Broken, beat up, barely clinging to life, Roman had found us here, with the tribe. I could hardly believe it. But I was also frightened. No way could Roman have escaped Balthazar—he was too severely damaged.
I glanced at the tree where the man with emerald eyes, clad entirely in black, had been staring at me. He had disappeared, faded out of sight like a thundercloud blown by a tornado. Who was he? Had he rescued Roman?
If this mysterious man had been responsible for Roman’s escape, then Balthazar would have been enraged. He would be relentless in his pursuit of us.
My stomach twisted into a hard knot as I hustled behind Marcellious. This kind of stress couldn’t be good for our unborn child.
A female voice called out. “Hunting Wolf! Bring Swift Hawk into my teepee!”
Gratitude filled my heart. If anyone could heal Roman’s ravaged body, it would be Leaping Deer.
Once Roman settled in the teepee, Leaping Deer jumped into action.
“Marcellious, you stay here—we will need your strength. Emily, bring water from the creek. Olivia, you will be Swift Hawk’s support.”
I translated for Emily, and she scurried from the dwelling.
Leaping Deer procured a deadly-looking knife and sliced Roman’s clothes from his body. She peeled them back until he lay on the furs, naked save for the dagger strapped to his thigh, covered in wounds from nasty-looking burns to angry gashes to his swollen ankle.
Leaping Deer gently palpated his broken bones. “We will have to set this for it to heal properly. This will hurt Swift Hawk even in his unconsciousness. Marcellious, position yourself at his foot and wait for my instruction.”
Marcellious did as commanded and waited while Leaping Deer inspected Roman’s body.
“Little Moon, see those baskets over there?” She pointed to the edge of the teepee.
“Yes,” I replied, reaching for my rudimentary command of the Sioux language.
“Go get the red one and the orange one.”
I did as she requested, returning with the delicate weavings with lids.
“I have healing salves in those two baskets. Once the leg is set, you will apply salve to his many wounds,” Leaping Deer said.
“Understood,” I said.
“Now, Hunting Wolf, you are to straighten these bones.” Leaping Deer pointed to Roman’s mangled foot. “The bones will have begun to knit together, so you must act swiftly and brutally. Do what I tell you, even if Roman cries out.”
Even in the soft glow of firelight, Marcellious’ face visibly paled. “All right.”
“Olivia, you take his hand. He might bear down on you, but let him do what he must.”
“Okay,” I said, lifting his hand and clasping it with mine.
“On my word, Hunting Wolf, make the right foot match the left. See how this one is angled inwardly?”
Marcellious nodded.
“It must align like the other one in a straight line. Here…” Leaping Deer looked at me. “Little Moon, retrieve one of those arrows for me.”
I turned my attention to where she pointed and fetched the arrow.
Leaping Deer held it next to Roman’s broken ankle and said, “When you are done, the lines of the bones will match the line of this weapon. Ready?”
A look of fierce determination crossed Marcellious’ face. He gave a single nod with his mouth set in a firm line. Then, he grasped Roman’s foot and ankle with his hands.
Roman let out a moan.
Marcellious sucked in a quick sharp breath. “Let’s get this done.”
