“She’s just not a hugger,” Bert gasped as Bud laughed.

“I thought you had lost it there for a minute,” Bud said. “I haven’t seen you that angry before.”

“I admit I may have lost it, just a bit, there.” Bert huffed. “But that guy really pissed me off.”

“We did kind of torture him,” Bud admitted. “He was in real pain when he was healing you.”

“I’m sorry he had to go through that,” Bert nodded. “But not sorry enough that I wish you hadn’t made him do it.”

“It’s going to take some time to get over it,” Bud nodded, “For all of us.”

“Well, let’s make a start now, shall we?” Bert asked. “These people still need us here?”

“Not really,” Bud said. “They have the city but not many supplies. They are better off here than anywhere else.” He shrugged.

“Then let’s pack up, shall we?” Bert sighed. “I’m uncomfortable around this lot after they seemed to back Eckhart.”

“Most didn’t,” Bud said.

“But the ones that did will cause trouble, and I don’t think any of us will react well to that.” Bert smiled sadly. “Better to leave now than to deal with all of that.”

Packing up didn’t take too long. The Waystationers were used to the process by now. The Bud Patrol went and pulled the spikes out of the ground while the Multi-Bells passed the word they were leaving to the defacto leaders of the Refugees.

There was some grumbling and some shocked reactions, but the fact was there were as many people happy to see them go as there were sad they were leaving.

Between Bert losing it and charging into the city and Bell forcing Eckhart to heal Bert over and over, the refugees were now keenly aware of the fact that the Waystationers were ‘Fae Folk.’

The Waystation left them a good few tents and supplies to get them going, but it was clear that neither side really trusted the other any further than that.

By the time the last of the groups were leaving the little camp and heading into the city proper, Bert was itching to get back on the road. This little diversion had almost cost the Waystation its Pixie AND Caretaker. That could not happen again.

“We would like to come with you,” Bruno said nervously, May standing beside him with a determined expression.

“Why?” Bert asked. “We plan to leave these lands as soon as possible, and we may not be back for a long time.”

“We understand,” May said. “But while you are in these lands, we can help.”

Bert stared at her.

“We can,” Bruno rumbled. “We know the lands, the people, and the places to avoid.”

“We can also deal with local people,” She gave a half smile, “You don’t have to deal with the foolish that way.”

Bert grumbled a little but could not really think of a reason why not. He knew May had helped while he was injured, and so…

“Sure, why not?” Bert shrugged.

May actually smiled.

“Great!” Bruno beamed. “What shall we do first?”

“Which way is the shortest route out of the lands of the Three Houses?” Bert asked.

“The shortest?” May thought. “That would be to continue past Fortress City. The safest would be to head to the setting sun.”

“Safest?” Bert asked.

“To avoid the fighting,” May nodded.

Bert thought about it. The shortest route was attractive, but only because he wanted some distance from the City and what happened. Avoiding the fighting would be both safer and offer less temptation to get dragged into it.

“Setting sun it is,” Bert said after a moment.

“All done!” A Multi-Bell called to him and pointed to the Control Tower.

“On my way,” Bert waved to the pixie, and it popped. “You two grab a room in the Bear’s Fall and settle in.”

They nodded and headed off.

Bert took a deep breath as the platform in the tower rose. Leaving felt good. It would take some time for the memories to fade and the nightmares about fire and teeth to stop.

But distance, and new experiences, would help.

=================

They say the road to Hell is paved with good intentions. That very much proved to be the case for the Waystation. The direction they had gone to avoid the Civil War instead seemed to have taken them almost directly into the middle of it.

They had only been traveling for a few hours before they saw the first signs of battle.

The churned ground was marred with splashes of blood and burn marks. A little further on, they came across the first patrol. It turned out to be a familiar face.

Bert walked down the drawbridge with a heavy sense of hopelessness.

“Good to see you again, Caretaker!” Winifred of House Omis bowed to him. The giant of a woman was astride the most enormous horse Bert had ever seen. He half expected fire to snort from its nostrils as it breathed.

“Winifred,” He nodded to her.

“Your fame spreads, Caretaker!” She said as she dismounted and came over to shake his hand. “Tales of your victory over the Fortress City are spreading far and wide!”

“Already?” Bert said, confused. “And it was more of an extermination than a victory.”

“That is even better!” Winifred grinned down at him, her hand engulfing his own. “That cowardly healer runs ahead of you, telling all of your power.” She laughed. “I would have killed the cur, but many will admire your forbearance.”

