It took quite a while to reach the camp of Hanne’s men. Anh didn’t pay much attention, nor did he care and kin agreed, as they allowed themselves to be led the entire route. For a while Thernohh and Tow were having a back and forth on how to evade their predicament, and in the end, settled that the only way out was up, and would only work if their newly acquired allies ignored them or turned not to be very allied and quick to draw a bow, which most wildmen had and presumably were capable of using.
It was way past dusk when they finally arrived.
-* Looks more like a village really *- said Birdekk when he first saw its premises
-* Agree, they must have camped here for a long while * - added Tow -* Weeks at least *
The camp consisted of six rectangular huts of freshly cut trees covered by a doubly sheer roof of twigs, grass, and clay. It was very rudimentary but also seemed quite sturdy. The huts were arranged three by two and about five mers apart in each direction, and about three by five mers in size. Between the middle two was a sizable fireplace with a deer roasted by two men.
-* Note how uniform these huts are. They were built to the same layout and design *- said Thernohh
-* I take, that you consider it weird? ” - Greoo chimed in
-* Not weird. Unexpected. These people are savages living in the woods. * - the youngest filled the shared mind-space with a mental hum for a moment -* I didn’t expect this level of forethought from them. ”
-* There are fifteen people here, including our entourage. * - Tow announced without having anyone in particular on his mind
-* You mean, you counted fifteen *- snarkily commented Thernohh. Tow just sighed.
When the convoy arrived, the men they were escorted by dispersed into the huts, leaving only Brandt, Hanne, Strettar, Anh, and Olaff. The leading wildmen headed towards the circle of fist-sized pebbles, which were the camp’s fireplace and main roast. The eldest nodded at the aberrants to follow them. Brandt did so, but Olaff interrupted Anh.
-” Slanke man. Ik haw in grutte fraach foar in wiis as jo. ” - he said very apologetically - ” Wy hawwe hjir ferwûne. Kinne jo, jo witte … ”
-* Now what could he possibly want? * - sarcastically scoffed Thernohh
-*Probably help with his injuries? *- said Greoo -* We won’t know unless we ask. *
-* How!? *
-*Just say something in a caring voice.*
-” Yes, what is the problem ” - Anh did just that, Olaff’s spirit instantly rose.
-” Komme, Lêste hok ”
The wildman went in the direction of the hut that was the furthest from them. Anh nodded at Brandt when he passed near him, but the Nord was already deep in discussion with Strettar. His passing did cause a little commotion, some glances were shot, and the two men who tended to the roasted deer interrupted their conversation for a moment.
Olaff was the first to reach, and then enter, Anh soon followed and immediately was assaulted by a heavy stench of rot and sweat, which hung in the air despite it being fairly chilly since noon. It was fairly dark, with only the faint glow of the camp’s roast illuminating the interior. Anh invoked a simple lumehex, causing a minor gasp of amazement from Olaff.
To the back of the hut, on the floor, and a thick mattress of fur lay two men, who were certainly not in a good way. Their heads were towards the entrance, and their bodies were covered by more fur, of which there was a knee-high heap behind it all. The walls and ceiling were covered in the same material, which explained the unusual warmth inside.
Both men seemed to be sleeping. Olaff kneeled by one, and took the fur off his chest, revealing that the man’s lower abdomen had been bandaged over. It was a linen or similar cloth, crusty and bloodied.
-” Now I understand why he wanted us *- half announced, half mused Greoo after they swept the inside of the hut with their gaze -* These hoomin here are going to need our help *
-* And now we’ll have to help him… them, right? *- Thernohh threw in, sarcastically
-* Yes * - replied Greoo, and did so in a tone that made it clear that she was not going to tolerate her kin’s objections, especially not from the youngest -* Anh, ask Olaff to take off the … dressing, I guess. This man needs immediate vitahexic attention. Just plain medical attention probably as well. *
-* You know, we are not trained in this *- Thernohh was not giving up -* We can end up doing more harm than good *
-* Save your contrarianism for another time *- scoffed Greoo -* We can do something, thus we will be doing something. Anh, yell for Brandt to come, or try to get us some hot and cold water, a bucket, or something. *
-* Try to say this *- Tow joined the exchange -* Bitte. Heisse und Kalt wasser *
-* I’ll try *- confirmed Anh
-” Bitte. Heisse … und … Kalt wasser. ”
-* I take you meditated about your knowledge of ’Maaren’? *- the dominant asked
-* Yes. We’ll see how it goes *
Olaff blinked a few times, then nodded and stormed out.
