"Skill."
Van's expression darkened as Gawain focused on Caden. "Rain has taken care of those on the ridge. A few escaped but not many."
Caden nodded to show his understanding before heading toward Chirron, where he knelt next to a fallen warrior.
The woman he tended was seriously injured. Blood covered her front and pooled on the ground around her as Chirron moved quickly in his fight to save her life.
He had a battle in front of him and little time to wage it if the cries of the wounded were anything to judge by.
Chirron shouted orders to his disciple as he worked on the woman's chest wound.
Any Trateri who was mobile and not currently occupied administered first aid to those around them.
Blood loss was one of the most pressing concerns. Any time they could buy Chirron would save lives later.
When your wounded outnumbered your healer twenty to one, you sometimes had to get creative. Otherwise, wounds that normally wouldn’t be lethal would claim additional lives.
It was a situation Caden was all too familiar with. They were just lucky they had Chirron and his apprentice with them.
If not, the post battle death toll would be much greater.
As Caden approached, the situation with the woman took a turn for the worse. Chirron's movements grew frantic until finally he stopped. His shoulders sagged as grief took the place of determination.
There was regret in Chirron's face as he set one hand on the woman's forehead, his eyes slipping closed in a silent prayer.
Seeing the situation, Van forgot his argument and drifted in Chirron's direction. He watched the healer carefully as Chirron rolled to his feet, nearly staggering as he did. Exhaustion was written in every line of his body.
Van caught him by the arm, pulling him into his embrace. "How many patients have you treated so far?"
Van held Chirron carefully, as if the man was a treasure he feared breaking.
There was a tenderness in his expression he didn't often show. Worry and frustration was present as well.
The effort it took Chirron to straighten showed as he gathered his will to push away from Van. "Not enough."
"It never is for you." There was disapproval in Van's tone as he let Chirron go. "You'll be useless if you collapse."
Chirron's smile was wry as he patted Van's cheek in a rare display of affection. "I know my limits."
"Somehow I doubt that."
Chirron gave him an unamused stare before turning his attention to Caden. "We've treated most of those we can for the moment."
"How many dead?" Caden asked.
Chirron's answer was interrupted by a horse bearing down on them.
Caden had time to take in Ollie's panicked expression before the herd master pulled his horse to an abrupt stop.
Caden's heart clenched, his gaze moving to the empty spot behind Ollie. There was no Eva. No Caia.
"Eva's missing," Ollie said.
Caden's world stilled. Everything in him going silent. The cage that kept his darker side in check cracked, threatening to break.
If it did, Caden wasn't sure he could maintain his control. He'd start swinging his blade and wouldn't stop until she was back in his arms.
Eva didn't need the killer right now. She needed the commander. The person willing to do anything it took to get her back safe.