“Eckhart? How’d he get out this far already?” Bert shook his head, half wishing he had killed the man.

“Who knows how fast a man is when he is afraid?” Winifred slapped him on the back hard enough to make his ribs creak. “I hear that Ben-atal’s brother fled from the field as soon as he heard the stories! You have my thanks for that. He is an oily man but a powerful commander.”

“It seems the battle went ahead without him,” Bert nodded to the blood-stained and potted ground around them.

“It did, but many fewer died today because he was not here,” Winifred nodded to him. “And less death is always a good day.”

“It is,” Bert smiled. It was nice to see the Amazonian-looking woman had a taste for more than just killing.

“Your timing could not be better,” Winifred said in a slightly lower tone. “We have need of neutral ground, that we may negotiate with the enemy and return their injured to them.”

Bert sighed. Off course, he could say no. He just wouldn’t be able to look at himself in the mirror. On the bright side, he didn’t have a mirror. But…

“Happy to help,” Bert forced a smile. “Where shall we set up?”

“There is a group of independent healers over on the far side of the hill. Why not set up with them?” Winifred said lightly.

“Will do,” Bert nodded. “See you later, Winifred?”

“Of course!” Winifred laughed.

The healer’s camp was indeed just over the hill. It was a single tent, large and open. People lay on low beds, blood pooling below them. Eight figures moved amongst them, glowing hands and whispered words doing what they could while a long queue waited outside, some on litters, some merely sat cradling their injuries.

The scent of blood and death in the air was strong, and Mic and Ric both got sick almost immediately. A pair of the healers wandered over as they came to a stop and dropped the drawbridge.

Bert and Bud went down to meet them while Bell kept a weary eye on the three armies surrounding the area.

“Don’t care who you are; you’ll wait in line like the rest!” The first of the pair, a man with dark hair and a half smile, said dismissively.

“Seb’s right. We have more than we can handle. If you can afford that, whatever it is, you can afford better healers.” The other man said. He was a short man with blond hair and blue eyes. He also looked healthy, compared to the unhealthy pale sheen of his companion.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

“No need to worry,” Bert said, smiling. “We are just here as a bit of neutral ground for the Houses to meet on and exchange injured.”

“Oh?” The dark-haired man, Seb, said. “I don’t suppose you have any supplies to spare for healing the commoners, then?”

“Seb,” The other man laughed. “Give them a chance before you decide they are stuck-up pricks.”

“Saves time to assume, plus you’re mostly going to be right.” Bert grinned.

“It really does,” Seb nodded. “So, about those supplies?”

“We just gave most of our stuff to the Refugees over at Fortress City.” Bert frowned. “But I’m sure we can find something. Plus, if you like, we can expand the Waystation and help around this camp a bit.”

“That would be great!” Seb smiled, his face lighting up. “I don’t suppose you have any form of healer on board?”

“I can heal a bit,” Bert nodded. “But I need dead carcasses to do it.”

“We have a lot of those around if we can get someone to go collect them.” The other man nodded. “Lots of animals killed in all of this fighting.”

“I might be able to use leftover bits as well from butchering. I’m not sure, but I’m willing to give it a try.” Bert waved up to the tower, seeing Bell flash a signal that she saw him.

The spikes pushed slowly out of the walls, not launching but waiting for placement.

A woman ran over as they watched.

“Whoa! Wait!” She gasped as she tried to catch her breath. She was an older woman with a warm smile on her wide face when she wasn’t sporting her current panicked look. “I don’t know what they said, but don’t shoot!”

“Umm, I wasn’t?” Bert pointed out.

“Oh, good.” She straightened and held out a hand. “Libby, I run this little group.”

“Bert, nice to meet you.” He shook her blood-covered hand.

“They are going to help us out,” Seb said. “Not sure what the spears are for, though.”

“They let the Waystation claim the land, so we can sort out the camp a bit.” Bert clarified.

“Great!” Seb’s friend said, “Well, we’ll head back to work. Bert, we’ll buy you a beer later if we ever find a working alehouse!”

“I brought one with me,” Bert laughed.

“I think I may love you,” Seb said as his friend dragged him away.

“Sorry about them,” Libby sighed. “Fantastic healers, just not very good with people.”

“Neither is he!” Bell said as she flew up from behind Bert. “Small world!”

“Fuck me!” Libby yelped. “Are you a pixie?”

“I am,” Bell nodded. “So, are we setting up or what?” She asked Bert.