-*Now we might want to take a peek at the other fellow*
Anh folded his legs into a cross, lowered himself towards the floor, and floated towards the other wildman. He took the fur off the other man and immediately saw the same kind of dressing on him in the same location. Although this man also had wounds on his legs. The tanai began to unwrap the bandages if they could be called such. As he progressed, the extent of the damage was becoming evident. The wounds didn’t seem very deep but were long and started to smell. Badly.
-* They didn’t even clean the wounds! *- exclaimed Greoo
-* Savages * - scoffed Thernohh -* What did you expect? *
-* Just because they don’t know, does not mean they can’t learn * - said Birdekk in a conciliatory tone.
One of the warriors had a long slashed wound from the upper part of his pelvis, up to the belly button. The other had a similar slashed wound on his thigh and another going from the left of his pelvic bone towards his groin, but not, really reaching it.
-” Zerster!” - shouted the tanai.
-* Why did you call for him? *
-* He is the sword-swinging type. He might tell us what these men were wounded by. * - Anh said calmly.
Brandt, and Strettar with him, arrived together with OIaff. The former carrying a head-sized sack with something sloshing in it.
-” Olaff zays, hot water will be ready zoon.”
-* Good *
-” Can you tell him to obtain some cloth, rag or something? The cleaner the better.”
Strettar nodded and relayed these words to Olaff, at least, that was what Anh assumed, as the former quickly ran out of the hut. He could hear him yelling something outside.
-” Mr Zerster, what can you tell me about these wounds? ”
Brandt came closer and squatted near Anh. Then took a look at both slashes on one of the wounded. Traced them with his finger.
-” They are certainly rotting.* - he said when he sniffed the air - “and have been for some time. Why do you ask me?”
-” You are the resident sword-swinging expert. I assume knowing the aftermath is also part of the expertise.”
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-” As such” - Brandt replied after a few drips - “Those were made with a slashing weapon. Cutlass or a saber. Fairly short, as the wound is deep, so quite some leverage, probably a cutlass. The assailant was right-handed and judging from the location of the wounds, no taller than a mer and a third. I’d say a tehei.”
-” Them critters Dlooa zent on uz.”- Strettar decided to come to the aberrants and join the conversation. Anh and Brandt turned their heads towards him - ”Zmall hoomin. Child like. Very aggressive. They uzed theze curved zhort zwords. Very zharp and light. I’ll be back in a moment.” - the elder exited the hut.
-” So, I should not expect shards or anything?” - tanai turned towards the hoomin
-” If both of them survived for as long as they seem to, I don’t think it matters. But this is a slash wound.”
-” I’m not a medic.”- said Anh in a worried tone- ”I quite literally going off the basic first aid training I had a decade ago.”
-” I think they stand a better chance with you than without” - Brandt said without even a shred of an attempt to make it sound like an affirmation -” I think they are gone either way.”
-* He knows how to make tanai at ease *- scoffed Greoo -* Do something! It doesn't matter anyways! * - she said, mocking his hoarse voice -* Hoomin!*
-* He is right though * - shrugged Thernohh -* We don’t even have a needle and thread to sew these poor sods. *
-* We can’t sew people. *
-* I know. But if we could, we would not be able to. *
-* You are grasping at … threads. *
-* I may, but we sew leather covers to books for a living, people are not much different. Probably. I think. *
Greoo wanted to reply but was interrupted by Olaff who stormed the hut with a folded grey, linen cloth clasped in his hands. He quickly came towards Anh and gave it to him. It was fairly thick and stiff. It was rectangular and ripped off a larger sheet.
-* Honestly, where did he get it from? *- mused Tow when they were running the fabric through their fingers.
