Chance was sore. True, they had only been on the road for two days so far, but it had been two days of riding from shortly after sunrise to just before sunset. They had eaten their midday meals in the saddle with only breaks for short intervals to relieve themselves or to water the horses and let them graze for a bit.
Alyssia had spent most of the time riding on his shoulder or curled up in an inner pocket of his cloak. She had spent some time practicing her flying and practicing incantations that would make hers invisible or change her appearance to that of a small animal using an illusion. Currently though, she was flying overhead and masking her appearance with an illusion of a hawk.
The road wound back and forth through a fairly dense forest of oak, hickory, cottonwood, and elm.
Alyssia, can you scout ahead to see if you can find us a suitable place to stop? It is getting close to sundown and we have passed nothing suitable so far. Chance asked through their bond.
Of course my love. Alyssia responded, increasing her speed until she was well ahead of Chance and Captain Herrera.
“Where is she off to?” the Captain asked.
“I asked her if she would look for us a place to camp for the evening as we had not found a spot yet and it was getting close to dusk.” Chance responded.
“Nice thinking, Chance. You could have just asked me and I would have told you though that there is a spot about a league ahead on the left side of the road that is a Traveler’s Respite.”
“What is that?”
“Well the Travelers or Gypsies, as some might know them, have established places to camp along the main roads. They have cleared them out of brush and made sure the clearings are large enough for their wagons, as well as making sure there is a well maintained water supply. We will make use of it tonight, as long as it is not over crowded as many people make use of them. Although if a Traveler’s caravan comes by, the rule is that if they say you must leave their Respite then you have to leave. It is an agreement that they have with the King for maintaining them. They are the law in them.” Captain Herrera explained.
“Amazing, I never knew about these. Are there many of them?” Chance asked.
“Aye, about fifty or so scattered around the kingdom, mainly on all of the major roads. This is the first one on the road from Mern to Hargest. There will be this one and three more before we reach Hargest.”
“So we are five days from Hargest?”
“No, the Respites usually are two days from any town or village and one to two days’ travel between them. My guess that is so that the people in town don’t think of the respites as theirs and use it as their own. So, we should be in Hargest on the afternoon of the eighth day from now.” The Captain explained.
“So if there are one to two days between them, where do wagons stop between the respites?” Chance asked.
“There are places where there is space on the sides of the roads to camp and water available from nearby creeks and streams but there are no set fire pits or wells in those locations.” Captain Herrera answered.
Chance, the Respite is taken by a bunch of colorful wagons. Alyssia called out to him.
“Alyssia says that the Respite is taken by a group of Travelers.”
Wait, how did you know about Respites? Chance asked Alyssia.
It appears as if I was listening using your ears and our bond. This is the first time in a while we have been separated by any distance really where I could not hear what you heard with my own ears. I did not think about it as I flew away I just kept listening to you two talk.
Do you think it goes both ways? Chance asked. Can I hear what you hear? Or even see what you see?
I don’t know, Alyssia responded. Chance could almost feel Alyssia give a mental shrug. Would you like to try?
YES! She could feel his excitement at the thought.
What sense would you like to use? Not much to hear up hear. Do you want to try to see what I see?
Alyssia could picture Chance nodding his head and a big silly grin on his face. Do you think it will work? It would be amazing if it does.
I think it will. Why don’t you focus on me and think about what I am seeing and I will focus on sharing what I see. Alyssia suggested.
Chance did as she suggested but nothing seemed to be happening until suddenly it was like he was thirty feet off the ground in a tree. Everything was incredibly detailed. Chance could see the grain of the wood on the wagons down in the camp. There were fifteen wagons of various colors set up in a circle around the edge of the camp. A large fire had been built in the middle and people were moving around doing the usual tasks of setting up camp.
Alyssia this is amazing. Everything is so detailed.
Here let me move a little closer and see if we can share more than one sense at a time. With that Alyssia launched herself into the air from the branch she had been sitting on.