“We are,” Bert nodded, and he and Bud went and grabbed a spear each, walking them out a reasonable distance past the camp before driving them into the ground. When they got back, the Bud Patrol had seen to the others, and the land was rapidly coming under Waystation control.

A pair of the healers were arguing with Libby as he walked by. A young woman with dark hair ran up to him as he passed.

“I’m Dee,” she said simply. “Thanks for the help. I have a list if that would assist you?”

“A list of what?” Bert asked as she handed it to him.

“Improvements to the camp,” She said simply. “Things we should have but have never got.”

Bert looked over the list. It included a couple of extra tents, beds, bedding, a recovery area, a building for the Healers to sleep and eat, and so on.

“Have you had this long?” He asked, noticing the different inks and dogeared page.

“Since I met them about four years ago.” She nodded. “I’m not expecting anything, but if you can help… great.” She gently took the list back and ran back to Libby and the others.

Bert laughed and headed up the drawbridge and into the tower.

“You know, we could just drive on.” Bell sighed. “Just occasionally.”

Bert laughed. “I know, and we definitely should, but….”

She rolled her eyes, but he saw her hiding a smile as well.

Bert closed his eyes for a second as he connected to the Waystation’s Mana Tides. It wasn’t as overwhelming as it was before; whatever he had done to his mana channels had made this a bit easier.

Or maybe he was just getting used to it.

Or both.

Bert shook himself and got to work.

They had enough leather left from the tents they had used for the refugees. As for their actual design, he used what the healers already had, adding drop-down panels for them to tie down in bad weather. He left three of the bell tents as is; they could use them to bunk in.

Thinking of the list Dee had given him, he added a set of showers, a large open wooden cafeteria with a basic kitchen, long tables, and benches. He also added outhouses because why wouldn’t you?

There was not much he could do about the bedding situation. They just didn’t have a way to make cloth. He made a note to try and find a way to change that.

Instead, he made a series of stretchers with their basic canvas material. The stretchers could be placed on top of frames he also made.

That way, they had stretchers and beds. Hopefully, that would be enough, at least for now.

With all the pieces designed, made up, and in dimensional storage, Bert looked to placement. Looking down, he could see the crowded, bloodied ground around the Healer’s tent.

Okay, not there.

If the ground started changing beneath people’s feet, they might panic. He looked off to the side; the area behind the tent was pretty clear. He got to work, firming and flattening the ground. He put in the three large treatment tents at the front, nearest the current tent. He added a stone floor and put the stretcher beds in place. He then added the large Bell tents, with the Cafeteria opposite it. He added stone pathways to all of them and then placed the showers and toilets.

The usual light stones on poles completed the camp. He gave it a look over, then saved the design as a complete layout. There was just no way it would not come in useful again.

By the time Bert got down the tower again, and down the drawbridge, the old healer’s tent was abandoned. Everyone had moved over to the new camp. He wandered through the old tent, wincing at the stench. With a quick message to Way Way, the stench lessened as the blood and other puddles were absorbed into the floor.

It was still there; the blood and sweat-stained beds reeked. He was wondering what to do about it when Dee ran over.

“The new camp is amazing!” She beamed up at him, revealing a mouth full of sharp teeth. Bert was not a tall guy, but Dee really was tiny. He estimated she could not be over five feet tall, even if she wore heels. “We have two healers working in each of the big tents, but what are the other tents for?”

“A place to sleep, for the healers to take a minute to rest and store their things… that kind of thing,” Bert said. “I mean, I assume they need to sleep.”

“Yeah, they forget to do that sometimes.” Dee laughed. “One thing… where is the blood going?”

“The Waystation is keeping everything clean. Why? Do you need the blood?” Bert replied.

“No!” Dee said hurriedly. “It’s great; I just wondered.” She blushed and quickly went to hurry away.

“Dee?” Bert called out.

“Yes?” She asked nervously.

“Do you need the blood? For you, I mean.” Bert asked.

“Shit!” Dee swore. “What gave it away?”

“Well, the teeth are a bit of a clue.” Bert laughed. He waved his hand over his bracer, pulling out some blood berries. “Are these any good to you?”

Dee sniffed them a bit before gently placing one on her tongue. She looked incredibly anxious. She hesitantly bit down gently.

Dee let out a noise of carnal pleasure that was enough to make several of the injured turn to look. It was not a ‘food’ type of noise.

Bert took a surreptitious step back just to make sure everyone could see he was not, in fact, near the small woman.

