It might be awhile before the next installment. I should be focusing on revenue-producing activity, but this story grabbed me by the throat a few weeks ago. There are some inside jokes that will fall flat unless you read/remember events from previous chapters, else you can probably figure out from context the basics. Thank you for the ratings and comments!
*****
The next several days started with a list of medicines and demands from the army. Jayla had the students making topicals, harvesting several miles afield, and generally preparing for people to come in with injuries. She busied herself making needles, preparing bandages, and coordinating with the medics in town as to their needs. She was deliriously proud of her students, most of them were quick to learn, eager to help and were highly productive. At one point they had to pause from medicine and teach them how to make containers from leaves, grass, roots and bark as they'd run out of pots for storage.
Tharo worked with Corish and Gillard on potions and the still, then quietly told Jayla he was going to be out for a few days. Jayla went back to sleeping in her own room. One of the watchmen casually mentioned he'd been seen on the West end of town.
The first night she'd put her fingers in a cup of water and practiced what Tharo had taught her with minimal results, though she was free of bruises and her skin was almost unnaturally clear. She had to make a conscious effort to drink water else she'd feel terrible within a few hours. Realizing she didn't have any injuries or patients to practice on, she snuck a book out of the library and took up learning orcish instead. Progress was slow, they had their own letter system, it would have been much faster to learn from someone who knew the language than to guess at pronunciation.
Tara checked in at the apothecary often, dropping hints as to what medicines might be needed in the coming weeks.
The threat of assassins hovered. One attempt on Captain Weston's life was made; she'd stuffed her bed and was waiting on the roof. The would-be assassin was dispatched. Jayla did not sleep well and did her best to hide her paranoia from the students. Her new abilities were known by Tharo and Tara alone as far as she knew, she was much more concerned for Tharo, Gillard and Corish.
The fifth day since they'd met with Weston Jayla finally had a day to herself, save self defense. She dressed, made tea, had a small breakfast and trudged to the arena just as the day was starting. She picked up a wooden practice sword and took a moment to get the feel of it. One of the instructors approached, "Ah, Miss Thorntrail. Please put that away."
She glared, "I'm here for self defense."
The shorter, stocky man gave a stiff bow, exposing thinning blond hair. "You are. With all respect, do you usually carry a sword?"
"Just a bush knife."
"Then I humbly venture that you train with what you would normally have on your person." He was being irritatingly deferential, especially for someone who could probably lay her out with his little finger.
"Fair point, noble sir. I apologize, how would you like to be addressed?"
Two could play
.
"I am Sargent Lorin Faris. Faris is fine Miss Thorntrail."
"Jayla if you're in a hurry, and I think we are." She nodded. "Well? Can we get this over with?"
Faris started by testing out what she already did and didn't know from her days at the war camps. Mostly a lot of disarming and escape techniques, they did some sparring. He was half a head shorter but definitely weighed more than she did, the man was solid and taught her a couple of leverage moves for throwing opponents which she picked up quickly.
Two months ago Jayla would have been ready to drag the man off to they hayloft once her blood started running after a good round or two, but now she was just mad that Tharo had disappeared. She felt deprived of what, after two nights, she spent too much time thinking about. She had no hope the poor sargeant could give her even a taste of what she wanted at that moment. Instead she let him get a good hit or two in, the pain helped distract her, but upset Faris to no end.
"To be honest Miss Thorntrail you need to be used to larger opponents, don't let them get a hit in at all or you're done. Shoulder at the hip, not the stomach for a throw. We will be dealing with a lot of Orcs if I'm hearing right."
She froze. "Orcs? Western Orcs?"
Faris dropped his guard, "Yes. We're expecting a mix of Western Orcs and the crown hired on a hundred and fifty from the South to fight on our side. The mercenary training camp for the Southern hires is three miles down the West road."
Jayla's expression was a thundercloud that would send anyone running for cover. Sargent Faris got ready to defend himself, the whites of his eyes showing like a frightened horse.
Nice of Tharo to tell me there were orcs in the area, bail on me as soon as the people that banished him show up. Fuck that guy, guess I was just a temporary fix. Typical
. Jayla set it aside, swallowing the anger and self-pity as hard as she could.
"All right, Faris, show me how they're going to want to hurt me." She
wanted
physical pain at the moment. It was the best distraction she could hope for. Faris still had that frightened horse look on his face and didn't move. Jayla was even more annoyed "WELL? Come on man, what are you worried about?"
Sargent Faris pointed at her chest. Jayla looked down, it was glowing from beneath her shirt. She hurriedly crossed her arms over herself and shouted the banishing words. She didn't feel any different, she tried to ground it but the glow was still there. The emotion that had her in its clutches was completely gone, including any anxiety from Faris' reaction, but the timing was off for it to have been her doing. She realized her instructor had just seen her get mad, light up, yell a bunch of orcish, and understandably seemed to be expecting her to breathe fire. The glow faded.
"You saw nothing. Weston knows and that's it, got it?" She put on her best 'don't try me' glare, though that would have been a friendly smile compared to a minute ago.
Faris gave a polite nod. "I'm going to try to pick you up, be ready."
In a move that surprised even her, Jayla was quick and smooth, the man was flat on his back.
"All right, make sure I don't get up." He wheezed. She pretended to kick his head.
Something stirred behind her, a thick orcish accent said "Pick on someone your own size
Goodnok Oag
."
Jayla moved, The orc was on their back next to the sergeant. She realized it wasn't Tharo and covered her mouth. "Oh crap."
Faris stood up and offered his hand to the orc. Jayla realized her harasser was noticeably taller than Tharo, and female. "I suppose I deserved that." The orc grunted.
Jayla stopped mid-apology and smiled, "Yeah you did. Jayla Thorntrail." She stuck her hand out.
The Orc took it and offered up a big smile "Bale Slingfire." She looked down fondly at Faris, he gazed back fondly.
Jayla gave Bale a quizzical look "
ZahnLug
?" she asked, nodding at Faris.
Bale looked at Faris the way one would a snack they intended to steal, "Naj."
Soon
.
"
Tharo zaz jaig. Nak ar jaig, Okak gudjag gaiz
." Bale said.
The herbalist blushed and lowered her head, "Sorry, I know maybe twenty words in Orc." She admitted.
Bale laughed, "Only eighty more to go then. Tharo sent me, so you can learn to fight bigger enemies. Sargent, may I take your student?"
Faris gestured complacently.
