Branded Mage

by D. W.

  Not wanting to lay in bed any longer, Thad sat up quietly. He didn’t get light headed, which was a good sign. Standing up, his legs felt a little weak, but they held his weight with only a little shaking.

  “Going somewhere?” Eloen asked sleepily.

  “I just wanted to get a bit of fresh air.” Thad said softly, silently hoping she would go back to sleep. That hope was quickly squashed as Eloen stood up and grabbed her cloak from the back of the chair and wrapped it around her shoulders.

  As if she could read his mind, Eloen stuck her tongue out at him. “You didn’t think I would let you go wondering around alone in your condition did you?”

  Thad let out a dramatic sigh. “One can only hope. Shall we?” Thad replied holding out his arm to Eloen.

  She took his arm, but she didn’t lightly put her hand on it as was customary. Instead, she linked it with her own. Thad had to admit, he was grateful since his footsteps and balance were still a little unsteady.

  Outside, the sun had already set and from the position of the moon it looked like it wasn’t that long until sunrise. It was still quite early, but the makeshift camp was already busy. All the dead bodies had been moved off the road and placed in a large pile on the wood line. Thad could see where they had cleared a fair sized area for the graves of the fallen soldiers, as well as the beginning of the pyre.

  “Where is Darryl at?”

  Eloen didn’t answer him, but steered him toward a large tent in the middle of the camp. The strong scent of herbs and alcohol hit Thad as he ungracefully stumbled through the tent flap. Inside the tent, a little over a dozen beds held wounded soldiers. Some of which were far worse off than others. The sight struck a heavy cord within Thad, who once again began to silently berate himself for his own ability to protect them.

  “Don’t make me beat you.” Eloen said a slight snarl in her voice.

  Thad had no clue how she could tell what he was thinking about, but didn’t find it prudent to ask. Doing his best to drive the self-loathing from his mind, Thad looked around the room to see if he recognized any of the soldiers who lay abed. He noticed that Darryl was in one of the cots close to the middle of the room. His face was slightly flushed, but he looked healthy otherwise.

  “We shouldn’t wake him. Let’s go back outside and enjoy the rest of our walk.” Thad said glad his friend looked ok.

  “No, he sleeps most the day and he has been asking for you whenever he is awake. Last I heard, Captain Morris had to threaten to tie him to the cot, and put him in one of his wife’s pink nightgowns before he agreed to stay in his bed.” Eloen said, laughing slightly at her own story.

  Thad had to admit, seeing the lithe little man in a pink nightgown would be a sight to see. Though Thad was sure he would have to pluck his eyes out with a sharp stick if he ever did see such a sight.

  The two quietly made their way through the maze of cots until they reached Darryl’s. With a slight tug on the man’s arm his eyes shot wide open and he bolted into a sitting position. The action startled Thad more than a little.

  “Thad, is that you?” Darryl said squinting in the dim torchlight.

  “Yea, it’s me. Heard you were still lounging around and milking your injury for all its worth, so I thought I would come see for myself.”

  “Milking it my ass. Captain Morris won’t let me so much as go to the latrine until my fever goes down. From what I’ve heard, you have been sleeping the day away in your own little private tent, and from what Jensen told me, our little captain there has been hand feeding you.” Darryl said giving him a slight wink.

  Thad blushed deeply, getting a chuckle from Darryl. His laugh was short lived and costly when Eloen slapped him in the back of the head.

  “Don’t you know captain you’re supposed to be gentle with the sick?” Darryl said jokingly.

  “That was gentle. If you would have been up to it I would have beaten you with a cane pole until you needed to be in a sick bed.” Eloen replied her voice far from joking.

  While Eloen and Darryl traded barbs, Thad concentrated on Darryl’s body. His head throbbed lightly so he pushed it a little farther. He could see the problem Darryl’s body looked as if it was attacking something that was glowing a bright red in his leg. Thad wasn’t sure what it was, but he could tell it was what was keeping him sick. It took a lot less effort to help Darryl’s body fight its foe than it did to allow him to heal his leg, and Thad only felt the briefest moment of lightheadedness when he finished.