“Whoa!” Chance exclaimed as the sensation of Alyssia flying was entirely foreign to him and very disorienting. So much so that he lost his balance sitting on Hero and tumbled out of the saddle.
Chance hit the road hard and felt a pop in his right shoulder as he had reached toward the ground to stop his fall and all his weight had come down on his right arm. Chance tried to scream as he clutched his shoulder but the air had been knocked from his lungs as the rest of his body had hit the ground.
CHANCE! Alyssia screamed through their bond. I am on my way!
Captain Herrera had been watching Chance as he had grown quiet. He figured him and Alyssia had been talking as he had a distant look on his face. He would need to talk to him about that. He was forgetting about his surroundings while communicating with Alyssia and that while traveling could end up being dangerous. He saw Chance nod his head and large smile creep across his face followed by a look of amazement. Chance would need to learn to school his emotions as well. Then he heard Chance shout “Whoa!” and begin to windmill his arms as if he had suddenly lost his balance. The Captain was reaching for him as Chance fell from his horse and landed hard on the road.
“Chance! What happened, are you alright?” Captain Herrera asked as he quickly climbed off of his horse.
Gasping for breath as he recovered from getting the air knocked out of him. “My shoulder. I can’t move it.”
He knelt beside Chance. “Here let check.” The Captain slowly moved his hands over Chance’s shoulder and could feel that it had been dislocated.
“Chance your shoulder is out of place and we need to put it back in its socket. It is going to hurt though.”
Chance nodded his head as his breath slowly returned. “Alright.” He gasped.
“Lay down flat on your back Chance.” Captain Herrera told him.
Then standing over Chance, on his injured side Captain Herrera placed his foot gently on Chance’s chest and taking his right arm began to slowly pull his arm upward from Chance’s body.
Alyssia landed gently beside him, Chance, Are you alright? Alyssia could feel the pain that Chance was in and tried to take some of the pain away by sharing it between the two of them.
As the Captain pulled his arm Chance and Alyssia both felt the sharp pain and sudden relief as the shoulder popped back into place.
Thank you Alyssia, I could feel the pain lessen as you arrived. Did you work an incantation or something? Chance asked.
No, I shared your pain with you. I figured if I took some your pain would be lessened.
Alyssia you did not have to do that.
I know I did not Chance, but you would have done the same, would you not?
Smiling, Chance agreed with her. Yes, my love I would do anything I could to ease your pain.
As would I. Alyssia snorted.
“If you two are done talking would you care to tell me why out of the clear blue you lost your balance and fell off of a perfectly good horse?” the Captain asked impatiently.
“Well,” Chance paused and looked around. “Alyssia and I discovered we can share one another’s senses. She had been listening to our conversation using my ears and mentioned that the Respite was taken up by a group of wagons. We wondered if it went both ways and decided to try looking through her eyes. She was sitting up in a tree when I first started seeing the campground. Then she decided to move locations and took off flying. When she did that I got disoriented in my own body and lost my balance.”
“Amazing. So you can see and hear what she can and she can see or hear what you can?” Captain Herrera asked incredulously.
Chance and Alyssia nodded their heads simultaneously.
“So before she took off and you lost your balance what did you see?” He asked Chance.
“Well, there are fifteen wagons setup in a circle around the outer edge of the camp with a large fire set up in the middle. The level of detail she can see is remarkable. She was maybe thirty feet up in a tree and everything I could see was like I was right up next to it. We decided to see if we could use her sense of sight and hearing at the same time, but we were too far away to hear anything, so she was moving closer to the camp.”
“That will be a helpful talent once you learn to stay in your saddle and do it.” Captain Herrera said laughingly as he helped Chance to his feet. “Think you are up to riding a horse?”
“I think I would like to walk a bit.” Chance answered.
“Let’s put your arm in a sling to try to keep it still until we can get to camp and take care of it better.” Captain Herrera said as he took a leather strap from around his bedroll and fashioned a crude sling for Chance so that the strain could be taken off of Chance’s shoulder. Then he took another one and bound his arm to his chest to restrict his movement even further.
