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Third-Day of August, In the Year of the Empire 6777 Continued

After a while, Sienna sat down beside me with her Runes and Rituals Primer after we both simply said hello to one another.

We heard the horses before we could see the soldiers. It turned out to be Knight Commander Bradley and his squad.

They were leading another horse with a terrified woman and two kids. I could see blood on their ragged clothing. In front of the woman was a sleeping girl, maybe eight or nine years old. Behind her was another girl, maybe ten or eleven years old. All three were bruised and cut, none of them look like they've eaten in a while.

Putting my notes away, I stand and go to meet Bradley. Sienna is right beside me.

"Sienna, this may not be pleasant, please go inside if you wish."

Sienna just shook her head no and took a deep breath. "I'm okay."

Bradley saluted, and as I returned it, he started speaking, "Sir, we found and killed nineteen bandits. None of our men were seriously hurt." He then nodded towards the woman and children. "We rescued these three. They were treated harshly and had nowhere to go. They need some medical treatment as well, Sir."

"Thank you, Commander, tend to the men. If anyone is having issues with healing, you send them to me."

"And Commander, we are expecting a caravan of nine families, and possibly more, yet today.

"Yes, Sir."

I turned to the woman. "Hello mam, I am Viscount Hartson. If you would please come inside, we'll get all of you some food and treat your wounds."

The woman had a disbelieving look for a long moment, but then nodded, "Thank you, my lord."

She turned to the girl behind her, "Emma, get down."

Emma was struggling to get down without falling. Thankfully Sienna quickly stepped forward to help her.

I stepped forward to take the little girl. The woman looked very worried. "I'll just hold her while you get down if that is okay?" She gently handed the sleeping girl to me, allowing me to step back so that she could get down.

As the woman got down, I cast the cleaning and repair spells on the little girl and her clothes. Hearing me do this, I heard Sienna do the same for Emma.

The woman looked at us in great surprise. I offered the little girl back to her, but she did not want to take her for some reason.

I could see Sienna supporting Emma, so looking at the woman, I nodded toward the mansion, "Please follow Sienna.

Sienna, please take us to the dining room."

The woman then stepped forward to take the little girl, and I carefully passed her back. When the woman had her, I softly cast the cleaning and repair spells on the woman. "You're all safe now. Please come inside."

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Turning, "Mr. Milbery, please have some broth prepared for them." He nodded and quickly went into the house."

I went ahead of the women and held the door for them. The woman looked at the doorway like it was a trap, but she finally walked in.

They sat down at the table, and a maid brought in glasses of water, "The broth will be ready soon, Sir."

Sitting down beside the woman slowly, I asked, "Mam, what is your name?"

She answered softly, "Ava, my lord."

"Thank you, Ava. I would like to use magic to help you heal. Will you let me hold your hand for a moment?"

Taking a deep breath first, she placed her shaking hand on mine. I gently put my other hand on top of hers without a gripping and closed my eyes. I had never used this spell before, so I calmly used it, thinking of slowly and carefully healing the woman. I could feel mana pushing into her and finding damage in her hand, a few small cuts. As I concentrated, I could feel the wounds heal. I was slowly sending mana throughout her body to repair any harm. I hoped I was not blushing when I could sense specific injuries, but I continued to heal her. When I could find no more, I stopped and let her hand go.

"Hartson!"

The next thing I knew, Sienna was holding my hand while I laid on the floor with a fading mana headache.

Sienna seeing I was awake, smiled, and said, "Dummy."

I grinned, and we both got up, "Thanks."

The woman was looking much better, but the girls still needed help. I turned to Emma. She was sitting beside Ava and holding onto her arm tightly.

"Hello, Emma, would you please hold my hand so I can help you?"

Ava spoke to her, "Go ahead, he will not hurt you."

Just as slowly as Ava, Emma took my hand and held it. Emma did not shake, but her eyes had so much fear in them.

Doing as I did before, I started with Emma's hand and then slowly spread to heal other injuries. 

I had gotten upset in the past, mad even at my oldest sister. That was nothing to the rage that was interfering with my concentration now as I healed this little girl of the same intimate wounds as Ava.

I had not used too much mana on the girl as she lacked many of the bruises and cuts Ava had. Ava also had injuries to her organs such that I don't think I could ride a horse, let alone have the strength to walk into the house.

Looking at Emma, I asked, "Are you feeling better now?"

She nodded but did not say a word.

Turning back to Ava, "What is her name?"

Softly she said, "Olivia."

I gently took the sleeping girl's hand and began healing again.

Did I think I felt rage before? If I knew that those men still lived, I would kill them myself as painfully as possible. This little girl had the same horrific injuries, but someone had also hit her in the head, hard. Healing that wound, I feared I'd run out of mana again. I treated the 'bruise' to her mind slowly and carefully, hoping I was not doing more damage.

When I finished, I was exhausted and could barely manage to sit in the chair.

Sienna was there checking on me again. "Hartson, are you okay?"

I just nodded and closed my eyes for a bit. Or maybe a bit longer than that.

"Hartson, eat," Sienna told me.

Opening my eyes, I saw a bowl of broth in front of me. Near me, both girls were slowly having some themselves while

Ava kept telling them to eat slowly.

I smiled at them, especially Olivia. It struck me that Ava and Olivia both should be dead.

When I tried to pick up my spoon, I found that Sienna was holding my hand tightly. I turned to her, "Thank you, Sienna. You've been great."

She blushed and let go of my hand and muttered, "Your welcome."

Eating the broth did seem to help get my energy back. Perhaps I had stopped putting mana into my ring? It seems likely.

I excused myself and went looking for the Commander.

I found him outside talking with Mayer. "Gentlemen, are all of the men well?"

Bradley, "Mostly scratches from thorns and branches. One boy is limping after falling off his horse, but is okay, Sir."

I asked growling, "And those damned bandits?"

They both understood. Bradly replied, "Sir, they are all very dead. One of them was, ah, with that little girl. The men and

I might have gotten a little out of hand. I don't think we left many pieces bigger than my boot."

"I would have done the same, I imagine. You and your men have earned their rest. Have a good evening Bradly."

He saluted before leaving to go back to the fort area.