  “Well I’m sure your fever can’t last too much longer. If it does we will just have to get Captain Morris to get you that pink nightgown.” Thad said getting a groan from Darryl.

  “I don’t think he was joking about that. He swore that if I didn’t obey orders, as soon as I was up and around, that would be my new uniform. Whether Captain Eloen agreed or not.” Darryl said, his head shaking slightly and his shoulders coming up as if he was cold.

  “Oh, I wouldn’t have minded a bit. It would be nice to have someone to do my hair and nails with.” Eloen said mockingly.

  The three chatted until the sun peeked over the horizon and the others began to stir. Captain Morris was the first one in the field hospital and he was none too happy to see there had been late night visitors.

  “How in the blazes do you expect him to get any better if you won’t let him get some decent rest?” Morris said frowning.

  Captain Morris wasn’t what Thad had in mind when he pictured a soldier. He was thin, even to the point Darryl looked heavy next to him. His face was sunken in and his arms were so small Thad could easily touch his thumb and index finger with room to spare if he grabbed it. His skin was also a pale white as if the man hid from the sun. It made Thad think of the stories he had heard about creatures of the night that feasted on the blood of its victims. He knew that wasn’t the case with Captain Morris. He had seen the man riding in the sun many times, but the sight of him still unnerved him a little.

  The Captain placed the back of his hand to Darryl’s forehead and stood there silently for an agonizing amount of time. “Looks like your fevers gone, so I’ll allow you to get up, but you still need to take it easy for a few days and make sure to drink plenty of water. If I catch you out sparring or trying to run a marathon I’ll stick you right back in bed. Am I understood?”

  “Yes sir.” Darryl replied crisply.

  The three companions walked out of the tent arm in arm laughing and joking merrily. After they were outside Thad promised himself that once his strength was a bit more stable he would return to see what aid he could give the other injured soldiers. Eloen was right about one thing, if he pushed himself too far he was of no use, but if worked in moderation without stressing his body too much, he would heal faster and be better prepared in the future.

  They headed for the mess area, or rather, the large fire with a few soldiers cooking whatever was available for breakfast. This morning it looked some apples, hard biscuits, and meat. Thad never asked what kind of meat it was. Some things were better left unknown. As long as it tasted edible, he was ok with it. If he found out it was some dirty animal, even if he was starving, it would be hard to choke down.

  The rest of their group joined them shortly after and they found a suitable place on the ground to dine. Everyone gave him and Darryl a hearty welcome back from their internment. Over the past few days, Thad had missed the company. He had been riding alone except for when a soldier would come and visit him. His thoughts drifted back to the soldier who had died right in front of him.

  “Hey, there was a younger soldier who died in the battle. He had been spending a lot of the time on the march talking with me……… but I can’t remember his name.” Thad said downheartedly.

  “You’re talking about Fergusson. He was always talking about you to the other guys. He was a good kid. It’s sad that he didn’t make it past his first engagement.” Ballard said, placing his fist in the center of his chest in a salute to one of their fallen comrades.

  Fergusson,
Thad repeated to himself committing the name to memory. He didn’t want to forget the cheerful young man. He would be a lesson for him to never forget that at any time those around him might be taken. It wasn’t a pleasant thought, but it was something he wanted to keep in mind.

  After their meal, it was time to get to work. Luckily Thad and Darryl were spared the worst, thanks to their recent infirmaries. Normally Thad wasn’t one to shy away from labor, but when the task was the burning and burying of bodies, he would gladly take a reprieve. He still helped where he could, even though that mostly consisted of carrying water to those who were doing the heavy lifting.

  His strength was returning and by midday he was feeling almost up to his regular self. He still wasn’t ready for any major working of magic, but he didn’t wobble as much and his head had quit hurting altogether. Everyone was busy and the midday meal was cold meat and cheese with partially stale bread. It wasn’t a feast fit for a queen, but it was enough to fill his belly.

