Flame Singer by Callie Kanno

Author:Callie Kanno [Kanno, Callie]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-12-27T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Four: Wounded

Cowan led them to a nondescript building far from the main thoroughfare. Idris was surprised when the captain stopped, indicating they should dismount. A boy appeared out of nowhere to lead their horses to a small stable behind the building.

“He will bring your bags inside after he has cared for the animals,” Cowan assured them.

Lenora frowned, staring at the building. “What is this place?”

“The home of a woman we met upon leaving the city,” Cowan answered briefly. “We paid her to give us temporary shelter.”

“Can she be trusted?” Aherin inquired.

The captain shrugged. “Just about as much as anyone here.”

The four of them walked through the low door into the main room of the humble home. The only seats available were two benches that sat on either side of a wooden table. The kitchen appeared to be no more than a corner of the room, close to the fireplace. There was a curtained off doorway that presumably led to a bedroom, but that was it for the simple structure.

Kurag and Hildar were sitting at the table, tending to their wounds. Kurag appeared to be writing runes on strips of bandage, then wrapping them around injuries while singing softly. Hildar had a gash along her hairline, several cuts on each of her arms, and what appeared to be a broken wrist. Kurag had an alarming number of stab wounds on his legs, as well as a worrisome-looking bruise on his side. Idris guessed that he, like Cowan, had injured his ribs.

Lenora rushed forward to kneel beside them. “I have some medicine in my saddlebags,” she offered.

Kurag shook his head as he continued his work. “That will not be necessary. Save your medicine for when I am absent, or unable to use runes.”

Hildar gave Idris an assessing glance. “What happened to you?”

Idris shrugged, feeling self-conscious. “There was a Hunter following us. I got into a fight with him.”

“Just one?” Hildar inquired.

His eyes dropped to the ground. “Well, yes…”

Lenora interrupted, sounding eager to explain the situation. “Idris drew the Hunter away while Aherin and I went on to the Wordway.”

“You fought a Hunter by yourself?” Kurag asked sharply.

Cowan’s brow furrowed. “It is fortunate there were not others waiting just out of sight. You could have been ambushed.”

The thought hadn’t even crossed Idris’s mind, which made him feel rather foolish. There were some situations in which it was painfully obvious that he still thought like a farmer.

Yes, you do, snapped Iona suddenly.

Idris could understand her anger. He had rushed into the situation without thinking it through first. As a result, he had almost died twice—first by the hand of the Hunter, then as a prisoner of the city guards. He had acted like a stupid, reckless idiot.

“I am sorry,” he said softly, speaking to his captain as well as Iona.

Cowan nodded, looking satisfied. “Every new soldier has much to learn. There are things that cannot be taught in a training session, for they are unique to every individual. You have learned a hard lesson today, but it will help to make you into a better Royal Guard.

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