Dee placed each Berry in her mouth slowly. The noises got worse as Bert kept taking small steps away. By the time she finished her snack, he found himself three meters away and acutely embarrassed.

She was flushed and panting, her eyes glazed over.

“What were they?” She panted.

“Blood Berries,” Bert said, trying to sound casual. “Our Farmer grows them.”

“Are there more?” She asked with desperate hunger in her voice.

“Sure, we have plenty,” Bert said. “ I can get you some more-” Bert cut off as the girl blurred, appearing in front of him in less than the time it took to blink.

“Give!” She snarled.

“Okay, calm down!” Bert said as he resisted the urge to back away. He pulled an entire bowl of the fruits from his storage and found it snatched from his hands in milliseconds.

Bert had run from many things in this new world, but none hurried him along as fast as the urge not to be near the strange little woman and the noise she made as she dug into the bowl of glistening red berries.

“What the fuck is going on out here?” Libby stormed over while Bert tried to think of any possible way to explain as the sounds coming from the old tent got louder and more animalistic.

“What have you done to my assistant?” Libby demanded. “And why is it still happening?”

“I gave her some food!” Bert held his hands up defensively. “That is all!”

“Idiot!” Libby snarled. “She doesn’t eat human food!” She hurried into the tent only to return less than a second later. “What is she eating, for the Gods’ sake?”

“They are Blood Berries,” Bert started. “They are a type of fruit my Farmer developed.” He shrugged. “If it helps, they are not strictly human food.”

“Explain, please.” Libby ignored the noises still coming from the tent.

“Okay, long story, but… they are a type of berry grown to contain life and death mana while mimicking the nature of blood.” Bert shrugged. “Or it may actually be blood; I’m not sure.” He winced at a particularly loud moan.

“Does it act like blood? Can non-humans eat it?” Libby demanded.

“No idea about the first bit, but Undead, Fae, Orcs, and Humans have eaten it with only positive effects.” He thought for a second, “Except for the wine, that has led to a few hangovers.” He continued, “We have used it as a mild healing potion before, and they certainly help speed recovery.”

“And you just gave this to her?” Libby asked suspiciously.

“She asked about the blood; I had noticed her teeth when she smiled, so I thought I might see if she liked them.” Bert looked slightly guilty. “I’m sorry if they are having a detrimental effect… but surely nice fresh blood from a berry is better than the runoff from wounds?”

“YOU GOT THAT RIGHT!” Dee shouted drunkenly from the tent.

Libby winced.

“Fine, can you deal with this?” She gave him a look. “I am busy healing people.”

“Deal with it?” Bert asked.

“Look after her!” Libby pushed him towards the tent. “She is going to be feeling a little out of it.”

“Okay,” Bert said hesitatingly.

Libby marched off back to the new tents.

Bert halted at the edge of the healer’s tent, took a deep breath, and then walked in.

“I’m so full I could pop!” Dee chuckled to herself. She was lying on her back on the floor of the open tent. Blood-red juice was smeared all over her face. “Those things are amazing!”

“Glad I could help,” Bert said. “Any chance you could clue me into what all that was?”

Dee laughed for a full minute or so before she answered.

“I’m a vampire offshoot,” She hiccuped. “Need blood to live, but it’s not like I am super strong or anything. So I joined up with the healers. Always lots of blood around healers.”

“But you can’t get much just from the blood left behind?” Bert guessed.

“I have the ability to scavenge blood in an area into a Blood Orb,” She sighed. “But it is mostly dead by then. I don’t get much, but enough to survive.” She hiccuped again. “I just barely get by. I honestly have never eaten this well in my entire life.”

“Don’t you ever feed on the hopeless cases?” Bert asked, interested despite himself. “The ones that can’t be saved?”

“No!” She looked away. “I would never do that!”

“Why not?” Bert asked.

“What?” She looked back at him.

“I mean, if they are done for anyway?” Bert shrugged. “Especially if they are going to die slow.”

“I’d be hunted everywhere if I did that.” She said flatly.

“Sorry, that sucks.” He said.

She chuckled.

Bert looked up as an airhorn sounded in the distance.

“What’s that?” She suddenly stood next to him.

“Nothing,” Bert grinned, feeling relief wash over him, “Just my daughter and her friends coming home!” He felt giddy. “Are you okay on your own now?”

“I am,” She said. “I just need to sleep it off.”

“Head into the Bear’s Fall and grab a room.” He nodded to her.

“Thanks!” She called, but he was already sprinting out of sight.