  They worked quickly, but it continued late into the day. At the current rate, they would be able to leave within a few days. Thad had asked why they didn’t just dump the enemies in the woods for the animals. Ballard had explained by saying. “If we just leave the bodies for the wolves, other less desirable creatures will be sure to follow such a bounty. Luckily it’s still a bit cold and the bodies haven’t started to bloat and smell yet, or we would already be fighting off unwanted guests.”

  Even though he had done very little work compared to the others by the time the sun had started its decent he was exhausted. As the sun lowered and the light grew dim, the soldiers moved back to the safety of the camp. There was still work to be done, but it was of a more mundane nature. Eloen and her squad joined Thad for the evening meal where they returned to the past routine of storytelling.

  Every other time Thad had sat around the fire, they had told stories of their great or funny exploits, but this time was slightly different. They told stories of those that had died in battle. It was a bit morose and left Thad feeling sad, but everyone else seemed to enjoy the tales over some watered down ale.

  Most of the stories involved Callen as he was the one everyone knew best, but a few featured some of the other soldiers who had given their lives for their friends. That had been something Darryl had told him once while they had been idly chatting. “Everyone’s reasons for joining the army are different, and not everyone is going to agree with why were fighting or who were fighting with. What truly holds an army together is the comradely between its soldiers. You might not be willing to fight because one Duchess insulted another, but you would be more than willing to fight to protect your friend who fights such a battle.”

  At first, he really didn’t understand what Darryl had meant, but now looking around at his friends he was starting to. He had seldom fought for personal reasons. It was usually in self-defense or to help those who were not in a position to help themselves. He had agreed to fight against Abla to protect those he held dear, but now looking around at the campfire at the nine soldiers he had come to know, who laughed together even though they had lost a friend and were soon to face another battle and possibly death, gave Thad all the motivation he needed.

  “What’s got you so serious?” Eloen asked startling him.

  “I was just thinking about things.”

  “Don’t think too much. Life is like a good fight. If you think too hard then your movements become choppy and delayed. The best thing to do is relax and let the flow of the battle carry you.” She said slapping him hard on the back.

  Figuring that Eloen was at least partially right, Thad let himself relax a little and enjoy the stories. The sun hadn’t long set before Thad’s energy reserves began to run dry. It had been a trying past few days and he still needed rest before his body was up for too much excitement. Slipping away silently, Thad made his way back to the tent he had been sleeping in.

  He had thought that he would be back on the ground with his bed roll, but Eloen had made it quite clear that he was to stay in the tent and be guarded for the rest of the journey. Thad knew that he could do a good amount of damage from afar, but no more than a catapult, and a catapult didn’t tire. It just didn’t make sense for him to be treated like he was any better than the others. He didn’t like feeling as if he were being set apart and isolated from everyone. He was starting to feel a lot like he had at the slave academy.

  The next morning, Thad was feeling as good as new. After a quick jog to loosen his stiff muscles, he headed back to the medical tent to see what he could do for those who were injured. Captain Morris was already at work before he arrived and greeted him with a sickly smile.

  “What can I do for you Master Torin?”

  “Well captain, I was thinking of seeing if I can be of any help. I haven’t had much experience in healing the human body by magical means before, but the more I think about it the more use it seems it could be.” Thad replied confidently.

  The captain ran his fingers through his thinning hair sighing. “Yes, you might be on to something there. I heard about what you did for Sargent Darryl. That was quite a bit of handiwork there. If I can be of any help just ask, I’m not a trained medical professional but I’m the closest we have to a battlefield doctor at the moment.”

  The news surprised Thad more than a little. He was sure by the way Morris carried himself that he had been sufficiently trained. Then again, as a male he might have only received the most rudimentary courses instead of any extended training. “Yes, I would like to know who is in the most danger.”