Taking the reins of both horses Captain Herrera headed down the road. “Come on then, we need to get walking if we are going to make it to the Respite by nightfall.”
Alyssia climbed quickly up Chance’s left side and settled on his shoulder. Chance glanced over and saw the illusion of a small lizard settled there. It was basically Alyssia without her wings and green in color so it was much easier to maintain. I like this illusion best. This way if someone wants to pet you then they feel you as you are. We just need to think of a way to keep them from feeling your wings. Chance mentioned.
That was my thought exactly. I am not sure how to keep them from touching me on my back though.
What if we put a bandage over it? Then we could say you had a wound that was sensitive. That would keep people from touching it don’t you think?
Chance could sense her approval through their bond as settled in and wrapped her tail around the back of his neck. I think that will work.
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As they approached the Respite, Chance asked Captain Herrera to wrap a bandage around Alyssia’s abdomen and wings. He agreed that this was probably the best option, short of Alyssia either remaining in Chance’s satchel or staying invisible the entire time. Chance also took the opportunity ask him to move Salvation’s scabbard to his right hip to make a left hand draw much easier. Chance was not nearly as good left handed as he was using his right hand, but as part of his and Horace’s training with Captain Herrera they had to prove that they could at least defend themselves with their off hand.
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As they approached the camp, Chance and Captain Herrera loosened their swords in their scabbards, not that they expected to be attacked but as Captain Herrera put it, “Better to be safe than sorry.”
Chance, I can smell their dinner and it smells wonderful. Alyssia whispered excitedly inside Chance’s head.
You know you don’t have to whisper when we talk like this you know. Chance joked.
Oh yeah. Alyssia giggled.
As they reached the edge of the clearing Captain Herrera shouted, “Hello the camp! Two weary travelers looking to join you. May we enter?”
The clearing went silent and Chance could see several people step farther back into the shadows of the forest.
Chance it sounds like someone is attempting to circle around behind us. Alyssia warned.
You keep an eye out on our back and let me know if they seem aggressive. Alright?
Will do. Alyssia agreed.
“Who would enter the Respite and join us? Would you share your salt and your light?” A male voice called back.
Captain Herrera smiled and called back, “Our salt is yours and we would join our light to yours, that the darkness might not intrude.”
“Then be welcome! Come and join us in our light!” The voice called back.
The people behind us are coming up but their weapons are lowered and they are not trying to hide their presence any longer. Alyssia told Chance.
“Come on Chance. Tonight we will dine well. We can probably get someone better trained in medicine to look at your shoulder too.” The Captain said as he walked out of the shadows and into the light of the fire.
The first thing Chance noticed as he entered the camp were the bright clothing the people all wore. It was if they purposefully tried to make their clothes clash and stand out from one another. The second, was that there were several injured and bandaged people sitting or lying around.
The voice that had welcomed them called out, “Jacinto! Ah, I should have known someone such as you would know the Traveler’s Plea for Respite. It has been too long since we have shared a drink. Come sit and introduce me to your companion.”
Captain Herrera bowed his head to the speaker, “My thanks to you Emeril, and indeed it has been too long since we had a drink. This is Chance Smithe. Chance, this is Emeril Telenor, Headman for this Family. Tell me though Emeril, what has happened. It looks as if you have faced trouble.”
“Welcome Chance! Come both of you sit and rest. Boys! Come take the horses and accord them the care of family.” Emeril called out and snapped his fingers as he held his hand in the air.
Two boys, about twelve years old or so, came from one side of the camp and accepted the reigns of Hero and Noble. They lead them back to the side of the camp that they had come from.
“This way. Dinner should be ready shortly but we can wash the dust from your throats until then. How does that sound?” Emeril asked, as he led them to a set of camp chairs that had been set up near the central wagon.
As they sat three women approached, each bearing a mug. Two of them were older and they handed their mugs to Emeril and the Captain. The other one Chance noted appeared to be near his age but younger than he was. She blushed as she noticed Chance watching her as she approached. “Your drink sir.” She mumbled as she handed him the mug.
