Chapter 52

The horse cantered powerfully through the soft soil of the vast countryside. His hooves clawing away at the dirt as they made their way towards the forest, one giant stride after another. Every stride brought them closer to safety, but Emeric could not ignore how it fed the pain in his shoulder. Still dislocated and still burning. Popping it back into the socket wasn't something he could do on his own, nore wanted to. He kept his right arm tucked against his torso and held the reins loosely in his left hand. Praying Sarge had the horse-like decency not to go into a full gallop.

He was following a trail of horse footprints that he presumed belonged to Hunter's horse or rather, once again hoped. It could honestly be that of a enemy or worse an Elite, and with how his luck had been recently it could very well be the latter. But he didn't have many options right now so he continued forward stubbornly...what will happen will happen.

As the sun started growing heavy in the horizon, Emeric spotted the forest in the distance. It took half an hour to reach it. He urged Sarge on, asking for one last ounce of effort. The horse lengthened his stride greedily. With a twitch of the reins, Emeric steered the elegant animal in the direction of the assembly area that his father had decided on.

Emeric reigned Sarge to a trot as the woods grew thicker. If cantering had been painful, trotting was hell. Emeric grimaced as they forged through the forest. His face was pale and he knew that the wound on his lower back was the reason for it. His saddle was stained red with blood. You never realise how important blood is until you start to lose it.

Through the thick trees Emeric made out the soft glow of a camp fire. He brought Sarge to a halt and whistled the song of a bird he had been told was from his homeland. A similar call answered his a few seconds later. The song causing his hand to relax and to release the hilt of his dagger, his only weapon left after the battle. Emeric lightly tapped his heel to Sarge's side, setting the horse into a walk.

When Emeric entered the small clearing where the camp fire had been made, he saw Hunter and Aire waiting for him. Aire, he didn't realise how his heart warmed up at the sight of her in the safety of the forest. He could protect her better here. Sarge, sensing his master's relaxation came to an easier stop than was expected. Dismounting, Emeric could not hide his wounds as a grunt escaped his lips.

He tethered Sarge to a branch before making his way to his company.

"What happened?" Hunter asked hastily, walking forward in case Emeric needed help. Emeric grinned maliciously. "What makes you think anything happened?" He asked through gritted teeth. Yeah, that wasn't going to fool his cousin or Aire but it had been worth a shot.

Hunter raised a challenging eyebrow. Emeric let go of his façade and sat down by the growing flames. "They dislocated my shoulder." he stated after a while. He turned his gaze at Aire, seeing the worry in her eyes. Oh, how he had missed those eyes. "Can you put it back?"

Aire didn't answer, but she knelt down next to Emeric. "You're bleeding." She stated as her face turned pale. Emeric grunted. He'd forgotten about the numb wound on his back. Strange how pain became relative in battle. His shoulder was a pain he was constantly reminded of and he could not think past that, all other wounds forgotten.

"It's not serious." he stated, "My shoulder is worse." He clenched his jaw as he spoke. Aire nodded, but he knew she had filed away the information of the other wound in her mind, she was after all not the forgetful type.

"Lay on your back." Aire instructed as she positioned herself next to Emeric's shoulder. Emeric did as he had been told. "It will hurt quite a bit, but once it's back in place the pain will go away." Aire spoke as she took hold of Emeric's wrist. Her hands were warm from the fire.

Before he could say anything she moved his arm in a J motion. First pulling towards herself then up towards his head. Emeric groaned, clenching his eyes shut, a hollow pop resounded but the pain did not dissipate. "It still hurts." He grunted. Aire gave him a confused look before realisation seemed to hit her, "It's you're old wounds, you're shoulder must still be very sensitive." Emeric managed a smile, "You really don't forget much, do you?"

"Excuse me?"

"Nothing." He realised his thoughts had been spoken aloud and quickly tried to cover the fact.

Emeric peeled his eyes open, gazing down at his shoulder. He rolled it experimentally. Despite the hollow ache, that didn't feel like it would ever leave, it was back in place and didn't torture him anymore. He sat up with a relieved sigh. "Thanks Aire. I can always count on you."

She didn't answer. Instead she pulled Emeric into a heartfelt hug. "Thank you." She whispered and for the first time he was conscious to feel the dampness of her tears on his shoulder. Her emotion seemed to affect him and he was completely left out of his element. He patted her back, not sure what to do, "What for?" He asked.

"For getting me out. For coming back for me." She replied as she pulled back. He gave her a genuine smile. "I'll always come back for you." Before he could see the blush come to her cheeks Hunter cleared his throat, drawing their attention. He stood to one side, evidently unsettled by their show of raw emotion. "Rayhan will be coming soon. We should set up camp." Hunter muttered painfully awkwardly...

