The Bloodsworn by Erin Lindsey

Author:Erin Lindsey
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2016-09-09T12:37:21+00:00

EIGHTEEN

“We have to stop,” Vel said. “Ide, you have to put him down.”

Ide gave a curt shake of her head, teeth bared under the strain. “Too close to the camp,” she said, pausing only to hitch Rodrik higher on her shoulder. He groaned softly, barely conscious. “Bad enough we had to go back for our stuff.” Their packs were too bulky to bring on the rescue; they’d been forced to stash them nearby. Going back for them had cost precious time.

“Can’t you see his bandage is soaked? His arm has been crushed. Tourniquet or no, if we don’t cauterise the wound, he will bleed to death.” Appealing to Alix, Vel continued, “A healthy man couldn’t survive this, let alone one who is already dangerously weak. You must let me tend him.”

Alix glanced at the sky. Dawn was breaking over the horizon, but it was dark enough yet for a campfire to glow like a beacon. “We don’t dare light a fire, not for an hour at least. Isn’t there something you can do for him in the meantime?”

“We need to keep moving,” Ide cut in. “If the enemy decides to follow, they’ll be on us in a heartbeat. There’s no place to hide out here.”

“The trees,” Vel said. “Our campsite from last night—”

“—is in the wrong direction. We need to make the river.”

“Are you mad? The river is crawling with soldiers!”

Ide continued to lurch along stubbornly. “Which is why we need to keep moving. Need to get well east of the ford before we try to cross.”

“And if Rodrik dies in the meantime?”

“Then he dies.”

That was too much for Alix; she froze midstride. “Stop.”

“Alix . . .”

“Stop. Put him down.” The steadiness of her voice belied the sickening swirl in her gut. She wasn’t sure what appalled her more—the idea of Rodrik dying or Ide’s cool acceptance of it. “Do what you can, Vel, but hurry.”

The priestess didn’t need to be told; she was bending over Rodrik even as Ide lowered him to the ground. “In my pack, some fresh bandages. And a glass vial, about so big. It will help with the pain . . .”

Alix obeyed, taking refuge in the simplicity of the task, like shutting a door in her mind. On the other side of that door a flood raged, fear and guilt and the white-hot anger of betrayal. So long as she kept the door closed, she could function. That meant focusing on the charge she’d been given, narrowing her world to Vel’s pack and its contents. Above all, it meant not looking at Rodrik—his ashen skin, those familiar features contorted with pain . . .

“Alix.” Ide cocked her head in the direction of the river. “A word?”

Alix hesitated, but there was nothing more she could do for Rodrik, and the priestess was completely absorbed in treating her patient. Reluctantly, she followed. “What is it?”

“That wound is a mess. Even if we cauterise it, it’ll likely go septic.”

Alix scowled. “So you’re a healer now?”

“I’m a soldier,” Ide returned impassively.

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