by Kay Murky
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Doing triage at night with just the light of two of the four moons and a couple of torches was not easy, even when utilizing that special sight a healer-mage had. Dani carefully but swiftly studied each of the human bodies as the wounded were brought before him, giving brisk instructions as to emergency treatment before they were transported to the healers tents back in the main camp.
The taking of the enemy positions on the eight hills overlooking the valley where they intended to confront the Essian Army the next morning had not taken long. Less than the two marks he had originally given it. The evacuation of the wounded also did not take long.
Despite the arguments presented by the other Allies, it was not according to The Onla Way to leave an injured man on the battle field, friend or foe. This little battle was over. Once they had overpowered the enemy, those still in decent shape were taken prisoner, but treated well. As for the enemy wounded, they were indiscriminately treated with those of the Allied forces. Once on the mend, it would be decided what to do with them.
Also according to the strictures of The Onla Way was to send such men home, but without their weapons, of course.
Two identical green dragons landed awkwardly with stretchers between their claws, and their riders, also identical, slipped down their sides to help lower the stretchers to the ground. Dani never knew which was which, so he carefully refrained from directly addressing either of the sets of twins.
“How many left up there?”
“Not sure. Would say we’re about half way done. Should be finished about a mark past midnight….” The young human apparently got distracted by his patient and he stopped talking, but without missing a beat the other twin took up the sentence for him.
“… if we work fast. Then we can get some sleep in. Kirdai said that Mineltan suggested we should check with you when the last are off the hills, and if you’re satisfied, we can be dismissed.”
“Kirdai said…” Dani muttered, as he was already studying the wounded man the twins had put in front of him. “You tell Kirosh I will check with Minelbet and Tanika myself. And this leg may have to be amputated. The bone is crushed too badly to deal with here. Put a note with him that he needs to be transported back to base at Lowrin the moment someone is available to take him…. Next!”
As the wounded were paraded past him, the feeling of something being wrong was still with him. What could it be? They had overpowered the enemy for now. But something was definitely wrong. Beneath his armour plates, his skin was crawling.