[Maikadilwen]

Rhana knelt down next to Gormel and Kane dropped down on the opposite side of their wounded leader, both trying to figure out what to do with him. His wound was bad and it was obvious, that if it wasn't tended quickly and properly, he would die.
As if struck by the same thought, they both raised their eyes and gazed at each other. What if they didn't tend the wound properly? Surely he would die and there would be one less to think about.
Rhana looked closely at Kane. He was young, barely anything more than a boy but he had guts. He had courage and though he was quiet, he wasn't stupid. She knew it was quite the opposite which was why he didn't show it. He was content with waiting for his chance to come. And it seemed that chance had come now.

None of them noticed Bhurthnin, Gormel's second, before he was standing next to them. He had wisely kept himself out of sight under Gormel's wing during the fight. "Are you just waiting for him to die or are you going to do something about that wound of his?", he yelled at them, trying to demonstrate his power.
Rhana slowly stood and stepped toward Bhurthnin. "No matter what we do, he will die!" She was furious and Kane, knowing too well where this would end, looked down at the ground, shaking his head.
She stepped even closer to Bhurthnin, so close she was almost standing on his toes. "And where were you when we were fighting off the wargs? Where were you when your precious leader was attacked? Where were you when..."
He struck her hard across the face with the back of his hand and, not entirely sober, she lost her balance and fell to the ground, feeling the blood pouring from her nose.
"If he dies, you die!" Bhurthnin said and left.

Swallowing hard Rhana struggled to get up and gratefully accepted a helping hand from Kane. She looked him in the eyes and nodded. He could rely on her help.
She wiped some of the blood away from her face and took a close look at Gormel's wound, then grabbed the flask he kept at his side. She drank some of the brew herself, then, without any care, she poured some of it over Gormel's shoulder to cleanse the wound. The man groaned from pain and she smiled sadistically as she bound his wound none too gently. Now who has the power, Gormel? she thought as she finished and left to take care of her own wounds.

A stranger had joined them while Rhana and Kane had been busy with Gormel's wound, an older man who presented himself as Ulfeg. He claimed to have been sent out to meet them here and escort them the rest of the way.
How convenient to appear after the attack, when the fight is over, Rhana thought but she kept quiet. No need to fall out with this man. First they had to take care of Bhurthnin and this Ulfeg might be of use.
The three men worked together on getting Gormel back on his horse and Rhana, with help from Sadiya, gathered the others. She noticed that Sadiya seemed relieved, though a bit shaken and she flashed her a quick smile. "He wasn't any good for you anyway." she said and mounted her horse, anxious to get away from this place. They still had a long ride ahead of them and they had to move swiftly. She looked at Bhurthnin once more. They were awaited, but just how many of them would return to their employer was very uncertain.

[ January 05, 2003: Message edited by: Maikadilwen ]