Chapter Twenty-Three

Daniel wasn't sure why he had felt drawn to the little healer they had brought to the battlefront from the north. There wasn't much that was special about her. Sure, she had curves to rival any woman from the capital, but the only other thing about her that was eye-catching was her hair color. She didn't talk a lot, either. Daniel prided himself in having riveting conversations with the women he spent the night with. This little healer only challenged or ignored him when he tried to start a conversation. 

And yet his thoughts were always filled with images of her. His eyes always followed her when she was near. He wasn't too fond of the feeling that was overwhelming him. 

Even now, he hid himself among the tents and people to watch her gather with her unit. He laughed at the face she made when she drank the whiskey, even if he did want to kill the woman who slipped it into her drink. Then, as his little healer started to feel the effects of the alcohol, he felt the need to go to her. To hold her in his arms. Just thinking about it sends a shiver up his spine. 

But he can't. The General strictly warned that no one from his command was to approach her. Daniel couldn't understand why the General was so adamant about it when he had never met this woman before. Shaking his head, Daniel leans back and continues to watch as the little healer starts to open up, the alcohol killing any inhibitions. If he knew she'd be this wild, he'd have gotten her drunk while they were at the tavern. 

Another knight comes up behind him and smacks him on the shoulder in greeting. "Hey, Husk! What are you doing all the way over here with the Third Regiment?"

Daniel looks at his comrade in arms, plastering a grin onto his face. "Ah, just checking in on that girl we brought with us. I was worried that these mercs would eat her alive" Laughing lightly, Daniel tried to play off that he was watching her for most of the evening. 

The other knight laughs in return. "Well, I think she'll be fine. C'mon man, let's get back to our camp. The General wanted all of the commanding officers in his tent to discuss battle strategy."

Daniel allows the younger knight to lead him back to the First Regiment's camp. He wasn't happy to be letting the little healer out of his sight, but perhaps he could use this as an opportunity to see why the General seemed to care about her so much. His grin turns to one filled with wickedness instead of joy behind his comrade's back. He won't let that damned dragon have her if it was the last thing he did. 

***

Groaning, I hold my head in my hands as I curl into the fetal position in my cot. I should kill that girl for putting fire whiskey in my drink. I learned her name was Minnow, though it does me no good now that I hate her. I will make her pay for this hangover.

With a sigh, I roll over on my back, squinting up at the roof of the tent as sunlight peaks through. It only makes my headache worse. Damned sun. Despite the pain though, I did have a lot of fun with the group last night. I try to convince myself that I don't actually hate Minnow, but I will still get back at her causing this much pain. And the embarrassment from what I did last night.

Memories of my drunken stupor flood my mind and I groan again, this time more ashamed than in pain. I lie there for quite some time. Too long really. Dwelling on the past is an all-day task. Thinking about dancing on the table and trying to convince everyone that the Fates were evil set my face aflame. 

Suddenly, a voice calls out to me from outside of my tent and I recognize the accent instantly. "Ey, 'Melia! Get yer arse up! Time to start tha' day!"

Marvin's voice grates on my ears, but he has a point. I need to start working. Finding strength in my need to prove myself to them, I sit up and carefully get dressed. Moving too fast makes me dizzy, as I found out early this morning when I got sick and rushed outside.

Stepping outside, I wince at the sudden increase in brightness and put my hand up to shield my eyes. As a child, my mother would tell me stories of creatures that would burn in the sun. They went extinct long ago, but I can understand how they must have felt right now. 

Marvin cackles at my reaction. "Awe, poor lil' thing! Ya wee head hurt, does it?" He only laughs harder as I glare at him. Wrapping one of his arms around my shoulder, he leads me to the medical tent. "C'mon then. Let's get ya all fixed up, then put ya to work!" A mischievous grin spreads across his face and I have a feeling I'm not going to like what he considers work. Every time I've been in the medical tent, it's been empty. 

***

After Marvin forced a vile mixture down my throat for the headache, he put me to work on organizing the medical supplies and herbs. I had been expecting worse than that, honestly. It was one of my favorite tasks back home when I gathered new herbs that needed to find their homes. Besides, everything here was labeled, so he just asked me to find a better way to sort them. 

After deciding that sorting them by affliction would be best, I got to work and had the task completed before the sun set over the horizon. With a satisfied sigh, I sit back and take in my work. It's strange that something so simple is enough to make me happy, but it does. 

Marvin plops down on the ground next to me with about as much grace as a toad. Minnow joins him on the other side of me. They both stare up at the open cabinets and take in my work. I grin, seeing the same satisfaction I feel reflected on their faces. All healers have a few things in common, and it seems that organization is one of them. 

With a satisfied nod, Marvin turns his attention to me. "Aight, 'Melia. I think it's safe ta say that yer one of us now. Can't say if it's gonna be an exciting gig, but we're glad ta have ya."

Minnow giggled beside me. "Enough of the mush! Let's go get drunk!" She leaps up and pulls me up with surprising strength from someone so small. 

Marvin laughs and follows behind us as Minnow all but drags me out of the tent and toward the center of camp where everyone gathers. "Go easy on her tonight, will ya? Taking too much of that hangover cure ain't good for anyone."

A wide smile spreads across my face. If this is going to be every night, then I think things will be fine. I haven't heard anyone speaking about fighting since I've been here, and everyone is so carefree. Every time I think about calling this place home, a weight I didn't know I'd been carrying lifted from my chest. Each step I took grew lighter.