Neez. Okak Jaigi Kez Oak Jaigi Laiga
."
Help me, you have more power than I do
.
Jayla could see his power fading while she had to hold hers at bay. The moment's rest and the water had helped. "Going in, just hold it in place." Her healing vision told her the hand wasn't straight. "Can you see his aura, Tharo? It's not straight on."
The Orc's voice was straining, "Set it." He pulled back his power as Jayla set the bones, the soldier yelled in pain. Jayla returned to easing power back into the patient as Tharo let up and relaxed, holding the hand and arm together.
So it went with three more, one an orc who was bleeding out from a wound on her thigh. At least five new people had now seen the pair at work. Sunhill was in and out. The tent was crowded by the time they were done. The medics and Neela had been good about keeping Tharo and Jayla in fresh water and warm cloths.
"And done." Tharo said, gesturing for the medics to move the last patient to the fire next to the others. He pushed the platform away from over the pool, embraced
Jayla, pulled her back to his chest, and pulled them both underwater.
Jayla's entire body, inside and out, felt sunburnt, the cool water was soothing. She drank and felt comforted as she sat in the orc's embrace under the water. It was awhile before she felt the urge to surface. He stayed under but let her go.
Jayla said the words to release the power, it faded, just leaving the sand-scoured feeling throughout her body. Looking down she saw she was still glowing faintly. She scrubbed down, washing her hands, face and hair. One of the medics
offered her a hand and she climbed out of the water, disrobed, grabbed a blanket and sat next to the fire. "More water please." She said. Her voice was hoarse, she looked down at herself, she felt harder, smaller.
The soldier who'd almost lost his hand stirred next to her and sat up. "Did I dream it?" He asked, staring at his wrist and rubbing it. There was still a scar. Jayla couldn't be asked to explain.
Tharo finally climbed out of the water, wrapped a cloth around his waist and sat by her. She examined him, running her hand down his belly, which was half the size it had been that morning. They exchanged a long glance, tired and worried.
Tharo looked up at the four medics in the tent and addressed everyone but their first patient, who was unconscious. "If you can walk out of here, go. Drink water, have sex. Take her to the med tent," He gestured to the unconscious woman, "Treat her as you would someone with severe blood loss. She'll make it, but let her sleep, keep her warm, and feed her well when she wakes. Please and thank you."
They sat quietly until the place was emptied out. When the last person left, Tharo turned to Jayla and pulled the blanket back from her. He drew in a breath, "Love, you have lost a lot today. Eat as much as you can."
Jayla just nodded. Exhausted and numb. She said quietly after awhile, "Is this what it's going to be like from now on?"
Tharo stared into the fire, "I imagine some days it will be worse. Until a treaty is brokered with the West."
"Who did we help today? Were any of them from the other side?"
"I doubt it. I should get a report on how the fighting went." He stood, readjusting the blanket and tucking it around his waist, then plodding toward the door.
Jayla finished her mug of water and crawled to get more from the pool, still in pain. She dipped the mug in and drank from it, propped on her elbows.
She jerked awake when the mug slipped from her hand into the pool. She heard voices outside.
Tea, get tea
. Jayla told herself, feeling the chill of evening creeping into her, but couldn't be bothered to move. She lay her head on her arm and drifted off again.
"... Be OK? What do we do?" Jayla felt a pair of fingers on her wrist, one of the medics.
Tharo's massive warm hand covered her back. "Same as anyone else. We need good food, dark ale, and a lot of water."
"I'll send some. You get some rest too."
"
Goodnok Oag
, you cannot sleep yet."
"Watch me." She murmured from the crook of her arm.
The orc gathered her up, wrapped a blanket around her and carried her to the fire, he sat cross legged and held her in his lap. She stiffened, wondering what he was up to, "You must hurt too. How are you still walking?"
He put his face in her hair, "I didn't channel as much as you did. But yes, I hurt." His voice took on a mischievous tone, "I know a cure, though."
Rustling outside, someone came in the tent. "Food and drink." It was Neela.
"Your herbalist seems to have paralyzed me, can you bring it here? I can't move."
Jayla's face was resting on Tharo's collarbone, "He's a big liar. Thank you Neela. You were really brave today."
The girl put the food down, trembling, she tentatively patted Tharo's shoulder.
"You can touch me, kid, it's OK." He didn't move, just stared into the fire.
Neela ran her fingers down Tharo's bare back, "Mom always said orcs were slimy." she whispered.
"We do sweat like humans do. So sometimes we're slimy." He turned his head away so she didn't see all his teeth as he grinned. "Did you eat?"
"Y-yes. I'll go. Thank you."
"I don't know what you're thanking me for, but thank you for bringing food. If you want to come back and help out next time we have patients in you're welcome to."
"OK, I will." Neela practically scampered out of the tent.
Jayla peeked at the food, reaching for a bread roll just our of her range, Tharo picked it up and handed it to her. Jayla volunteered around her mouthful, "If I didn't know any better, I'd say she really likes you."
Tharo shook his head, "I don't know how to tell her not all orcs are as civilized, and I don't want her finding out the hard way."
"Maybe take her to the camp."
"Probably should before she goes alone." Tharo scooped food with his fingers. Neela had left them a tankard of ale as well, he drank down most of it. "Finish this."
Jayla took the tankard, "Shouldn't they leave her alone since she's got that ring?"
"You forget most of them only speak orcish, they won't try to take her captive, but she's not ready for dinner with the mercenaries."
"Mmm." The ale seemed to revitalize her, or at least numb the sandblasted feeling of her innards. Jayla squirmed off of him and attacked the plate of food, then went and filled the tankard from the spring. "What did you find out about the battle?"
"We lost three, they lost five, three of theirs were orcs, all of ours were human. Looks like they were just testing defenses. If I had to guess I'd expect a big attack two miles to the South tomorrow. We have a big army there but they're hidden, and the crossing would be easy."
"How did they cross the river?"
"
Nayn Tok Jaigee
. Spell that lets them walk under water."
"Anything in the book to counter it? I hope you hauled that all the way here for a reason."
"Nothing for water crossing that I remember."
"I don't know anything about it, but if you could just make something that cancels magic and throw it in the river?"
"That might work. None of us are strong enough to block a whole army. Hopefully none of them are strong enough to enchant a whole army. I talked to Gillard while I was out, he's working on something, I might go and help him later."
"Don't make it here, take your damn witchcraft away from the healer tent." Jayla stuck out her tongue.
Tharo grabbed her wrist as she was reaching for a small apple, "Who are you calling a witch,
Oag
?"
"The green monster in my tent who seems to think a blanket is appropriate attire for a war camp."
"Oh? Well, if it offends you..." He ran his thumb along his waist and the blanket fell off of him. "Now what, woman? Now what are you going to do?"
Jayla was still in a fair amount of pain, but seeing that giant, muscular leg slide toward her, the hand around her arm, and his bright yellow eyes go from teasing to smoky... Her mouth dropped open and he captured it with his, shoving the plate out of the way and laying her on the ground. He kept one hand on her wrist, moving it next to her head as the other unwrapped her from the blanket. His knee parted her legs, she hitched a heel around his thigh, he was caressing her valley, chuckling. "Didn't think you had it in you did you?"
"I will in a minute." She whispered.
He froze, his thumb unignorably on her nub. "Is that so?" His expression was predatory, causing her chest to tighten.
She swallowed, looking up at him, "I think it is."
