Shield of Fire
Casualties

Crini searched the area with her eyes as the rest were approaching running. She counts them - one, two, and three - to make sure none is missing. But her gut says otherwise.

They look fewer too. Poinary is the first that notices, once they reach a distance that makes their features recognisable. Then Triana, followed by Moiki and Zoiki, the two Sopolian scientists and scholars. Koniaak was running next to Loftak. Jato was right behind them. A pair of silver-white hair shone as the sun fell on their heads further behind. Crini let a sigh of relief. Lura and Helion were all right, though one appeared to be seated on the ground. Is anyone hurt?

Her mind snapped like a luminous tube and the thought sparked bright inside her brain. They are outside, in the open. That could mean only one thing. The memory of prince Tadal with Ada and Ezpa resurfaced. Their plan was to capture and deliver her. To where was unknown. Turning her head slightly, she spots Tadal with Triana and Poinary. But where are Ada and Ezpa? They don’t appear anywhere and that causes fear to spread into her veins.

Each one of them first gives an indifferent look or bows respectfully - depending on the subspecies - and then turn to look at me, their eyes growing wide in surprise. They didn’t expect a human to survive. That’s evident and reflects perfectly in their eyes although they might want to hide it.

Yeah, nice to see you too.

“Thank the gods, you’re alive,” Poinary breaks the awkward silence in the group. His body looks stiff and his eyes don’t stay on us for more than a second.

He hides something.

Tadal seems to catch the hints as well and his body tenses as he stands up straight. “Speak Poinary. What is the matter?” he orders.

Poinary seems uneasy, his dark blue lips play in his mouth as he tries to replace the right words to say it. Letting air out of his nostrils with force, he opens his mouth and drops the news that hits us like a bomb.

“Ada and Ezpa didn’t make it.”

Crini stays frozen with her mouth dropped open upon hearing Poinary’s words, turning slowly to Tadal. His jaw clenches and his palms turn into fists hanging by his sides. His nostrils dilate as he takes deep breaths. Aiming to hold his posture - tall and unbiased - he stays silent, swallowing the bitterness of the news.

The group’s eyes stay glued on prince Tadal trying to decipher his reactions. But Crini knew. Tadal’s facial muscles ripple as a series of expressions spreads across them. His knuckles turn white as the grip turns tighter, and his nails dip into his skin causing small red droplets to fall on the ground beneath. His jaw is so tense, Crini could bet his teeth are crushing each other. Looking up at him, she replaces moisture beneath his eyes. Tadal is on the brink of breaking.

“You can use some rest,” Triana finally speaks walking from behind and gently putting her hands on each side of Tadal’s shoulders. She lightly pushes him to turn back toward her and surprisingly, he complies with her movement. Like a huge doll made of bones and muscles, Tadal is dragging his feet back at a temporary settlement they had set.

Crini didn’t surprise that none came close to helping her. They had other things to do. Prince Tadal’s arrogant and narcissistic behaviour was known all over Ethnos apparently. Royals like him had a tendency not to care about little subjects of their kingdom. And his reaction shows otherwise. And all are dying inside them to know the reason. So, placing the tip of her sword on the ground for support, she followed them at her own pace. The sun was up and burning bright their skin so she didn’t have to worry about nightfall coming soon.

Approaching the settlement, Crini meets the faces of Lura - looking sternly at her, as usual - and Helion’s kind smile. Before entering the tunnels she had grown suspicious of everyone but seeing Helion smiling at her was making something inside her consider him otherwise. Maybe they didn’t want everyone to harm her.

Crini’s eyes drift away from Helion’s face and his steel-grey eyes and follow his body down until she replaces his left leg, wrapped in some kind of makeshift bandages. Turning back to Lura, she spots one of his sleeves missing. While the rest are still treating prince Tadal’s wounds - not by genuine cause, but rather because of gossip curiosity - Crini moves further away, taking a seat closer to Helion and Lura, without invading their privacy.

“You can join us,” Helion’s calm voice washes over her ears. “You look wounded. Please, approach. I can check you.” Crini drops her face upon the last sentence, feeling self-conscious. Her cheeks burn red. “Unless you want Lura to check on you.”

Lifting her face she spots Lura’s examining and angry look falling at her, making her avert her gaze immediately. “All right,” she says softly before lifting up and getting closer to Helion.

“Show me where you hurt” he guides her. Crini is surprised by his calmness. Does this man never lose his peace?