Taking the mug, Chance smiled, “Thank you, m’ lady.”
She ducked her head and hurried back in the direction she had come and Chance sat there watching until a gentle cough got his attention. Turning to the cough, he saw the Captain and Emeril watching him and grinning ear to ear.
“Oh to be young again and every fair maiden turning your head” Emeril sighed.
Blushing, Chance decided to hide his embarrassment by taking a large drink from the mug. Expecting water or a watered wine he was shocked by a large mouthful of ale, as he swallowed it burned his throat going down and caused him to cough and his eyes to water. Luckily he was able to keep from spraying the drink all over his friend and his host.
The two men broke out laughing.
“So tell me Emeril, what has happened to the Family?” The Captain asked again as the laughter died down.
Emeril became serious, “It was five nights ago. We were approaching Hargest from the direction of Sligert. We had made camp in the Respite and settled in for the night when a group of ten men dressed as soldiers for the King’s Army approached the camp seeking shelter. As is custom, we welcomed them into the circle and they shared dinner with us and then all settled in for the night. We agreed to split the watch with them. They took the two in the middle of the night while we were to take the first and last watch. Luckily for us, our normal guard during their shift decided to watch as well or we would all be slain. As they switched their guards they turned on us and attacked. We are guessing our guard saw their intent and raised the alarm. We found him with two throwing knives in his chest after the fight. He raised enough of an alarm though that we were able to respond in time and fight them off. We killed eight of them in the fighting and hunted the last two down two days ago. In the fighting though we lost six men, one woman, and a child. There are another six men wounded with one not expected to last much longer.”
“Did you capture the other two or were they slain when you caught up to them?” Captain Herrera asked.
“One was slain and the other was turned over to the Captain of the Guard in Hargest to be taken to Grensmar for questioning.” Emeril responded.
Nodding, the Captain asked “The woman that was slain? How did that happen? For I know how protective you are of your families.”
“That might be the cruelest blow of all for they killed our Shamah. It looks as if she was the primary target for her wagon was where their attack was focused. Thank the Maker we were able to protect her apprentice but she is still far from completing her training. Otherwise many of these wounded would be whole and we would not be looking to lose another.” Emeril answered sadly.
Chance, I know your mother taught you much about medicine and herbs. Do you think we should offer to help? I also remember seeing some healing incantations in the book from Mage Alexander. Alyssia asked.
I don’t know. We would have to reveal ourselves. I think we would need to clear it with the Captain first.
“Ummm… Captain”, Chance started hesitantly.
“Yes Chance.” The Captain said as he turned to look at Chance.
“I was wondering if it would be ok if I tried to help out. My mother would have wanted me to try to use the skills she taught me if I could.” Chance asked as he reached up to caress Alyssia in an attempt to suggest the use of Ard in healing the men.
“You are trained in medicine?” Emeril asked.
“Yes, my mother is an herbalist and healer in Mern. She has instructed me in caring for the hurt and wounded for as long as I can remember.” Chance responded.
“Do you think you can help?” the Captain asked as he glanced toward Alyssia. With Emeril on the opposite side of the Captain from Chance, he would not be able to see the glance.
“I won’t know if I don’t try, I can’t sit by and let a man die and people suffer without at least trying.” Chance answered.
Nodding his head, the Captain agreed. “Alright, you may try if it is ok with Emeril and the aShamah. That is the apprentice Shamah, just in case you were unfamiliar with the change in the title.”
“If you think you can save the man by all means please. Come follow me.” Emeril said as he stood.
They walked toward the group of injured sitting outside of a wagon that was pulled inside the outer protective ring of wagons. They went to the door on the back of the wagon and Emeril knocked softly.
A young woman answered, she looked to have been crying. “Ah, Keeper. He still holds on. The aShamah, she does not know what to do so she does nothing. Please Keeper end his suffering and let him go to the Maker.” She said as she broke into tears.
“Easy Marin. She is young and knows not what is best. We have guests and one that knows somewhat of medicines and herbs. He would look to Alistair.” Emeril responded comfortingly.
