The Fuller's Apprentice (The Chronicles of Tevenar Book 1) (34 page)

Nodding, Elkan reached back. Sar stretched his neck, his muzzle straining toward Elkan’s hand. Josiah pressed himself into the jagged rocks, trying to get out of the way, but the space was cramped and he was still blocking wizard and familiar from touching each other.

“Josiah, there’s nothing you can do here. Sar, move and let him pass.” Elkan turned back to the wounded raccoon. “Hadara, once he’s awake you two will need to take over.”

Josiah and the donkey maneuvered to trade places. Josiah squeezed past him and came face to face with Retana.

“Where’s the wizard? He’s got to help Meira right away! And does he know Noadiah is over there, trapped? What’s he doing?” The wound in Retana’s scalp gaped open, but she seemed to be functioning well enough. “Out of my way!”

She shoved past Josiah, glaring over Sar’s back when he blocked her path. “Wizard! You’re needed!”

Josiah pulled at her arm. “Elkan’s busy, Master Retana. Maybe you can help me get the rock off Master Noadiah.”

She shook him off. From beyond her, muffled, he heard Elkan say, “See, Hadara, he’s going to be fine. Whiskers, can you two take over now?”

“We’ve got it.” Hadara’s voice was strained, but it held a note of hope. “As soon as we can, we’ll come and help you.”

“The Mother hold you. Master Retana, if you’ll move a bit to one side, Sar needs to back out. Josiah, show me where Noadiah is.”

Retana’s voice was nearly a shriek. “You’ve got to come tend Meira. She’s badly hurt—”

“I’ve checked Meira already.” Elkan spoke calmly, but with a sharp edge to his tone. “Her leg is broken, but she’s in no danger. There are others in greater need at the moment. Josiah…”

Josiah led him to where the miner lay. Noadiah’s face was pale, his skin clammy under Josiah’s tentatively exploring fingers.

“Move back.” Elkan knelt and took the miner’s hand. He reached for Sar, and the donkey put his head down to touch him. Gold light splashed over Noadiah’s still form.

Elkan’s face grew grave. His eyes flickered up to the enormous boulder that pinned the miner’s chest and legs. He closed his eyes and swallowed. Then he dropped Noadiah’s hand and heaved himself roughly to his feet. “Come, Josiah. Let’s see who else needs us. There was a large group of miners near the tunnel entrance just before the collapse.”

“But aren’t you going to…” Josiah scrambled after him.

Master Retana was more forceful. “What? Where are you going? Don’t tell me he’s in no danger, any fool can see—”

Elkan turned to face her. His voice was quiet, but very fast and intense, with a strained edge of anger. “Sar and I are already far spent. To heal Master Noadiah would require moving that huge rock, then spending a minimum of a quarter hour just to stabilize him. He’s got extensive internal injuries, he’s got life-threatening bleeding from multiple wounds, he’s deep in shock… The amount of energy and time necessary to give him even a small chance at life may save a dozen other lives that even now hang in the balance. If he can hold on until we’ve dealt with them, we’ll do our best.” He turned his back on her and strode across the room, towards where Josiah could make out a cluster of people through the clearing dust,.

“You took time to heal that
animal!
”

Elkan ignored her. Retana whirled around and went back to Meira.

Josiah followed Elkan. After only a few steps, he stumbled over something too yielding to be rock, though it was covered in such a thick layer of dust it looked like one. He knelt by the small huddled form and brushed at the dust. “Elkan, there’s someone here—Nisi?”

Something in the grey shade of the apprentice’s face and the strange cool feel of his flesh caught in Josiah’s throat and stole his voice. He backed away, staring down at his friend’s still form, unbelieving.

Sar and Elkan were there, gold light spilling from Elkan’s hand. It brushed Nisi for a moment and faded. Elkan’s arm went around Josiah’s shoulders and drew him gently away. “I’m sorry, Josiah. There’s nothing we can do. The Mother’s power can’t bring back the dead.”