  “That’s an easy one. That would be Peters over here.” Morris said as he walked to one of the bunks in the center of the tent. “He took an arrow to the back. During the battle, the arrow broke, leaving the arrowhead lodged inside. I tried to remove it, but without proper tools all it would accomplish is a quicker death for the man, and at this point I’m considering it.”

  Thad bent over the older man, who only had the barest stubble growing from what must have once been a shaved scalp. Closing his eyes, Thad allowed his magic sight to inspect the man’s body. The arrowhead was easy to find. It was a black splotch surrounded by bright red in an otherwise harmonious pulsation of colors.

  The bright red area had spread far, and even coursed though the little tubs that carried the blood. That was still only minor, he had been able to deal with Darryl’s fever easily and though there was much more of the angry color, he didn’t think it posed a large issue. No the problem was the arrowhead he would have to get out.

  Focusing on the black area, he pulled on it while he coaxed the muscles to push at it. It took a large effort, but slowly it started to move back toward the entrance wound. A little over half way out, Thad had to take a quick breather and wipe the sweat from his brow. While he waited for his body to recover from the strain of his magic, he unwrapped the area where the arrow had entered the man’s body. The wound had already healed, and a puss filled scab covered the skin over it. Pulling his dagger out, Thad made a quick cut, reopening the wound causing a torrent of puss and blood to flow from the man’s back.

  Slipping back into his mage sight, Thad continued to work the arrowhead back out. The strain was more than he thought, but he was still far from his limit. Within a matter of moments, Thad heard the welcome sound of metal striking the hard ground at his feet. He still wasn’t done yet. The angry red color was still persistent so he changed his focus and slowly began to combat the deadly red glow. It was a little harder than it had been with Darryl’s due to the sheer amount of it, but it still didn’t take Thad long to repair the damage the arrow had caused.

  With his work done, Thad fell heavily into a chair that sat nearby. It wasn’t anything fancy, just a stump that had a few thin branches tied together and affixed to it for back support. He figured the small army had learned to make do with what they had. It was an admirable and inspiring trait.

  Peters’ fever quickly disappeared and he opened his eyes. Thad was quite happy with his work
and Captain Morris seemed impressed. Morris asked Thad why he hadn’t knitted the wound back together the way he had for Sargent Darryl. Thad explained that accelerating the growth of tissue would have taken much more effort, and he didn’t see it necessary when his body could do that on its own given time.

  “How did you get the fever to go away?” Morris asked as he double checked Peters to make sure it was gone.

  “Well yesterday when we were visiting Darryl, I checked his body and found an angry red pulse where he had been injured. When I removed it, his fever went away. I did the same thing with Peters, but there was much more of the red pulse than Darryl had.” Thad said in way of an explanation.

  “He must have had an inner infection. That’s a very handy gift you have there. Most people don’t die of their wounds. They die of infections caused by their wounds. If you can cure those, it could save a lot of lives. We usually treat them with salves or poultices, but if we don’t know where they’re at, it’s impossible to treat them. The infections can become extremely deadly if they reach the blood stream.” Morris rambled on, more to himself than to anyone else.

  It made sense to Thad, he had learned of infections and why it was important to properly treat your wounds at the academy. He had even tried a few of the medical courses, but it was far from his best subject. Thad was intelligent, but there was just too much information to process. Medical science relied more on memory than reasoning, and reasoning is what he exceled at.

  Before night fall, Thad had half of the wounded warriors back on their feet, and promised Captain Morris that after a good night’s rest he would return to help the less severely injured troops.

  Helping the injured soldiers had been a taxing job, and more than once he had been so frustrated trying to figure out the best way to proceed, that he had to take a walk and clear his head. Though no matter how the day had gone, now that it was over, he was happy. Very few people understood what the soldiers did for them. Thad included himself in that number. Even though he had been trained to fight, he had never give much thought to what being a soldier would truly entail. Long cold nights on the road, the time spent away from families, and poor food.