Marin turned to the Captain and said, “Thank you for the offer to help my betrothed. Please heal him.”
“Chance here will be helping if he can.” The Captain said, indicating Chance beside him.
“Him? He is not that far from the skirts yet. How can he help my Alistair?” She asked angrily. “How can he do more than the aShamah who has trained in caring for the Family since she was old enough to read?”
“Merin! He has offered to help despite having traveled all day and from the looks of him, being injured. You will show him the courtesy of the salt and the light!” Emeril responded angrily. “Now step aside and let us see if he can help!”
Shocked at the rebuke by her leader and already emotionally distraught, Merin fled the wagon toward the other side of the circle.
“Come Chance. Let us see if you can help young Alistair.” Emeril said, offering his hand to Chance to help him up the steps into the back of the wagon.
As Chance entered the wagon he was amazed. The inside appeared much bigger than the wagon looked from the outside. There were two bunks along one side as well as an area for alchemy at the end away from the door the other side was devoted to storage of medicines and bandages as well as preparation of herbs. It looked as if his mother’s entire work area was packed neatly inside the wagon.
Chance noticed that the lowest bunk was occupied by a young man that was no more than four or five years older than he was. His chest was wrapped in bandages and blood stained one side just to the right of his heart. Any further to the left and he would have died instantly. As it was his lung was more than likely punctured and filled up with blood. For him to have lasted this long was nothing short of a miracle from what Chance could tell at a glance. He also saw a young girl, of maybe fifteen or so, sitting in a corner crying. She was dressed in red with a white sash around her waist.
“aShamah, we have a guest that would try to help if you are willing to allow it?” Emeril asked softly as he walked over to the girl and placed a hand on her shoulder.
“Oh Daddy!” She cried as she stood and wrapped her arms around Emeril. “I don’t know how to save him!”
“There, there, little one it will be ok.” He comforted her. Gently tilting her chin up to look at him he asked again, “aShamah, we have a guest that would try to help if you are willing to allow it?”
“Oh! Yes, please.” She said quickly and wiped her forearm across her eyes and stood a little taller. She turned to Chance and stopped then turned back to her father and looked at him questioningly.
“Yes aShamah, he is the one that would help.” Emeril responded.
Nodding her head and squaring her shoulders she turned to Chance. “Very well. Yes, sir you may see what can be done for he is beyond my skill.”
Nodding his head and smiling Chance, trying to appear confident in his ability, turned and knelt beside the bunk. As he did so he almost tripped on Salvation from it being on his right hip instead of his left where he usually wore his scabbard. As he did so he remembered what his father had told him about the sword. “At the time of Salvations crafting it was enchanted with a powerful incantation placed upon it that will heal the wielder of their wounds. It will at your command, either draw Ard from you or from your enemy to heal whomever is holding it.”
Alyssia I have an idea. Chance explained his idea to Alyssia. Do you think I can place Salvation in his hands and hold it as well then use our Ard to heal him?
Chance! That is right! Salvation has the ability to heal. That is a great idea. She responded.
Standing back up and turning to the Emeril and the aShamah. “I think I can heal him. You will need to trust me though.” They nodded their agreement. “Captain?” Chance said as he turned to look at the Captain, who nodded his assent.
Chance reached for the hilt of Salvation and began to draw it from its scabbard when Emeril quickly grasped his hand to stop him. “You must not draw a weapon in the wagon of the Shamah. It is against our laws.” He stated forcefully.
Startled Chance let go of the hilt and stepped back.
“If I cannot draw a weapon here, can he be moved from the wagon?” Chance asked calmly.
Nodding, “Yes he can be moved.” Emeril responded.
“But Keeper, it could kill him if we move him.” The aShamah responded.
“aShamah, he will die if we do not move him as well. Better a small chance than no chance.” He answered. Then turning to the bed he leaned over and released several catches between the bed and the wall of the wagon. “Captain if you would take an end we will move him outside the wagon.”
Captain Herrera moved quickly to one end of the bunk and once Emeril was at the other end they stooped and grasped the bunk lifting it up and away from the wall.
