I frowned, slowly shaking my head “you…were kind of the one who was supposed to organise that.” I pointed out hesitantly, trying not to make it sound like I was blaming him.
“Huh.” He nodded slowly “well, you do that. Look for them.”
I didn’t reply. I didn’t knowwhatto reply.
“You gonna hurl or something?” I asked as we began walking. Stryker, dragging his feet with one hand pressing on his wound and the other maintaining a firm hold on my shoulder, frowned “no. Why?”
“You're pale as a sheet, dude. Matthew said that when Jack got all pale like that he almost yacked all over him. I can only imagine it was gross.”
“I thought you said youweren’tthe squeamish type. Except for peeled bodies in the woods, that is.”
“I’mnot.”I grumbled “Just…it’s gross. We all know it’s gross. It looks gross, smells gross, feels gross-“I was rambling. It happened when I was nervous.
“Whyare you talking about puke?”
“I dunno,” I shrugged. I fell silent for a moment, then caught sight of Johnathan, Matthew and Nikolas outside. I raised my voice to a yell “Sir! We ready?!”
Johnathan turned from where he was talking with Nikolas and I saw the immediate concern for Stryker cross his face.
“I’m fine” Stryker grumbled when we’d made our way over,“you’re all being dramatic-“
“Cut the crap” I interrupted “and don’t yack.”
“Why? You nauseous, kid?” Johnathan asked softly. Stryker shook his head, scowling when he was passed from me to Johnathan “didn’t realise I was the parcel in thepass the parcelgame. Not fun, if you were wondering. I feel for the parcels. Anyway, no, Theo just started going on about puke cause I’m pale, apparently”
“That you are, kid. What are you, dizzy?”
“…yeah. ‘N cold. Am I supposed to be cold?”
“Not really” I said, shifting uneasily “it’s…December, but…not that cold, honestly. You want, like, a blanket?”
“A jacket’s fine” Stryker grumbled moodily.
To be fair, if I were in his state, I’d be pretty moody about it too.
“Here.” I shrugged my own jacket off, about to toss it before thinking better of it and handing it over. Stryker didn’t look like he had enough stability to catch anything.
Slowly, wincing when his wound protested, he pulled the jacket on.
Nikolas led a horse over “you good to go?” He asked gruffly.
I watched Stryker struggle to mount the horse, then Johnathan climb on behind him.
“I don’t need-“ he started to protest, but Johnathan gave him a pointed look “don’t try that with me. Come on, let’s get you home.”
Nikolas nodded towards me and Matthew “you two coming?”
“Can we?” Matthew asked uncertainly.
The older soldier nodded once “may as well. You’re sharing the horse, though.”
I cheered triumphantly when I beat Matthew to be at the reigns, earning a disgruntled look from Johnathan.
Since the military base was higher up compared to the rest of the kingdom, the most of the journey was following a steep cobbled slope into the main square.
“You think it really is sepsis?” I asked Matt hesitantly. The other shifted in the saddle before replying “probably.” It was short, and I could immediately tell that he was just as on edge as me, plus he had slept even less.
“Are you okay?” I found myself asking. He seemed more than simplytired, but I couldn’t put my finger on it.