“But, but…” Josiah stumbled after Elkan. He shook his head, trying to clear it. “I didn’t see any blood, or anything…”

“He cracked his skull when he fell. No, don’t go back. We’ll tend his body later. Look, we’re here. I need your help. Josiah?”

Josiah couldn’t quite focus on Elkan’s words. He and Nisi had been throwing rocks into the stream together just a few minutes ago…

“Wizard! Come over here! We got Zai out from under the rocks, but he’s bleeding…”

“Can you help, Wizard? I don’t see any wounds, but she’s not responding…”

“No, don’t touch it! Wizard, help me—” The voice broke off in a cry of agony.

Josiah forced himself out of his daze, pushing the memory of Nisi’s broken body from his thoughts. “What… what do you need me to do?”

“We’re going to check all the wounded before we start healing. The ones who must wait, speak with them, explain why, comfort them if you can.”

“Y-yes, sir.”

A brief warm pressure on his shoulder answered him.

They plunged into their work. Elkan and Sar moved from person to person, the Mother’s gold light reaching out to envelop each in turn. Wizard and familiar looked at each other, silently sharing their observations and laying their plans. Josiah moved behind them, repeating over and over, until his throat was dry and his voice hoarse, “Stand back. Elkan will get to everyone. Wait your turn. Give him space to work. No, stay back, he’ll get to you and your friend in a moment. Elkan will get to you when he can, be patient. Stand back…”

There were a great many wounded. Only a few dead, for the cave-in here had not been as extensive as at the blast site. But a multitude who might die soon, from blood loss or shock or suffocation, if Elkan didn’t help them quickly.

Once they’d sorted out their priorities Elkan and Sar set to work, pouring out energy into one damaged body after another, patching as much as they had to and moving on. The most senior of the miners without incapacitating injuries asserted his authority and organized those who were mobile into work parties, shifting rocks off those still trapped, moving the dead to a quiet area off to the side, exploring the extent of the cave-in.

Hadara appeared after a while, Whiskers nestled in her arms, whole but very subdued. Elkan looked up from the woman with a crushed foot who he was tending and pushed his hair, matted with blood and dust, back from his face. “Noadiah?”

Hadara gave a small shake of her head. Elkan closed his eyes, then set his mouth in a grim line and turned back to his patient. Hadara went to the next waiting patient, stroked Whiskers’ small head, and sent golden light spilling over the ragged gash in the man’s leg.

Josiah finished explaining for the third time why a journeyman miner’s ripped off fingernail would have to wait. The man’s eyes were a little unfocused, his voice high and irrational in his insistence on immediate treatment. He gestured wildly, blood from the injured finger flying out and spattering Josiah’s face. Josiah shrank back, wondering if the man might resort to violence. He was greatly relieved when one of the man’s friends came over, put a restraining arm around his shoulders, and drew him away, speaking in a soothing voice.

Luckily, the rest of those waiting seemed resigned. Josiah looked around. Most of the dust had settled now, and most of the lamps and torches had been found and lit, so it was much easier to see. He set out on a circuit of the room, just in case any wounded had been overlooked.

He found one crumpled form lying against a far wall. He was afraid to approach until he caught the slight movement of the man’s breath lifting his chest. A quick check showed he had a head wound, like so many others. Josiah went back to report his presence to Elkan.

The wizard was crouched over yet another patient, trying to force his hand to stay steady over her slashed face, though every now and then it shook and scattered golden light in a spray against the wall. Sar leaned against him, sweat soaking his flanks, head drooping almost to the floor. Elkan spared only the briefest glance and nod in response to Josiah’s news of the additional patient before he focused again on the woman under his hand.

Josiah continued his circuit. He stopped briefly by Meira, who lay curled on her side, Ravid huddled against her. Retana had bound her leg as best she could with strips torn from her cloak. Meira assured him she was holding up well, though Retana glared at him and refused to speak.

