"Elizabeth Vaughan - Chronicles Of The Warlands 01 - Warprize" - читать интересную книгу автора (Vaughan Elizabeth)

I dried my hands, and blinked back tears I didnтАЩt have time for. тАЬWeтАЩd better get to work.тАЭ

Out in the common room, men lay sleeping on cots and pallets, crammed close together. We moved
quickly, checking bandages, dispensing medications and powders. Apprentices scurried back and forth,
bringing water and cloths, supplies and instruments. Our medicines were greeted with the usual laments
over the taste. We ignored the complaints, as we moved around the room, seeing to each man. There
were even more upstairs, on the second floor.
Our job was made difficult by the enemyтАЩs use of a thrown lance. Four foot long, tipped with sharp metal
barbs which were designed to break off in the wound. When thrown from horseback, they tore flesh and
muscle in ways that could easily cripple a man, and made healing difficult. Our warriors had seen nothing
like it before. Nor had they ever dealt with an army that fought only from horseback. Devil riders, they
called them, men and women who could sit on a galloping horse and shoot arrow after arrow, with
deadly accuracy. WeтАЩd heard rumors that they ate their dead, and tore the hearts out of their kills. That
they were black, and yellow, and blue, and that their eyes glowed with madness.

I ignored the talk, and concentrated on my work. The men were grateful, and it tore my heart, how a
kind word and a cool cloth would lift their spirits. A few recognized me as a Daughter of the Blood, but
most simply welcomed me as the healer that I was. Just as well. I was not particularly proud of my тАШroyal
тАЩ heritage at the moment.

We worked our way through the men, cleaning and checking wounds. Tomorrow, we would welcome a
small legion of servants who came every morning, for the general bathing, bedding, and slop pots.
Volunteers from the city folk, some castle servants, since the need was so great. The healers and
apprentices couldnтАЩt do everything.

It was late by the time I knelt next to the last patient. тАЬItтАЩs well?тАЭ He rasped, peering at the gash in his calf
as I replaced the bandage.

тАЬVery well.тАЭ

тАЬIt donтАЩt look well.тАЭ He reached out a finger to touch it. I smacked his hand. He pulled it back, as
shocked as a child.

тАЬIt will not be well if you poke at it.тАЭ I frowned at him, and finished covering the wound. тАЬLeave it be.тАЭ

тАЬAye, Lady.тАЭ He bobbed his head, looking sheepish, giving me a toothless grin.

I rose from the floor, and stifled a cry as the muscles in my back protested. I was feeling all of my
twenty-five years. I picked up my supplies and moved off, trying to stretch out the tightness in my back
as I went downstairs. Eln was in the kitchen, washing up. He grimaced at me as I grabbed up some soap
and a cloth. тАЬFinished?тАЭ

I nodded.

тАЬIтАЩve no one to send to escort you.тАЭ

I shrugged. тАЬItтАЩs not the first time IтАЩve walked to the castle alone.тАЭ

тАЬItтАЩs not proper.тАЭ He paused for a moment. тАЬI suppose you are going to those tents now?тАЭ I could hear
the resignation in his tone.