-* It likely is a tent, or sack, they repurposed. * - commented Birdekk
-*...or they were prepared, because they seem to be a war party * - added Thernohh - * Getting wounded is an implicit side effect, thus having bandages makes sense. If you asked for soap, I’d wonder as well. We also should concentrate on patching those fellows, since we are already committed to it. *
Greoo frowned, but said nothing.
Anh crumpled the cloth and doused it in water, then he applied a pyrohex to warm the moist bundle a bit.
-* The one slashed twice seems to be of higher importance *- said Birdekk
-* Then I shall begin with him *- answered Anh and began to clean the thigh wound of the mentioned man. He used slow, delicate touch and round movements, making sure that he removed as much dirt and ingress as possible. Sometimes, when he overdid it, a few droplets of blood would drip from the wound.
-* I read once *- Tow said at one moment, during the procedures -* of a well-skilled vitahexers who clean skin just by using very special, delicate but effective kinehex. They call it ‘buzzing’. No soap or even water is needed.”
-* I hope you don’t want me to try * - replied Anh after a short while
-* No, of course not. But we ought to learn how to do it once we’re back home.*
-* Right *- said Anh, without really paying attention -* Birdekk please take over the lumehex, I need to concentrate. *
The warm, heavy smell of rot, sweat, and fur mixed with the characteristic sour smell of vitahexergy created such an aura so noxious, Anh’s sight blurred for a drip when it hit him. On the periphery of his vision, he saw Brandt, who needed to exhale in disgust through his nostrils.
-* I certainly hope this is going to be worth it. *- said repulsed Greoo
-* Now I ‘truly’ understand why Tokors spent so much time divulging aromas and face masks for vitahexers * - added Tow -* This is revolting! *
-* Imagine us doing something other than this basic hex *- after Birdekk said it, a colloquial flinch of disgust shuddered the variunity. In spite of this, Anh continued to apply the vitahex along the entire slash. When he was done, he noticed a small pot of steaming water near him, and just next after it was Olaff squatting and smiling foolishly.
-* I just noticed he misses his upper left feline * - said Greoo
Anh threw the dirty rag into the steaming water and kinetically forced it to float inside. Then he, using the same method, took it out and twisted it to let some water out. Just enough for it to be still warm and moist.
It took almost a halfer to finish the work on both men. Anh was so engrossed in this that he didn’t notice Brandt leaving. He exited the hut tired, his flight was uneasy, but content. Nearby, by the fire sat Hanne, Strettar, and Brandt, discussing something. Next to the Nord, laying on the pebbles demarcating the fire, was a curved sword. Around them, at a distance of a few steps, either sat or stood the wildmen, observing solemnly the gathering in the centre.
-” I’m done.” - said Anh tiredly after arriving at the fire. He noted that one of the cooks, an older man, was heavily scarred, looking as if half of his face was melted off. Tanai decided to investigate further. Later. Much later.
-” How are they? ” - asked Strettar.
-” Don’t know. I’m not a vitahexer. I’m not even a hexergist. I’m a bookkeeper and scribe. Most of the time, at least.” - the old man’s demeanor turned grim when he heard it - “They were heavily wounded, the wounds were not cleaned and sewn. I think it is Arneg’s grace that they are alive.”
-” I underztand. ” - sadly said Strettar - “ I hope for the bezt. ”
Anh crossed his legs and flew closer to the fire.
-” If I were to place bets. The lighter wounded probably is going to get well. ”
-” Fritjof. One of our bezt. We don’t know what happened. Fritjof and Magni were patrolling Dlooa and … zomething happened. Fritjof carried unconscious Magni to the camp and collapzed right before it.”
-” Magni is the one slashed twice? ”
-” Yez ”
-” Then my prognosis is grim. His wounds smelled, and it was foul. ”
-” When did this happen? ” - asked Brandt
-” Three dayz ago. ”
-” I’m hungry. ” - said Anh
-” Pleaze. Treat yourself.” - said Strettar, gesturing at the roasted deer. At the same time Brandt took the blade off pebbles and handed it to the tanai. Immediately Anh noticed how weirdly small the handle was in Brandt’s palm. So much, so that even if he tried, Nord would not get a good grip on the weapon.
