The actual battle hadn't lasted all that long. It had maybe been a little more than an hour from the first rock launched to the last blow delivered. Yet the day was turning out to be a long one, especially for the healers. We had done battle early in the morning yet they were still busy tending to the wounded well after noon. Of course that didn't mean that the rest of us weren't busy. Simply moving the bodies the enemy had thrown at us so we could easily burn them was a chore.
It had to be done though. There was no way around it. We couldn't spend the night, and quite possible the next day or even longer surrounded by a rotting mess after all. That wouldn't be healthy. It wasn't just the ghouls and the dead human knights and their horses we had to move though. We were busy moving wood as well and most of that had to be cut down first. A bunch of branches alone just wouldn't do. And all the while we were busy cleaning up the area around the camp we had to stay on guard as well.
Worse, we had to secure more than just the camp since we were stuck here for a little while. Thankfully we had topped off our stores of fresh water on the way here but we still needed to secure a source for more. The healers needed a lot of clean water to boil bandages and tools to clean them after all. We had a nice little creek about half an hour away from the camp and the battlefield but every trip there was a calculated risk. Still there were more than enough volunteers willing to make those trips.
Even if it meant being on guard or carrying the heavy water barrels it also meant getting away from this mess for a little while. I didn't begrudge them this little respite of the messy work here. I made sure everyone who needed a break could get one that way as well. Sure, the trips to the creek took a little longer that way but right now it was important to keep morale high despite all the blood we had to spill to win the day. I had to make sure that this didn't turn into just another bloody battle in their minds and memories.
The first real break I allowed myself was around noon, when the cooks finished cooking up a tasty broth for everyone. Some leftover meat from yesterday and fresh vegetables gave it a rich flavor. Shavings of hard cheese and equally hard bread crumbs gave it some texture. Maybe there would be time for a proper meal once the wounded were properly taken care off but for now it would do. It helped that we could eat our bowls of hot soup quickly as well. Right now was not the time to let our thoughts wander after all. Right now it was better to keep ourselves busy.
I pulled Kaele and Tero aside for a moment after they had their meal. My sister looked like she wanted to protest, there were still more wounded that needed her attention after all, but I cut her off before she could say anything. “I know, you want to get back to your work but I need some help first.” I climbed the earthen wall separating the camp from the worst of the battlefield. I offered the two a hand to join me up there as the ground was still a bloody mess.
On the other side, a little ways away from the defensive construction we had piled up the enemy dead. Together with plenty of wood. Right now some of the trolls of the Wall Breakers, the ones who had gotten through the whole ordeal the best, were spreading oil from barrels across the macabre pile. “I need your help with this. We need some weather magic here. If we just light this mess up we'd risk the smoke and foul air to spread into the camp. We need the right wind to carry it well away from here.”
I pointed in the direction of the creek we were using. “Preferably not in that direction either. Our fresh water supply is that way. I don't want to risk the ash to mess it up.” The two nodded.
It was Tero who spoke up. “And a constant inflow of fresh air will help the pyre burn better, faster and hotter as well.” He nodded. “I can take care of that on my own. I can light the pile as well once the trolls are done. No need to keep Kaele from tending to the wounded.”
Both my sister and I breathed a sight of relief at that and as we noticed we broke into silly giggles. I hugged her and sent her on her way. Then I waved a pair of harpies over. “Those two will keep you company. I don't want you out here in such an exposed position on your own. And if something comes up you can send one to find me or anyone else as well.” He nodded and I patted him on the back as well. “I'll leave this to you then.”
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That was one worry off my mind as I left my brother to deal with the issue. Next up was one of Yath'zur's sergeants. The giant captain of the Wall breakers himself had been knocked out by his healers to make sure he would rest up properly. It really was for the better like that. I wanted the giant back on his feet but I wanted him whole and healthy even more. It wouldn't do to run anyone ragged this early in the campaign.
The sergeant, a big troll, had some scrapes as well but they looked superficial at worst and they were all well taken care off already. He had gathered a work detail, armed with shovels and picks already, as he waited for me. Good man! More were already cutting back the woods around the camp. I didn't need to include that in any orders. We were sure to need more wood, for fires and fortifications, for sure after all.
He greeted me with a nod as I reached him. I nodded in greeting in return before getting right to the issue at hand. “We need to properly fortify the camp. A ditch and earthen wall with a palisade on top, if you can, all around the camp. Two gates. One on this side on on the other where we head to the creek. Prioritize the ditch and the earth wall if you have to. Draft more workers as everyone has had a chance to rest and they become available. I want some defenses up by nightfall.”
I looked in the direction I had come from. “We probably should improve the one we already have, but that is something to consider once the rest is done. If you can, and have the resources to spare, include some wooden watchtowers. Any problems or issues?”
The troll pondered my orders for a moment, as was usual for his kind, before answering with a voice that sounded like gravel. “No. Problems. No. Issues. We. Get. It. Done.” Without further ado he turned to address the work detail. “You! Heard! It! To! Work!”
That was another problem solved. For now anyway. I was sure they would let me know if anything came up though, thus I purposefully strode off to deal with the next issue.
That one was the quite possibly the hardest though. My way took me beyond the limits of the camp and as I left it Quu'za, who had been shadowing me so far, joined up with me again. Someone, quite possibly my sister, must have told her to not let me wander off alone. I couldn't help but notice that her feathers were back in order already and that her ribbons were all sorted out again as well.
We didn't have to go far. A little distance away another clearing had been cut into the woods. At its center a number of pyres had been built. Atop them lay the first of our dead we would cremate today. They had been cleaned up to the best of our abilities but they weren't wrapped in burial shrouds as would be usual. We simply didn't have enough cloth to spare. Bandages were more important right now. Thus only their faces were covered by simple rectangular pieces of cloth.
It would have to do, like so many things today. More of our dead were lines up along the edge of the new clearing where a number of fresh clay urns were waiting to be filled as well. Those wouldn't be the only fires today. They probably would be working in shifts here, rebuilding the pyres for the next to be cremated as soon as the ashes of the last ones had been gathered.
We had gotten lucky. Our losses hadn't been too bad but I still felt every one of them keenly. And some hit closer to home than others. I stopped at Arngard's pyre. His people had done their best but he still looked terrible. Without a full shroud there simply was no way to hide that a bunch of ghouls had been gnawing on him.
I took a deep breath as the mourners detached from all of the companies cried out to the Maidens. “Crone, collect their souls. Lover, embrace them and relief them of their pain and suffering. Maiden and Mother, guide them onto the next steps into a better life.” The wails of the mourners easily drowned out my quiet prayer as I dropped the first magically conjured flames to light the pyres.