Chapter 11

One of the men, a man-at-arms, suffered from an injured leg, while the other man, in some pain, cradled his shoulder. The child, a little girl, was bleeding profusely from a severe gash to her arm.

"Hail, good fellow," came the reply through a clenched jaw. "My daughter, Ivy - can ye help her?" he pleaded.

Taking in the scene, Odo immediately went to the aid of the girl. She looked to be about six or seven years old and was in need of urgent care.

"The wheel, it just came off," said the man with the girl.

Odo quickly took in the scene and looked to the man-at-arms; his right leg lay in an unnatural position. The other man, Ivy's father, clearly suffered from a hurt shoulder and was in some distress. There was little he could do for either of them, but Ivy needed help quickly. The rain continued to fall heavily.

Using his knife, Odo quickly cut a long strip of fabric from the wagon and wrapped it around Ivy's arm, hoping to stem the flow of blood. She was brave and didn't cry out but was bleeding excessively and this was of some concern.

He stepped to her father. "I'm going to unharness the horse and take yer daughter to the parish church in Mellester. The priest Oswald will be able to see to her. I will return with others to attend to yer as soon as I can. Ye will have to wait."

With rain streaming down his face, the man nodded. "I can pay for men to repair the cart."

"I will do what I can, rest easy." Odo turned to the man-at-arms. "Can I do anything for ye before I return?"

The man shook his head, and water sprayed from his beard. Odo noticed how deathly pale he looked.

He moved the little girl so she could sit with her father while he unharnessed the horse from the wagon and removed all equipment that wasn't required. The horse was still a little skittish but calmed down after some soothing words. It was a gift he had with animals and they inherently trusted him. Oblivious to the heavy rain, Odo worked as quickly as he could and hoped someone else would arrive to assist with the two injured men, but no one came, they were alone. Sparing a thought for the comfort of the little girl, he found some cloth and folded it numerous times as a make-shift pillow for Ivy to sit on.

She began to cry when Odo took her from her father. He lifted her onto the horse, then nimbly vaulted on behind her. He removed his cape and draped it over the child, and held her secure with one arm, while his free hand gripped the reins as he rode off.

The horse was no destrier or courser; it was a simple work horse, but with some coaxing, when the road conditions permitted, managed to canter most of the four miles back to Mellester village. Occasionally he looked to Ivy's arm and was horrified at the amount of blood he saw. She was a brave little girl and didn't complain or cry out through the entire journey.

On arriving back at Mellester Village, Odo found Priest Oswald, who immediately took Ivy into his care and began to see to her wound. Odo went in search of Reeve Merick to arrange for men, tools, horses and a cart to help the two injured men, and hopefully repair the cart wheel. He found Charlotte with her father in the shoppe and told them about the accident. Charlotte promised to check on the little girl. Within a relatively short time, a small group of men, braving the elements, headed to the site of the accident.

Once Odo spared a moment to think, he wondered why a man-at-arms was escorting the man and his daughter. They weren't nobles, but they must have been important. He put the thought out of his mind as they finally returned to the broken cart.

Both men remained in the same position as when he left them. The soldier was drifting in and out of consciousness, while Ivy's father was in better shape, although still in agony.

Blacksmith Neal immediately saw the problem with the man's shoulder. With a tug, a twist, and an agonising scream, the arm was repositioned. Although still in some pain, the man was grateful and felt instant relief.

"Don't worry, Ivy is in good hands," Odo explained. "Oswald may be an irksome priest, but he can fix most things," he added with a smile of assurance.

"I'm most grateful to ye, I don't know what I would have done if ye hadn't come upon us," said the man. "Here, please accept payment fer yer trouble."

Odo shook his head. "A man should never take coin for helping another man and doin' what's right. Anyone would have helped ye, I'm just pleased I came by when I did."

"We need a helping hand here, herdsman!" yelled Blacksmith Neal to Odo, as men began lifting the wagon to reattach the wheel.

It was early evening when Odo finally walked into the village of Ridgley Manor. He was exhausted, cold and wet, and immediately sought an inn where he could rent a bed for the night.