“You don’t want to go in there,” cautioned LifeTender. “The worst cases are inside.”
Lyra could hold back her tears no longer. She started crying as she turned and gazed at the hundreds of wounded lying outside the large tent. Her lips pressed tightly together as she shook her head and looked imploringly at LifeTender.
“I must enter,” cried Lyra as she tried to regain some semblance of composure. “I am responsible for each and every one of them.”
“You are responsible for defeating this attack on the Sakova,” LifeTender said soothingly, “but you are not responsible for the wounds these people had inflicted upon them. We are all here voluntarily to save our homeland. You must not take this personally.”
“I will enter,” Lyra said stubbornly. “I must see how our people are suffering. I must let them know that their wounds will not be in vain.”
“Let her enter,” ValleyBreeze said as she emerged from the tent to see who was talking outside the flap. “It will mean a great deal to the wounded that the Star of Sakova cares for their sacrifice.”
“Alright,” nodded LifeTender, “but try to compose yourself, Lyra. We must not lead the wounded to despair.”
Lyra nodded and wiped her eyes. She set her jaw rigidly and inhaled deeply to steady herself. ValleyBreeze held the flap open, and LifeTender escorted the Star of Sakova into the large tent. Lyra halted just inside the flap. She gazed at the neat rows of bodies laid out on the ground. She bit her lip as she saw men missing an arm or leg. Others had gaping rends in their flesh that were only visible because healing mages were changing the bandages at the time. She pictured similar gashes in those who were bandaged at the moment, and she fought back the tears. LifeTender took Lyra’s hand and started leading her to the left. Valley Breeze moved deftly and blocked their path.
“Do not try to hide the truth from the Star,” berated ValleyBreeze. “She will learn about StormSong soon enough, and she will not appreciate your attempts to shield her from reality.”
“StormSong?” gasped Lyra. “What is wrong with her?”
LifeTender bit her lip, but she turned and led Lyra towards the right side of the tent. She did not attempt to answer the Star’s question, but silently led her along the rows of bodies until they stood at the feet of StormSong. Lyra looked down at the naked Sakovan warrior who had two healing mages kneeling alongside her. StormSong’s body was raw and ripped in a hundred places. Dozens of deep puncture wounds dotted the warrior’s flesh.
“It is a miracle that she is still alive,” ValleyBreeze said softly. “She lost her choka and sword in the middle of the Motangan army. She must have fought with her bare hands.”
“There was a pile of Motangan dead at her feet when HawkShadow and Goral found her,” added LifeTender. “I do not understand why she is still alive. There is not enough energy left in her body to aid the healers. The wounds just won’t close.”
“She has never regained consciousness,” interjected one of the healing mages beside StormSong. “There is little hope for her. Will you pray for her, Lyra? Pray that Kaltara will accept her as a martyr for her people?”
Lyra broke down and started crying. Tears flowed down Lyra’s cheeks and dripped to the ground as the rain dripped down from the fargi trees outside the tent. LifeTender’s face grew concerned as the nearby patients noticed the commotion, and the healing mage tried to lead Lyra out of the tent. Lyra ripped her hand from LifeTender’s grasp and rushed to kneel beside StormSong. The two healing mages rose and backed off as ValleyBreeze shooed them away. LifeTender looked imploringly at ValleyBreeze, but ValleyBreeze merely shook her head in answer to the unspoken question.
Lyra reached out and took StormSong’s hand in her own. She bowed her head in prayer, and her lips began moving silently. For several long minutes, the scene remained frozen, Lyra praying silently while LifeTender and ValleyBreeze looked on helplessly. Unexpectedly, ValleyBreeze reached out and grabbed LifeTender’s arm. LifeTender looked questioningly at her fellow healing mage and then followed her gaze to StormSong’s body. LifeTender’s mouth fell open in surprise, and her eyes widened as she stared at the naked Sakovan.
A golden glow had grown almost imperceptibly around StormSong. The warrior’s raw flesh began to pale from bright red to pink. Open wounds began to close, and the dark red rings around the punctures began to grow smaller. LifeTender and ValleyBreeze watched in astonishment as StormSong’s body began to heal. Other healing mages were attracted by the now brilliant golden glow surrounding StormSong and Lyra. They began to gather around to witness the miracle.
Suddenly, StormSong’s eyes popped open. She looked up at Lyra and saw the Star with her head bowed in prayer. A smile grew across the warrior’s face, and she closed her eyes again. Lyra continued praying, unaware that StormSong had awakened. The warrior’s body continued to heal, the pink skin turning even paler to match StormSong’s normal skin tone. The puncture wounds continued to grow smaller until they disappeared completely. A half hour after Lyra began praying, StormSong opened her eyes again and gently placed her free hand on Lyra’s head. The Star of Sakova opened her eyes and stared at StormSong’s face. Lyra smiled tautly, her tear-stained cheeks slowly giving way to a grin. She dropped StormSong’s hand and leaned forward, bringing StormSong’s body up so she could hug her. The embrace was long and silent, and finally the warrior broke it, her face clouded with concern.
“How is SunChaser?” StormSong asked softly.
“SunChaser?” echoed Lyra as she looked up at LifeTender questioningly.
“She was shot in the back with an arrow,” replied the healing mage. “We dare not even remove it. We think it has punctured the heart.”
“She is also unconscious,” added ValleyBreeze. “There is little we can do for her.”
“Take me to her,” demanded Lyra as she rose unsteadily.
LifeTender rushed forward to help Lyra rise. The Star of Sakova wobbled with exhaustion, and ValleyBreeze moved swiftly to help LifeTender support the Star. Together they led Lyra across the tent to SunChaser. The Sakovan spy rested facedown on the ground, a Motangan arrow protruding from her naked back. Lyra shook off her escorts and fell to her knees beside SunChaser. She bowed her head in prayer to Kaltara.
* * *
Zatho approached the premer’s tent in the center of the Motangan encampment. The sentries turned slightly away as he approached, but the Motangan mage stopped between them.
“How is the premer today?” he asked softly.
“He is in a foul mood,” one of the sentries replied. “General Valatosa is with him, and you may enter, but I would advise waiting for another day. This one is not starting well.”
The black cloak hesitated, but he finally shrugged and sighed heavily. “It is not about to get any better,” he said to no one in particular.
The lone surviving mage of Premer Doralin’s army moved the tent flap and entered. Doralin and Valatosa immediately looked up. Doralin waved the mage forward, and Zatho crossed the room and stood before the premer.
“I need more mages,” declared Doralin. “I want you to contact Teramar immediately and arrange for the transport.”
Zatho’s mouth opened to speak, but the premer waved him to silence.
“I also want some food to accompany the mages,” the premer continued. “I am not sure what those fools in Alamar are doing, but my army is starving.”
“I cannot contact Teramar,” Zatho reported when the premer stopped talking.