The Radiant Child by Duncan Lay

Author:Duncan Lay [Duncan Lay]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9780730492481
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

17

They worked on, by torchlight and lamplight, priests, priestesses, healers, the Magicians’ Guild and ordinary people. There were so many wounded and dead.

By unspoken agreement, the Tenochs, Berellians and Gello’s traitorous Norstalines were left. The priorities were the Norstalines, Rallorans and Derthals. Not only were they spread over a massive area, but they were also often buried under other bodies. Then there were the civilians, who had poured out of the capital to chase a beaten enemy. While they had slaughtered many fleeing soldiers, some of those had turned and fought back, like trapped rats. Dozens of wounded and dead had been brought back, some from miles away.

Merren was still on the field, determined to be there when the last man or Derthal was found.

The dead were being buried together—the hundreds of prisoners taken had been forced to dig a massive trench before being allowed back out to help their wounded comrades. Merren had decreed that all would lie together—Norstaline, Ralloran and Derthal. They had fought together, now they would lie together for eternity.

The huge number of people helping saved lives, she was sure of that. Unlike Pilleth, where the only men available were the ones who had fought so hard to win the battle, thousands of women had rushed out to help, as well as dozens of priests. A grief-stricken Milly had worked to save all she could, healing the most grievously wounded men and Derthals, while those with minor wounds at least had their hurts bandaged and stitched.

‘I think that is the last of them now, my Queen.’ Hutter saluted as he escorted a dozen horses laden with dead Derthals back to the mass grave.

‘Do we know how many?’ Merren asked numbly.

‘We won’t know until the morning. We don’t know how many went with Captain Nerrin to pursue Gello, your majesty,’ Hutter apologised. ‘But I’d say we lost about five hundred Norstalines and Rallorans and perhaps the same of Derthals. There are many more wounded, although most will eventually recover.’

Merren nodded. As numbers on parchment, it was not many. Not compared to the ten thousand or more Tenochs, Berellians and Gello’s Norstalines who had been killed or wounded on the field, and the same number who were still dying as they tried to flee on foot or by horse. But they were still men and Derthals who had been walking, talking and smiling in the morning and who now lay in a grave together this night.

‘Let the prisoners do what they can for their wounded. I cannot feel sympathy for those who would have killed us all. But those that they save—see if Archbishop Milly—I mean, Archbishop Sadlier, can help them. And get some rest.’

Hutter smiled. ‘Strangely, I do not feel much like sleep. There are too many I know who are in an endless sleep.’

Merren nodded understandingly. ‘Thank you for your report. Whatever you need, when you need it, ask it of me.’

She climbed wearily onto Tomon to ride back to the palace. She needed to see Martil, wanted to know how Karia was.

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