheery and comforting yellow light. The back room was smaller than the front, and the men had a hard time squeezing in. There was a large bed against the wall with clean covers, and a small table next to it. The bright yellow lamp sat on the table. On the far end was a potbelly oven with a stove on top.The woman was standing with her back to them mixing something. The smell was bittersweet, and made them all thirsty.On every wall was a thick, heavy rug with designs and decorations embroidered in gold and various colored yarn.In the corner next to the oven was a cupboard made of a light colored wood.

  “Put him on the bed,” she said, without looking over her shoulder.


  They placed him gently on his back. Range let out a small moan.

  “Please sit down,” she said.

  They all found a place to sit on the earthen floor.

  After a while the smell became stronger and the room grew sticky hot.Cortibis leaned back against the wall of stone and closed his eyes.Rolin sat slumped over, his pain had returned.Sterlin sat, watching with great patience.

  The old woman finally reached over and pulled a small cup from the cupboard and filled it with her concoction.She turned to Range.”We need to remove these clothes. We must clean the wound thoroughly.”She sat the metal cup on the table next to the bed and began removing Range’s torn tunic and his makeshift bandage.

  Rolin helped her, although, he himself was in a great deal of pain. They peeled his sticky shirt off and tossed it to the side. His skin underneath was pallid and sticky.The woman removed the blood-soaked bandage they had put on in the field and dropped it to the ground.

  “Good thing you got the bleeding to stop. Otherwise he would be dead already.”

  “It was not just that madam. We also had some solutari poltari,” Rolin said. Sterlin’s head shot up.The old woman said nothing, but looked over at Sterlin out of the crook of her eye.

  “Aye, that would help him stay alive as well,” she said.

  She took her metal cup and held it over the black, puffy and crusty wound.

  “Hold him, this will rouse him, and he may be too strong for me to contain. He’s a big one.” Rolin grabbed his feet and Cortibis grabbed his arms.

  “Hullo?” She said just before spilling the concoction into Range’s wound,”What a bizarre tattoo the man has.”And with that she poured the mixture on the wound.

  Range’s body clenched.”ZOË!” he cried. His back arched and he shook ardently. He gritted his teeth, and almost let out a yelp, right before he fell limply back onto the bed.She then cleaned out the wound vigorously and the area around it. Range did not move.

  The woman was already back at the pot scooping out another cupful of liquid health.Rolin saw the tattoo across the right breast of Range. The tattoo was in the shape of a triangle with six-sided black stars at each of the three points.The triangle was sectioned into three separate areas each colored red, blue and green.

  The woman returned with another cupful of the liquid.She poured only half into the wound this time. She reached behind Range’s head and lifted it. She poured some down his throat. He swallowed involuntarily and choked up some.She removed the cup from his lips and wiped it with a black towel in her hand.

  “There,” she said, standing up, placing her hands on her hips.”We will let that set in for a few hours and then give him a re-treatment.If he does not show some signs of improvement in a few hours, we will change his medication to something slightly different. If the first treatment holds then he will be up and around tomorrow. This is potent stuff. I have only used it a few times before, but his situation is dire. He may still yet fall into death’s hands.”She walked over and lit a candle marked for the passage of time.

  “What should my companions and I do while he is recovering?” Rolin asked in a tight voice, the pain was overcoming him.

  She gave him a perceiving and discerning eye.”You’re hurt boy! Why didn’t you say so in the first place?Zora’s sake boy, get on that bed next to the other one and let’s take a look at you. You’re as bad as my son. Always trying to act brave and strong. Bah!If you’re hurt tell someone.Silly men.”

  Rolin sat down and pulled off his tunic.The sleeve that had been cut stuck sickly to his cut.He pulled it off without a hint of a flinch or emotion. His hood was removed too and his sweat-slicked bald head unveiled.Some stubble was growing up around his topknot.

  She looked at him with a wry smile.”You’re an intrepid one.I know it hurts. Men!”

  Rolin sat there looking at the wound.

  The skin had been sliced like a slab of meat. A flap was barely staying up connected to the upper part of his arm.Blood was crusted all around the wound and it looked just as purple and worn out as Range’s.