-” Try this ” - he said to Anh, who shot him a weird look
- ”How.”
-” It won’t matter. Trust me. ”
Anh took the blade by the handle.
-* This is weirdly light * - said Tow when the sensation of the blade’s weight reached him -* what is this? *
-* A curved sword, but for a child. Even we can barely grip it *- replied Thernohh -* I don’t recognize this weapon, but a Cammona saber would be twice its size. I don’t know this material. Ask him. *
Anh turned his head towards the Nord and raised an eyebrow.
-” What you are holding is, likely, a kind of scimitar that wounded your patients. Maybe even the one. It’s made of bluestone.”
-* I don’t understand *- carefully announced Thernohh, to the surprise of all the others.
-” What is a ‘bluestone’? ” - inquired Anh and did it so clumsily, that Brandt could not help but smile.
-” Try to cut a piece of meat. Then I’ll explain. ”
-” Right… ” - Anh took the scimitar by the handle and pointed it at the deer, hovering over it, searching for a cut. Once he did, he clumsily laid the blade on it and began to cut. Cursing at first that he didn’t have a fork to hold the meant from rotating.
The blade went into the flesh as into soft butter. Tanai didn’t even need to push it too hard. A few quick, successive cuts and he almost separated a piece of an unfortunate deer. He stopped short of fully separating the piece.
-* What is this thing made of?! * - exclaimed Thernohh - * This is incredible! *
-” Mr. Zerster. Tell me what this is! ” - said Anh, almost shouting, sharing his kin’s enthusiasm.
Hanne nodded at the men who previously took care of the roast. Those quickly reached to a heap of sharpened sticks nearby, grabbed one, and stuck it into the piece Anh almost separated and after a short struggle gave it to the tanai. Once this was done Hanne nodded at them and shouted, while waving his right hand in invitation.
-“ Kom freonen, lit ús ite. Der is noch in soad te dwaan, mar foar no moatte wy rêste. ”
The warriors came closer, and those who roasted the deer began to partition it, piece by piece and give some to everyone. Brandt was given a piece first. Once he held it, he began to nibble on it.
-” Bluestone is a ‘thing’. I don’t recall ever hearing or reading about what it is really.” - he chewed a piece for a few drips -” It is assumed, although I guess we can say certain, it is linked to the Precursors. Bits and pieces of things made of it are sometimes found. Broken swords, knives, surgery, or sculpting tools also, at least so I heard. The only intact weapon I know of is the Cammotian coronation sword.”
-” Duxlag? ” - Anh raised his brows, surprised.
-” According to my sources, yes.” - Brandt took another bite off his meal -” But neither I held it in my hand, nor is it something the Crown wants to advertise. ”
-* Do we believe him * - asked Thernohh.
-* Rhetorically or actually? * - smirked Greoo.
Anh carefully examined the weapon, noting its size and exact shape. He weaved the blade by twisting his wrist. All of them were watching as the light emanating from the fire nearby made the material of the blade shimmer. It was blue-brownish, which made sense considering the name. It had a weird texture in this colour, similar to freckles or spots, which diffused light in a manner different from the surrounding surface. The cutting edge had several crescent-shaped faults of varying sizes and spaced apart unequally. The handle seemed made of wood and was worn almost into nothingness, and the short, brass, s-shaped crossguard was pitted and badly corroded, suggesting that the item was indeed ancient.
Despite the apparent age, the damage, and the unusual surface texture, the blade retained its mirror finish and was terrifyingly sharp.
-* This sword is made of something that looks like glass, is sharp as a razor and lighter than wood. *- replied Thernohh -* Definitely ‘actually’ *
-” Mr Zerster. How do you know this? ” - Anh raised the blade - “ About this. ”
-” I stumbled upon some shreds of information ” - replied the Nord after a brief moment -” I don’t recall details, but I think it came up in discussion with someone, sometime ago. I researched it as much as I could. That is to say, not very. But one hears things if one knows when, where, and who to listen to.” - Nord took another bite - “ You also should eat some ” - he said while chewing.
-* He is right, you know * - added Birdekk. Anh sighed and took a bite of his meat and when the taste finally reached his consciousness, he realized just how hungry he was.