Under the guise of being concerned for the wounded, Anthony stuck to Annaleigh as she moved from man to man and she couldn’t shake him. While she was bandaging arms and legs and hands, he was holding the limbs steady for her. She didn’t need him, but he seemed to want to be helpful. Still, Annaleigh knew it was more than that. He kept brushing a hand against hers or smiling at her when she looked at him. That went on for quite some time until Kieran, exhausted from having been up all night and on the wall because no one knew where Anthony had gone, entered the hall and chastised the knight in front of Annaleigh for leaving his post.
Humiliated, Anthony fled back to the battlements.
Kieran was usually such a cool and collected man that Annaleigh had been surprised that he’d been nasty with Anthony. He even threatened the knight with something calledthe Helm of Shame, which Annaleigh had never heard of but sounded awful. It was enough to send Anthony fleeing from the hall. Annaleigh hoped she would never be threatened with such a thing.
The night eventually passed into morning.
Annaleigh was sitting next to a man who had been gored in the abdomen because the physic felt he was the most seriously wounded when she heard the faint cry of the sentries on the wall. The morning’s light was barely peeking over the eastern horizon as she wearily stood up from her post, making her way to the entry to the great hall, gazing out over the cold and purple bailey and listening to the soldiers on the walls.
Men had been sighted and that’s all she knew. She hoped it was War returning but she wasn’t certain until the gates opened and knights came pouring in, including a massive warrior astride a black and white stallion. Annaleigh was fairly certain it was War simply by the size of the man but she couldn’t be sure. She stood there and watched until the knight dismounted and then she was certain he’d returned home.
And he was uninjured.
She murmured a brief prayer of thanks and returned to her wounded man.
But she wasn’t alone for long.
Knights entered the great hall, clamoring for food and drink and sending the sleepy servants running. Annaleigh looked up from her gravely wounded patient to see War crossing the floor in her direction.
And he was looking at her.
She smiled wearily at the man and he smiled in return, but the closer he drew, the more she could see that he was spattered in gore. Blood had dried on his tunic and mail, hands, and seemingly everything else, and she stood up, looking at him in horror.
“God’s Bones, man,” she said, pointing to the mess. “Is any of this blood yers?”
He was still smiling wearily. “Nay,” he said. “I am quite well. Have you been up all night?”
Annaleigh was relieved to hear he was in one piece, uninjured and unpunctured. She nodded to his question. “Aye,” she said. “There are many wounded. This man took a blade tae the belly. The physic isna sure he’ll survive.”
War looked at the man, an old soldier who was pasty in pallor, but his attention quickly returned to Annaleigh.
“You are brave and compassionate to tend the wounded, my lady,” he said softly. “But do you think you could spend a few moments away from them?”
She cocked her head. “What do ye mean?”
“So you can sit with me while I eat something.”
There was something warm and promising in that sweet invitation and a smile spread across her lips.
“Of course,” she murmured. “I can spare a few moments.”
With a grin, War turned around, back towards the feasting tables where food was being delivered, and Annaleigh followed behind him. She hadn’t taken five or six steps, however, when she heard her name being called weakly. Pausing, she turned to see Talus over near the wall, lifting a hand to her. He was summoning her.
Frustrated that her plans with War were being delayed, she came to a halt with War beside her.
“He took a bad cut tae his leg,” Annaleigh said. “Let me see tae him. I’ll join ye in a moment.”
War cocked an eyebrow, immediately suspicious of Talus’ motives. “I’ll come with you,” he said.
War followed her over to Talus, who immediately grasped Annaleigh’s sleeve when she came near.
“My lady,” he said hoarsely. “May I have some water?”
He seemed terribly pale. Unusually so. Frustration turning to concern, Annaleigh put a hand on his forehead and emitted a hiss.
“He’s burning with fever,” she said, suddenly filled with a sense of urgency. “War, will ye find the physic and send him tae me? Quickly, please.”
War didn’t seem so annoyed, either, as he realized something was seriously wrong with Talus. He quickly set off to find the old physic that had been tending men, women, and children at Castle Questing for several years. As he rushed away, Annaleigh called to the nearest servant for water and rags.
