[Prince’s POV]

His aides opened the flaps to the healer’s tent. He had heard something about a wounded man being brought in, and wanted to hear what happened. The empire’s main force should still be further south dealing with the coastal raids. So who is he and how did he get hurt?

Stepping into the tent he was startled to find a young woman and a man in healer’s robes, glaring at each other.

“What do you mean he is dead?” A tired looking woman in a dirty dress yelled at the healer, and gesturing to a man lying still on the cot nearest the entrance. “He is still breathing!”

“If you were an actual healer, you would be able to tell there is nothing we can do. Can someone remove this mad woman?” Turning to look around the room he saw the prince. Bowing deeply he continued, “My apologies for this unsightly display your highness.”

The prince cleared his throat, “What is happening here?” he looked around the tent and noticed a second cot had a sheet over what he assumed was a body. A second one?

The healer started speaking, but the woman took advantage of the man’s split attention. Her knee planted itself in the healer’s groin and she pulled him out of her way. What in the names of the goddesses is going on here?

While everyone stared at her, she dropped to her knees next to the injured man’s cot and grabbed his arm. “He is hurt, and these idiots refuse to treat him.” The next moment the woman’s eyes lost focus as most healers do while working.

“Get her out of here.” The healer on his knees managed breathlessly, through gritted teeth.

“No one move!” he snapped. This is ridiculous.

Everyone excluding the woman turned to him. He pointed at one of the soldiers who had started moving toward the woman. “You, explain what is happening.”

The man bowed deeply, “The healer woman went to get firewood. She came back leading a horse with two men on it. The man there and the,” he cleared his throat and gestured at the other cot. “We got them here and the healers said the man cannot be helped. She said he can, so they started arguing. That’s when you arrived your Highness.” The man bowed again and seemed content to not look back up.

He glanced back at the woman her eyes still focused on the middle distance. Shaking his head he pointed to the healer kneeling nearby. “You said this man is going to die.”

“Yes, your highness,” he managed, through clenched teeth. “His wounds are too severe. There is no point in prolonging his pain. The goddesses are cutting his thread.”

“Then what is she doing?” he asked, staring at the sweat appearing on the woman’s face. She is clearly trying to save him.

“The fraud is a madwoman. She thinks she is a healer. Her path is Mother of all things. How she convinced a herald that she was anything else is beyond me.” The healer glared at the woman, as he slowly gathered himself.

A fraud? He looked at the woman holding onto the man. She looks like every other healer does. But paths do not lie. How did she convince a herald she was a healer?

He motioned for his guard to grab the woman when he heard a gasp. With everyone else in the room his attention snapped to the injured man. The man’s eyes slowly opened and looked around the room.

Quickly raising his hand to stop the guard, he walked over to the man’s side. “I am Prince Toakn. What happened to you?”

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The man’s eyes slowly focused on him. “Ambush…” the man slowly seemed to be gathering himself. “Surrounded …”

“An ambush?” Toakn felt a growing emptiness in the pit of his stomach. “What of the King?”

The man blinked, seemingly trying to gather his thoughts. “Message… All lost... withdraw...”

The man’s broken arm tried to move, but failed to do more than half uncurl his fist. Through his fingers, Toakn saw a familiar ring.

Reaching down slowly he took the ring from the man’s hand. He stared at the royal seal emblazoned on the silver ring. In an instant the floor seemed to drop away and he was swallowed by dread. If he gave a messenger his ring, he did not expect to survive. What the hell am I supposed to do?

“.. father?” The man croaked bringing the prince back to his senses.

Father? It took a moment for the man’s question to cut through his own grief. He swore internally. He must mean the other man. He nearly dies bringing me this and I have to tell him….

Harden your heart. Push this to the side. He deserves the truth. You are a Prince, Toakn! You can do this. Toakn took a slow breath. “He did not make it.”

The man flinched at his words. How is he even talking? I swear he looks as if he is getting better, before my eyes.

He looked away from the man. He was not sure how to handle the man’s bizarre recovery and the reflection of his own hidden pain, written plainly on the injured man’s face.

Goddesses preserve us! He had been so focused on the man that he had not even spared a glance for the woman healing him. Her eyes were cloudy, and the color had drained from her face. There were black circles appearing under her eyes gave her the appearance of madness that the healer had accused her of. But the sight of blood began to appear from her nose and run down her face, caused his blood to run cold.

“Get her away from him! NOW!” He yelled, spurring the guards to action. He watched horrified as they lifted the woman away, just as blood began to run from the corners of her eyes. Merciful goddess, what what was that?

Muttered curses filled the room as several of the men unconsciously made the sign of the loom. As the woman’s hands left the injured man her eyes closed, and she went limp. He glanced down to see the man fall limp like a puppet whose strings had been cut.

Everyone in the room stared, unsure what to do. His father’s words echoed in his mind. Do something when everyone else panics. ANYTHING! Even the wrong choice is better than not making one!

“You,” he pointed at the aid next to him. “Alert the camp we are heading for Wall, immediately.”

Not waiting for a response, he pointed at the soldier who was still trying to avoid the prince’s gaze. “Soldier.” The man snapped to attention at being addressed. “Alert the cavalry. I want them in the field. Tell them to scout an hour in every direction and report back.”

The man nodded and raced from the tent, clearly relieved to have an excuse to leave.

He looked at the healer who was on his rear staring in horror at the woman being supported by his guards. “Healer.” The man did not respond.

“HEALER!” He yelled causing the man to half jump.

“Yes!” the man yelped staring at the prince in terror.

“Is he alive?” he asked, pointing at the injured man in the cot.

The healer scrambled and placed his hands on the injured man’s arm. The healer’s eyes when distant then he blinked in confusion, and stared blankly at the man.

“Well?! Is he alive?” Toakn snapped.

“Yes, your highness he is stable. I do not understand …”

“I do not care what you understand. Is she alive?” He pointed at the woman, hanging limply between the guards holding her.

The healer scrambled to his feet and reached towards her with a shaking hand. He was about the yell at the man again, when the healer finally mastered himself and touched her hand. Another pause and the man released her hand, stepping back quickly as if he expected her to attack him again.

“Well?” Toakn pressed, the pale healer.

“She is alive, but she... She is exhausted, her body is struggling to stay alive.” The man kept staring at the woman as if she was some sort of serpent that would suddenly spring at him.

“You are to keep them alive.” He informed the healer. Then to the guards he added, “Set her down in that cot. Gently.”

The men mechanically nodded and placed her on the cot as if she were made of glass.

The healer was frozen, still staring at the woman his guards were placing in the cot. “HEALER! Get a hold of yourself! If they are not both still alive when we reach Wall, you will be making your excuses to the goddesses.”

Nodding to one of his royal guards he added, “See that the healer, the woman, and the man are in a wagon headed to Wall as soon as you can. And if you think the healer is failing his task, find a new one.”

Turning on his heel he marched out of the tent. Must keep moving. I can grieve later. I need to get the army back to wall or we are all lost…