Hesitantly, she points to her right knee and then her left ankle. “Please take off your boots and lift your trousers so I can see it better,” he speaks reaching to his side and bringing a small pot containing a vomit-like smelly substance. Obeying his instructions, Crini does as Helion says. A small hiss leaves her lips when the fabric of her trousers grazes her wounded knee.

Helion’s eyes scan Crini’s injuries. The flesh on her ankle is brutally gone, leaving only the pink-red flesh on the inside. Giving a glance at the state of her ankle causes a lump of vomit to rise in her throat making it hard to shove it down. Taking her eyes away, Crini tries to concentrate on deep breaths. And she was doing well until she feels something cold on her wound that makes her jump in place. Her head snaps towards her wound and she watches in silence as Helion’s fingers are spreading the ointment on her wound, making sure it’s properly covered. His touch is soft like a feather and Crini thought about what it would feel like without the smelly substance between his fingers and her skin.

Moving on, Helion dips his fingers in the pot and taking a generous portion of the ointment, he reaches to spread it above her knee. None of them was speaking for as long as he was treating her injuries. When he finished, Crini turned to look at him. “Thank you,” she whispers getting a nod of appreciation from Helion.

“I know the scent is not the most fortunate, but these herbs will heal you in no time.” he gently smiles at her. “I don’t think you’ve tried something like it before. Aniveans are not fond of Encreean medicine” he lowers his voice leaning closer, causing Crini to giggle.

As the day progressed and the sun was already setting, Tadal took a place near them while the rest of the group was preparing for the night, gathering wood from dried bushes found around and taking the skin out of small lizards and snake-like creatures walking around this landscape.

Taking their places for dinner around the fire, Moiki and Zoiki took their seats on the other side of Crini. “We’re so happy to see you alive” they whisper both in unison getting a cautious expression from Crini in response. The skin of their dinner cracks to the heat like corn, making the popping sound cover their words. “Forgive us for not telling you earlier but we were prevented from showing support to you.”

Crini opened her mouth to ask for further information, though was risky with everyone else around. However, her words never reached their ears as Triana cut her off.

“Moiki, Zoiki, what is the schedule?” she requests before taking half of the cooked creature in one bite.

The two Sopolians stood tall. “We have regained access to the map now that we’re above the surface. Based on Zoiki’s calculations we are according to schedule. Tomorrow we should be reaching the borders with the City of the Golden Tree.” Moiki speaks with confidence.

“Very well,” Triana takes the lead. “Get a good meal and rest because tomorrow we should put out our best efforts to reach Encree and finally get some proper rest for a couple of days.”

During the dinner, everyone was making small talk with those close to them around the fire. All except Tadal, who was standing silent, looking at the flames with melancholy for a mask. All of a sudden, he meets them with his gaze. “How they’re gone?” he asks but it sounds like an order. Poinary swallows hard before he opens his mouth to speak.

“The tunnel we entered had large pointy rocks hanging above our heads throughout the way. We didn’t encounter any enemies. We even saw the light on the other side. Then the ground began to shake and the rocks were falling from the ceiling, crashing on the ground. We ran as fast as we could and we’d almost made it, when…” Poinary hesitates.

“Speak.” Tadal’s face harden. “DAMN YOU, SPEAK!” he screams making Poinary push his upper body back and causing everyone to stand still.

“One of the pointy rock columns fell from the ceiling, crushing Ada just before the exit. I and Ezpa had just stepped out of the mountain.” Poinary spits preparing himself for another wave of screaming. Tadal’s eyes filled with tears that soon rolled down his face.

“And how Ezpa is not alive if he got out?” Tadal speaks with a shaky voice. “Why you didn’t do something?” his rage was charging again.

“I didn’t know they were bonded twins!” Poinary responds in defence. “The moment Ada died, Ezpa fell on the ground shaking. His clothes were drenched in blood coming from various parts of his body. I was shocked, I couldn’t do anything to break their bond and save him. The only thing I could do was to offer him a proper burial.

Tadal falls silent, his eyes pinning accusingly Poinary before he drops his face along with his shoulders, looking lost at the flames. Triana put a hand on his back, gently rubbing it to calm him down. The dinner ended in silence after the confession of Poinary. None was daring to speak.

Lying on the ground close to the fire, Crini aimed to clear her head from any thoughts and get some sleep. But Xepo’s voice resonated inside her head. Worried and cautious.

“Tomorrow your fighting skills will be put to the test once more. The guard of the border is merciless and only by defeating him you are allowed to cross it.”