Emeric nodded agreement. As the pain in his shoulder dimmed he could feel the slight sting grow in his back. He ignored it. He had been through worse.

They set up tents until the sun went down then built a larger fire and started cooking food. Hunter stirred a the stew that was slowly cooking over the fire in a large pot. A wonderful aroma filled the air, making Emeric's mouth water.

He was sitting in the all too familiar position with his shirt in hand as Aire treated his back. The wound wasn't deep enough to be cauterized...To Emeric's relief. Aire had cleaned the wound thoroughly and was busy wrapping it with a bandage when the bird call echoed through the forest. Emeric met Hunter's eyes. Hunter mimicked the call.

A few minutes later Rayhan and his comrades rode into the camp. He saw Emeric's bandaged torso just as Emeric rose and pulled his shirt on again. Aire stood up next to him, observing the men who rode in.

Emeric offered a reassuring smile at his Father's worried expression. He did not seem sated as the look only intensified. It was sincere concern, something only a parent wear so naturally. The rescue party hastily dismounted and helped a couple of hunched figures from their saddles. Injured, no doubt. Emeric met Aire's eyes before they both rushed forward to help. Hunter was already carrying and injured Rogue to the fire. The man groaned as Hunter set him down. He was clutching a serious wound. Blood leaked through his fingers as he pressed them to his side.

Aire grabbed her medical bag and rushed to the man. "Emeric, help me." She instructed.

Emeric wanted to go to his father. He had so many questions. The mission evidently hadn't gone as they had planned. A perfectly planned assault had erupted in chaos and he desperately wanted to know why.

Emeric knelt next to Aire as she lifted the man's shirt to inspect the wound. He grimaced at the sight but she barely flinched. The wound was deep and internal damage was inevitable. Emeric's stomach churned at the sight. The man's pain unsettled him. Aire instantly started treating the wound. She ordered Emeric the retrieve all the equipment she needed.

The Etreshian couldn't hold back the cries of agony as the worked on the wound. Emeric saw his father send worried glances their way as they treated his comrade. As more injured men were brought to the fire, Aire's movements only grew faster and more urgent. Rayhan's entourage had always managed to do the rescue missions without alerting any guards or getting in a troubled situations...and because of that they never brought a medic along.

Some of the men had basic medical training, but none had the skill required to treat the men with critical wounds.

"Emeric, put your dagger in the fire. We need to cauterize the wound." Aire instructed. The patient groaned. Already expecting the burn of metal on his skin. Emeric held the man down as Aire did what needed to be done.

A few moments later, they moved on to the next patient. After treating one Etreshian, Emeric knew what was expected of him. They spent half an hour on a man before moving on to the next. Emeric tried to block out their cries of pain when the wounds were cauterized. He kept telling himself, reminding himself that this was not paradise. Pain and death were assured here.

After treating six men, Aire took a few seconds to rest. All the other injuries were superficial and needed simple treatment, some had already been treated by some of the other men.

Emeric stood up as Rayhan approached. "What happened?" He asked, the worry was evident in his voice. Rayhan sighed as he gazed down at his son. "Guards got wind of what we were doing. They sent an entire battalion after us." Rayhan lowered his gaze, "Not all of us were lucky enough to get out."

Emeric wasn't sure what to say. He swallowed before lowering his gaze, "I'm sorry, Dad." Was all he said. He wasn't sure what he could say that would comfort his father...But he knew no words could make up for the lives that had been lost. No matter how simple or grand they were.

"Never took you as a medic." Rayhan said as he bumped Emeric's shoulder good humoredly. It was an easy way to change the topic. By chance Emeric remembered something is father had told him when he was younger. 'Never let pain and suffering settle and claim your mind or your soul. Learn to move on, Emeric.' The words seemed so fitting to his new reality that Emeric almost smiled. One could not allow the pain and suffering to weigh one down. Always move forward.

Emeric gave him a look that seemed to say, 'As if I have a choice', bringing a smile over Rayhan's strained features. "Mind introducing me to the fine lady?" Rayhan asked. Emeric noticed the hint of seriousness under the playful tone. He grinned at his father and turned to where Aire was treating another patient.

Looking at her closely Emeric recognised what he had known she had from the beginning. She was beautiful. Inside and out. Her dark hair that would hint at bronze when sunlight hit it framed her face in messy curls. Her eyes were a faded green that held, perhaps to much, wisdom. In the domes he had formed a friendship with her out of loneliness and necessity but now that freedom was only over the horizon he felt something stronger pull him towards the girl he realised had also become a woman as he had become a man. As Emeric watched her; she was finishing up with the last man's wounds. The soldier was the last to leave and Aire's shoulders sagged in relief when she saw she had no more patients.