  “Ooh,” she said, pulling his arm toward the light.”This will take some sewing up.I will need to suture the skin back together.” She gave him a stern look, her old eyes glittering in the warm lamp light,”You had better be brave now. I am almost out of pain stoppers, and you are a big one. When I am doing my stitching, you will need to be still and solid. No wiggling around.I won’t have you messing up my work.Now let me go get my catgut and we will begin.”She went again to her cupboard and dug around.She located what she was looking for and pulled it out.She laid the needle and the catgut on the table next to the bed and went to fetch some more of her healing potion.

  Cortibis and Sterlin were about to sit down, but she said,”You boys get out of here. If there ain’t anything wrong with you, you can go outside and wait.Go smoke a pipe or whatever it is men do.”

  They nodded and left the store to go wait outside.

  The old woman grabbed hold of Rolin’s arm,”This will burn like fire. It will also kill any evil that has set in and plots to do you harm by getting this infected. Grit your teeth, Zmarly.”And with that, she poured the elixir into his flayed skin.He did not flinch or even budge, but breathed in and out in a rhythmic pattern.His eyes were closed and his focus was elsewhere.

  The old woman fetched another cup of the medicine and dipped her ladle in.She then handed the cup to Rolin.”Drink up. It tastes like trash, but it will heal you from the inside.”

  He did as he was told; the potion was lasting and bitter.The feeling went all the way to his toes. The taste and feeling was similar to the solutari poltari, but less artificial.

  “I am going to sew you up now. This will be quite painful.Take this,” she pulled out a leaf from her pocket and handed it to him, it was round with a pointy tip, and looked as if it had just been plucked. The texture was smooth and glossy.

  “What do I do with it?” he asked.

  “Eat it, boy. What do you think you’re supposed to do with it?Rub it on your eyelids?” she replied, poking her catgut through an impossibly big needle.She poked her tongue out as she carefully threaded the needle.

  He popped the leaf in his mouth and tried to chew it up.The taste was sweet, but it was sour in his stomach.He squinted slightly. After a few moments he began to feel as if he were almost floating.His head swayed slightly side to side.

  She held his skin up and began to sew it back together. Every time she pierced the skin, he winced, but did not jerk away.The pain was there, but it was strange like someone calling his name under water.

  She pulled the last thread through and tied it off.

  “There, that should do just fine. Remove the sutures in about two to three weeks.”She reached into another pocket and produced a salve, and rubbed it lightly on the stitched area.

  Suddenly the curtain flew to the side, Cortibis stumbled through.”Come quickly!Sterlin has stolen it!” he said, breathlessly. He was holding the back of his head.

  Rolin stood up, a little shaken.”What?”

  “Sterlin, grabbed it and hit me from behind, and fled!”

  “Stole what?” Rolin said, in frustration. The medicine the woman had given him clouded his thoughts.

  “IT!” Cortibis said

  “Where did he go?” Rolin asked. He pulled his tunic on.

  “He did not take his horse! Only the—“

  “—I know,” Rolin said, looking at the old woman watching them with interest.“We must still attempt to find him. Madame, may our friend stay here, while we go and search for this fiend?”

  “Aye, there is no better place. I will lock the door behind you. Strange things have been afoot at night lately.”

  “Aye, and thanks,” Rolin said. He and Cortibis bounded for the door.

  The sun was down and the warmth of the day was gone as they stepped into the frosty night. Their breath showed with every puff.

  She threw the bolt as soon as they were out, and Rol
in saw her watching them as they hopped on their horses and began readying themselves.He hoped Range would be all right.

  “Which way did he flee?”Rolin asked looking up and down the street.

  “I think to the east, but my head was spinning after he landed his blow on my skull.”

  “Who would expect a blow to the head from a companion?”

  “Who indeed,” Cortibis agreed.

  “We will split up. I will go east, you go west.It is dark, so he has the advantage.But we must look even if in vain. The streets are mostly clear now, so we have at least that in our favor.” And with that he rode off toward the east.

  ***