“They’re not entirely unfounded,” Hern muttered. “Is it . . . the fifth day since the battle?”
“Well done, Hern,” Sermas said. Hern whooped and pumped a fist, pleased with his progress. While he was doing this, Sermas leaned in so that only Khollo could hear.
“It’s actually the fourth day, but don’t tell Hern that.”
Khollo shook his head, chuckling quietly. He really was amused, but any stronger form of laughter was liable to set his chest aflame again. Khollo frowned. His chest felt better, much better than it had felt since the battle. There was only a dull ache and a pleasant coolness to the wounds.
“Where has that healer got to?” Khollo demanded suddenly, sensing trickery.
Sermas’ smile vanished instantly. “Are you in pain? Is something wrong?”
“No, it’s the lack of pain that’s worrying me,” Khollo replied grimly.
“Oh, um, okay,” Sermas replied, clearly confused. “I can fetch him. He’s just outside the door.”
“Do it,” Khollo said quickly.
Sermas went to the door and opened it a crack. “Healer Ambal?”
The healer appeared immediately. “What’s wrong? More pain, something new?”
Khollo shook his head. “The problem is that I am in almost no pain, healer.” He fixed the old man with a withering stare. “Now, why would this be?”
The healer met his gaze evenly. “It is not the drug, lieutenant, if that is your concern,” he said firmly. “This is an ointment we have used for years, a numbing solution. It has none of the unfortunate side effects of mialtum diaboles.”
“And you didn’t try this earlier because?”
“It doesn’t work well on open wounds,” the healer explained patiently. “Now that your wounds are at least scabbed, we have more options available to us.”
“I apologize for suspecting you of deception,” Khollo said quickly. “I appreciate what you are doing, healer, and I thank you for being honest with me. What is your name?”
“Norus Ambal, at your service,” the healer replied, bowing.
Khollo nodded, filing the information away. “Then thank you, Healer Ambal. I am forever in your debt. Do you have an estimate as to when I will be fully recovered?”
Ambal shifted uncomfortably. “If you will allow me to be brutally honest once more, lieutenant, until yesterday it was not certain that you would fully recover.”
“So . . . it could be a while?” Khollo guessed.
Ambal nodded, biting his lip. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” Khollo assured him. “I’ll be sure and get out of the way next time though.”
“I’m sure you will,” the healer replied.
A cadet poked his head in through the door. “Healer Ambal, you’re needed below. A few of the soldiers are in a bad way again.”
Ambal bowed to Khollo. “I must go. Don’t tire yourself talking with these two.”
Khollo smiled. “I can handle them, never fear.”
Sermas snorted quietly, unnoticed by the healer. When the door had closed, Khollo turned his head side to side slowly. “Loosen those wrist cuffs, would you?” he said to Sermas. “My shoulders are killing me.”
Sermas eyed him warily, but did as he was asked. “If you hurt yourself, I’m not taking the blame,” he warned.
Khollo moved his arms slightly side to side, rolled his shoulders. “Don’t worry. I’ll blame Hern.”
“Hey!” Hern protested.
“Only kidding,” Khollo replied, grinning at the indignant cadet. “So, tell me, what’s been happening while I’ve been asleep?”
“Clemon’s gone, headed for Etares. Wilkes went with him as an escort since two of Clemon’s men were killed in the fighting,” Hern said immediately. “Our esteemed chatelain had a change of heart after the battle, it seems.”
“Understandable,” Sermas muttered. “Bloody coward.”
“He is no longer our enemy,” Khollo said. “We had a good talk last time I was awake.”
“Yeah, well,” Sermas rubbed his nose distractedly. “I find it hard to think highly of someone who cowered by the battlements while we fought vertaga.”
Khollo laughed. “I see your point. Still, if the chatelain can convince King Orram to send troops, I’ll forgive him soon enough. Is Wilkes really gone?”
“For now,” Sermas agreed. “Which means no formal training, and we didn’t have time to do the trials before he left. It’s not a problem though. Janis stepped in and ran them instead, and he declared us all fully qualified soldiers, and gave us permission to begin training as knights as soon as we can find a master!”
“Congratulations!” Khollo said, grinning. “Soldiers, huh?”
“Maybe knights, eventually,” Sermas said excitedly. “Genal already left for Ardia, looking for someone to train him.”
“His family is rich enough, so that shouldn’t be too difficult for him,” Hern muttered darkly.
“What about you, Sermas? Does your father want you to return home now that you’ve passed the trials?” Khollo asked curiously.
“Not exactly,” Sermas replied.
“Meaning?”
“My father doesn’t know. If he did, he would drag me home. I’m staying here, with you and Janis.”
“I appreciate that,” Khollo said, smiling gently. “But this is your future!”
“I’d rather be around all the action here,” Sermas countered. “Besides, I could get knighted for my service to the kingdom without all of the official training.”
“Perhaps,” Khollo agreed. Silence stretched between the three of them for a long moment.
“A message came from Ishkabur,” Hern said, changing the subject. “The defenders are holding strong. They’ve repelled three small attacks from the vertaga and are planning a coordinated attack with a few galleys from Narne to temporarily take the harbor and resupply the garrison. Then they’ll retreat behind the walls and the vertaga can go back to sieging the city.”
“Not a bad plan,” Khollo murmured. “The extra supplies may help them last long enough for help to arrive in the form of soldiers.”
“That’s what we’re hoping,” Sermas agreed. “Janis has sent word for the villagers to evacuate to the north. Refugees stream past us every day.”
“Past us?” Khollo asked, frowning.
“We don’t have a place