When she straightened up, Emeric walked towards her. Rayhan followed his son, not missing the emotion behind his eyes. She saw them approaching and a warm smile appeared on her face.

"Aire," Emeric started, catching his tone being strangely formal. He couldn't help it, he was nervous, "This is Rayhan, leader of the rebellion and chief of the clan. He leads all the rescue missions and also allowed me to come for you." Rayhan rolled his eyes as Emeric sweet mouthed him. "Aren't you forgetting the most important thing?" Rayhan asked.

Emeric seemed to ponder on the matter for a few seconds, "He also happens to be my father." He added with a cheeky grin.

Aire's eyes grew wide for a second, recalling that Emeric had told her of Rayhan's execution. "You're not dead?" She said before immediately clasping a hand over her mouth, "I'm so sorry." She whispered, horrified at what she had uttered. Her cheeks turning a particular shade of embarrassed pink. Rayhan decided that he liked the girl. His son had chosen well.

"No my dear, I'm not." Rayhan answered with a grin. Emeric gaped at his father. Dear? Why was she receiving special treatment from the old man? His dad would never dream of being so polite to him.

"So," Rayhan began. Emeric braced himself. Call it a seventh sense built up over the years of a close knit relationship with his father but he could sense that the old geezer was planning on saying something embarrassing. "You're the gal who has my son falling head over heels..."

"Dad!" Emeric jumped in before his father could manage another word, He turned to Aire, "Sorry he has brain damage!" He gasped, "Not right in the head if you know what I mean." he protested. Rayhan smirked, "And clearly it's genetic." Emeric did a mental facepalm, "I mean, he doesn't mean it like that." He tried again. "Of course I mean it like that." To Emeric's mortification he turned to Aire, "He couldn't stop blabbering about you. Practically has hearts in his eyes when he mentions you."

Emeric was lost for words. His face was crimson as he stared at his father aghast. He had expected embarrassment but this went way beyond what he had mentally prepared himself for. Aire looked much the same. Rayhan took one look at their faces before chuckling. He clapped his son on the shoulder before stating, "Come on Emeric. It's a father's duty to embarrass his son. You can't deny me that honor." Emeric's gaze was hard and unforgiving. He was not amused.

Rayhan turned to Aire with a much softer smile on his face. He noticed the tense awkwardness that hovered in the air. "It's a pleasure to meet you Aire. I owe you a lot for saving Lover Boy's life." Rayhan said with a welcoming tone Aire could not deny.

Aire gave a smile that Emeric could not decipher, "I was just doing my job." She stated, her emotions completely controlled. Was she unaffected by what had transpired? Somehow that did not sit well with Emeric at all. Rayhan shook his head, "No, you did much more than that. You gave him hope." This time Rayhan's voice held the appreciation that he felt towards the young woman standing in front of him.

Aire's reply stuck in her throat. He cheeks were heating up like a wildfire and she felt her heart clench at his words . Rayhan used the silence to excuse himself, "If you'll excuse me...I have to go check on all my men." Rayhan strode away.

Emeric laughed nervously, scratching the back of his head, "He's a uhm...character..." Emeric's last words sounded almost hopeless. He was sure that Aire would bolt all the way to the Dome at any second. He'd just found her and didn't want her to avoid him now just because his father couldn't keep his trap shut.

Silence echoed between them for a few seconds. Emeric was shocked when Aire was the first to speak. "Lover Boy...Now that isn't a name I never expected an ex-Dome fighter to earn." The smile on Aire's face eased Emeric's nerves, but it only fueled the blush that seemed to be stuck on his face. He wanted to find a cave and hide in it...for the rest of his life...

"This better only be a phase, because if everyone's going to start calling me Lover Boy, I'm taking myself back to the Dome..." Emeric muttered, earning a chuckle from Aire.

They were saved by the call for dinner. Emeric and Aire silently made their way to the fire where everyone was gathering. They came to a stop by Hunter as the older men piled up their plates. Hunter smirked at Emeric and that is when Emeric knew he had it coming.

"So, Lover Boy. How's the shoulder?" Hunter had a teasing smile plastered over his face. Emeric groaned, "It spread that quickly?" He asked hopelessly. Hunter nodded proudly. "Your Dad's doing. I didn't think he had it in him. He's probably making up for the three years that he missed." Hunter concluded.

Emeric shot Rayhan a glare. He had it coming. Jokes were tolerable up until a point....Rayhan had passed it.

Hunter saw Emeric's expression. "It's probably just a phase. The other's won't call you that." Hunter tried reassuringly. At that moment Radclyf walked up to Emeric, "Hey Lover Boy." he called as he strode over. Emeric met Hunter's eyes defiantly.

"Just a phase...Yeah right..."