Warrior's Soul (Book 3 of The Warrior Chronicles)

Chapter 11

"Protector?" Malia froze, her knuckles white around the strips of bark she had been weaving.

Leyla took another step into the camp, then stopped. The Hayvan's head knocked into her wounded arm, sending pain shooting through her body, before it too, stood still beside her.

"A HAYVAN!" The mothers voices rose as they scurried from the cooking pot to where their children were playing. The elderly couple held onto each other, taking small steps away from her, while Waru knelt beside the Sage, whispering.

Leyla had guessed they would be afraid. She hadn't meant to bring the creature here, but the cub would not stop following her no matter what she did. Since the last of the Bone Eaters died, it was acting like a lost child, whining and licking her hands for comfort. Despite knowing in her bones that the Hayvan would pose no danger for the villagers, Leyla would never have brought it to camp if she hadn't begun feeling dizzy from blood loss.

"Protector, your arm! The Protector is wounded!" Tai called out in alarm, dropping the kindling he had been collecting in his excitement.

"Mommy!" The youngest of the children sobbed while the others stared at her with trembling lips.

Tevvuk's Beard! Hadn't she gone through all of this trouble to see them smile?

"I-" Leyla cleared her throat, swallowing the words that wouldn't come. But they had to come; she didn't want them to cry. "It - It's ok. Don't be afraid."

The hoarse words drifted across the silent camp. The adults were looking at her as if she'd grown horns, but the children seemed relieved.

"Alright everyone, the Protector has said there's nothing to be afraid of so get back to what you were doing," the Sage called from where he was standing. Then, with an easy smile on his face, he motioned for her to join him. "If you will let me see to that wound now, Protector?"

Leyla took the cue to move. Throwing the ninaks towards a shocked Tai, she walked as steadily as she could  to where Waru was stretching out a blanket. The villagers watched the Hayvan follow at her heals for a few more quiet moments, then slowly got back to what they had been doing.

"So you've found your voice?" The Sage asked when she reached his side. It was obvious from his tone that he, unlike the rest of the gather, was not surprised that she could speak.

Leyla ignored his question and sat on the blanket. Waru moved back warily as the Hayvan settled behind her and put its massive head on its paws with a snort. Leyla gave him a gentle pat as her gaze shifted to the twig shelter under which Kaya was sleeping. She looked peaceful; her dark lashes resting on chubby cheeks that seemed to have gained some colour. 

"Kaya?" She managed to ask, before pressing her lips together as another wave of dizziness hit her.  

"She is recovering well," the Sage sighed, reaching for her wrist. "You however, reek of blood. You couldn't stop the flow?"

His senses were as sharp as his mind, Leyla thought. 

"There's an arrow still lodged in your arm!" Waru burst out from over the Sage's shoulder. Then he was clearing his throat and taking several steps back with his eyes on the Hayvan, "My apologies."

"Waru, go bring some boiled water," the Sage said sending the younger man scampering. His pleasant expression had not changed despite the outburst.  Leyla looked him over as he pressed three fingers on her pulse. She knew he had barely slept while looking after Kaya through the night, but he looked as elegant as the first time she saw him. After another moment passed, the Sage shifted his hands, moving gently up her wounded arm. "You encountered Bone Eaters?"

"Yes," Leyla tensed as he touched the shaft of the arrow where she had broken it behind her arm. Beads of sweat appeared across her forehead as he probed.

"They were tracking us?" His voice was low and even, the expression under the blindfold relaxed.

"The Hayvan." Leyla said, sucking in a breath as he felt the tip of the arrow head. Then he was twisting round, his hand hovering over several bowls of laid out medicines, before he found the pile of clean cloths.

Folding one into a neat rectangle he held it out to her then explained: "The children will get scared if you scream."

Leyla looked back to where the three little ones were playing with pebbles and sticks. While the mothers were still sending uncertain glances at the now dozing Hayvan, the children looked calm and happy. Did they trust her that much?

"No need." Placing the white rectangle back in the Sage's hand, Leyla took a steadying breath. "Use it to stop the bleeding."

The Sage hesitated for a moment, before sighing. "That is upsetting."

Upsetting? She didn't follow, but there was no time to ask. In the next moment, the Sage dipped the material in something that smelled sharp, hooked his fingers just under the arrowhead and pulled.

Leyla clenched her jaw against the excruciating pain. She could feel the Hayvan rearing its head behind her as she swallowed a cry.

"Ah," she expelled a breath, sucking in another as the Sage pressed the material against the gaping hole left by the arrow. It burned! Her eyes closed against the pain.

"Slow breaths," his voice was low, gentle. Then he was dabbing another cloth across her forehead. "I know it burns, but it will prevent infection and you will not feel the stitches later. Just take slow breaths."

Was he trying to console her? Did he imagine she would faint at his feet? Leyla wanted to tell him he did not need to be so gentle, but her eyelids, her whole body...everything felt heavy.

"Rest now, Protector. Sleep and recover."