The young man groaned from the movement but did not awaken.
The two men carefully moved the bunk out of the wagon and down the steps. They then carried the bunk to the central fire followed by Chance and the aShamah.
“My people! My family! Come gather here!” Emeril shouted. “Marin! Come to your betrothed.”
A wail sounded from the side of camp that Chance had watched Marin flee to earlier.
“Alistair is not dead! Our guest is going to see what can be done to save his life!” Emeril’s voice rang out above the murmur of the crowd. “Come stand with your betrothed and lend your strength to him during his hour of need.”
Marin came slowly from the shadows supported on both sides by an older couple. As they neared the circle of Travelers, it parted to allow her and those supporting her to enter into the center.
Emeril turned and nodded to Chance. “You may proceed. May the Maker aid you.”
Nodding, Chance drew Salvation with his left hand. The murmur of the crowd began to increase at the sight of the drawn blade. Chance knelt beside the young man and carefully placed the hilt of the sword in his hand. Then wrapped his hand around the young man’s hand and the hilt as well. Closing his eyes and focusing, he began to pull on his Ard and tried to direct it to the sword. As soon as he could feel the Ard reach this hand he could feel the Ard begin to flow freely to the blade. He could feel the flow from Alyssia begin to increase as well as his own blending with the Ard of Salvation. The song began in three parts blending smoothly into one glorious song once again. The noise from the crowd ceased suddenly and remained quiet. Chance was beginning to feel the drain and was wondering if it was working when suddenly the flow and the song stopped.
Opening his eyes Chance looked down into the open eyes of Alistair.
“The song…” he murmured. “The song was amazing. I…” he paused and turned his head to the left and saw Marin standing there. Tears streamed down her face and her body was wracked with great sobs. “Marin, my love why are you crying?” He asked as he released the hilt of Salvation and slowly raised himself up to a sitting position.
The aShamah gasped and moved to restrain him but stopped as the bandages fell away from his chest. A gasp surged through the gathered crowd as everyone saw that the wound on his chest was not only gone but there was not even a scar remaining.
Emeril turning swiftly looked to Chance and then to Captain Herrera. “How? Who… Who is this young man?” he stammered.
Turning to Emeril he whispered, “What he is and who he is needs to be kept quiet. If I had known what he planned I do not know if I would have let him proceed in the open. I need your vow that what has happened here tonight will not go beyond this camp. Your King needs your vow.” He watched as Chance slowly slumped down and leaned back as the drain from healing Alistair set in.
Nodding, Emeril turned to the crowd. “My family!” he shouted above the noise of the crowd. “My family! I need your attention.”
Once the crowd had silenced he continued, “A miracle has occurred today. The Maker has heard our cry for help and answered. One of ours who was standing on the edge of death is returned to us whole and well.”
A cheer erupted from the people but Emeril once again waved them back to silence.
“This healing though is a Family secret. It must not be spoken of beyond this camp or anywhere someone not of the Family can hear. This is imperative. To do so would bring danger upon the one the Maker sent to help us. Do I have your vow in this?” He asked the crowd.
Everyone present raised their left hand and placed their right hand in front of their mouth and said “Aye!”
Emeril turned to the Captain and repeated the response of the crowd, he then added, “You have the word of the Telenor branch of the Family that what has occurred will not leave this camp.”
Nodding his head, Herrera turned to Chance. “If you agree I would like you to reveal yourself. They are safe and are bound by oaths that they will take what happens here to their graves.”
What do you think, Little One? Chance asked as he stood up slowly.
In response Alyssia turned her head and pulled the bandage off her back exposing her wings and removed the illusion that altered her color. Then flapping her wings to raise herself up into the air off of Chance’s shoulder let out an Ard enhanced roar, that reverberated off of the surrounding wagons, and then landed back on his shoulder.
“May I present to you, Demi-Mage Chance Smithe and his Demi-Dragon Alyssia.” Captain Herrera said proudly to the crowd who stood in stunned silence.