“What?” Kveldulf asked.
“He came day before yesterday, he asked me if I knew backroads around here. A few people like to take them to get around the big roads what with all the fighting, so I didn’t think anything of it. So I told him me and I boy both knew them, he then asked if I knew where this cave was, which I did and he said to find a group of mercenaries and lead them there. I asked him why and he said that if I didn’t he’d kill me and my son. I didn’t know what to do, so I said I would.”
“What about your son?” Kveldulf asked.
“He took him to the southern path, said he had to meet some people there.”
Both Kveldulf and Jeanne exchanged glances as Jeanne felt a shiver crawl up her spine. “Oh no,” she whispered. She turned back to the others. “Doc! How’s Cid? We need to move!”
“We got the tongue out, finally, but he’s going to need some time to rest for the wounds to heal,” said Leonidas.
“What’s the matter?” Cid asked in a strained voice.
“You need to …” Leonidas said before Cid interrupted him.
“I am still in charge of this outfit, doctor,” Cid said. “What’s wrong.”
“This was a diversion,” Jeanne said.
“For what?”
“He’s going after Cyneswith and the others,” said Kveldulf.
“All right,” said Cid. “Doctor, I think you and I can handle the manor while the rest go after them.”
“Right,” said Leonidas. “Let’s get you up then.”
“Good luck,” Jeanne said to them.
“Same to you’ll,” Cid replied. “I think you’ll need it more than we will.”
“What about him?” Benkin asked, training the tip of his long sword towards Cillian.
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“Bring him with us,” Jeanne said. “He wants us to find his boy, he’ll help us move through the lands faster.”
“He’ll need to be patched up first,” Leonidas said.
“Get him mobile, then we head out,” Jeanne replied.
“You think that might be …” Silvius asked before Jeanne cut him off.
“He led us into a trap and our leader is seriously wounded. I’d want to do worse, but we don’t have time for the fun stuff. Doc, get him walking and let’s move!”
“Jeanne,” Kveldulf said, putting his hand on her shoulder.
“I’m not in the mood, Kel,” Jeanne snapped.
“And we can’t afford him not moving,” Kveldulf. “I want to cleave the man into two, but right now we have other matter to prioritize.”
Jeanne snarled, turning to Leonidas and said, “Just get moving, then get Cid back to that mansion.”
Jeanne turned her gaze into the dark forest, great shadows casting their shade, forcing out the light in this kingdom of eternal night. From within she could see a figure standing tall. A familiar silhouette looking out from the cloak of shadows towards her. She could feel a growing sense of remorse, her fist tightening and lips pressed together.
“What would you have me do?” she whispered softly.
What if it was Sabine? She heard within her thoughts.
Her muscles began to loosen, her hand rubbing her forehead as she turned to Leonidas and said, “Make sure he doesn’t have any major health concerns,” feeling a slight heaviness in her stomach.
She turned back to the forest, “Happy?” she mouthed.
Remember, she heard the voice speak, such things rarely linger in the realm of black and white, much reside in the kingdom of the grey.
Jeanne half closed her eyes. “And now we’re getting philosophical, outstanding.”
“You say something?” Benkin asked her.
Jeanne shook her head. “Just thinking out loud, sorry.”
“Well, can’t say I’m a stranger to that trend.”
“That helps a little,” Jeanne said, turning to the doctor. “How much longer before he’s mobile?”
“Oh, a few more stitches to close the wound up and he should be good as new,” said Leonidas.
“Very good,” said Kveldulf, “the sooner we’re on the march, the better.”
“How long is it going to take us to get across this path?” Maeryn asked Cillian.
“About half a day if we’re lucky,” Cillian said, wincing for a moment as the doctor back bandaging up the wound.
“And the bastard is probably that far ahead already,” Benkin said.
“He still might be nursing that wound Jeanne gave him,” said Gabriel. “The man did have a hole blown into his torso.”
“I’m surprised he was still standing after that,” said Hypatia.
“Vampyres can take a lot more damage than most people,” Gabriel replied. “Comes in handy when things get a little crazy.”
“Let’s not dally anymore than needed,” said Kveldulf.
“You can say that again,” said Jeanne. “Try and get better soon, Cid, or I’m gonna turn your fur into violin strings.”
“I will,” Cid said, holding his arm over the wound, grunting as he spoke. “But I make no promises.
“I thought that was an insult to a Felidan,” Silvius said, sinking his head into his shoulders.
“She can say that, you can’t,” Cid replied.
Silvius shrugged. “That’s a fair one.”