He poked into the farthest corner, even though he was fairly certain no one had been back there. Sure enough, he found nothing. He skirted wide around the blast area. They had explored it thoroughly before, and he couldn’t bear the thought of confirming Master Noadiah’s fate or facing Nisi’s body again.

Elkan and Hadara were both still hard at work. Kalti was there, having regained consciousness, holding down a writhing man while Hadara tried to focus the Mother’s power on him. Josiah started over to help, but before he could get there Hadara succeeded, and the man quieted under the soothing gold light.

Josiah continued past them. The tunnel entrance just beyond was choked with rubble. A few dozen feet down rocks blocked it completely. The uninjured miners were gathered there, moving rocks by hand or with tools they’d had with them at the time of the disaster. There were enough cracks that they were able to carry on a shouted conversation with the miners on the other side, who were likewise laboring to break through the barrier.

“It’s not bad,” the miner in charge informed Josiah. “They’ve already cleared a few other spots further on. Another hour or so and we’ll be through. Unless the wizards can help?”

“No.”

“Ah, well. In any case, they’re assembling donkeys and stretchers on the other side. Once we’re through they’ll be ready to start moving the wounded. Half the town’s out there now, they say.”

Josiah nodded, glad of the additional help that would soon be forthcoming. He went back down the tunnel to the room.

It was quiet. The injured and those who tended them sat or lay, speaking only softly. He spotted Hadara, slumped against the wall, fast asleep. Whiskers slept sprawled in her lap. Kalti hovered protectively nearby.

A faint gold glow came from the far wall; he followed it and found Elkan with the last of the wounded, the one Josiah had discovered. The Mother’s light was a pale imitation of its usual robust glow. Elkan knelt, braced against Sar’s foreleg, eyes closed, hand resting on the man’s head. The last faint flicker of the Mother’s power died away. Elkan took a deep shuddering breath and opened his eyes.

He looked vaguely from side to side. “Is that… all?”

Josiah hurried to crouch beside him. “Yes, that’s everyone. Hadara is already sleeping. You should, too.”

Elkan batted at the hair falling in his face. “No. Meira… got to help…” He put both hands on the floor in front of him and tried to push himself up, but wavered.

“Here, be careful.” Josiah lent Elkan his shoulder, and the wizard lurched to his feet, leaning heavily on Josiah. “She’s over this way.” They staggered the short distance. Sar stumbled behind them, barely lifting his hooves.

“Elkan!” Meira exclaimed, shocked. She was sitting propped against a large rock with her mother supporting her. Even Retana seemed taken aback by Elkan’s condition. Ravid slept in Meira’s arms.

Elkan breathed deeply for a moment, straightened, and forced a smile. “I’m fine. Really. Now let’s look at that leg.” He couldn’t maintain the pretense for more than a moment, however, and Josiah had to catch him to keep him from toppling over as he knelt.

“Check Ravid first. He’s so deep asleep…” Meira grimaced and drew in her breath in a little gasp as she shifted Ravid for Elkan’s inspection, but shook her head when Elkan frowned at her. “Please.”

Obediently, Elkan stretched his hand toward Ravid, moving as if all the rocks that had fallen weighed his arm down. He groped blindly for Sar. With a great sigh, the donkey folded his legs and lowered himself to the ground. Elkan wrapped his arm around his familiar’s neck. A dim wash of gold flowed from his fingers and enveloped Ravid, slowly concentrating to a glow around his head.

For a long time Elkan held his position, gradually drooping lower, then pushing himself erect, only to droop again. At last he slumped against Sar, the light dying. “There. All healed. Now leg.”

“No, you’re exhausted, you’ve got to rest.” But Elkan ignored Meira’s protest, the light once again spilling from his hand.

This healing took even longer than the last, and by the end the light was so faint Josiah almost couldn’t see it in the dim lamplight. Finally Elkan let his hand fall. “Not enough. But maybe it won’t hurt so much when they move you.” He rubbed at his face, pushing his hand into his hair and leaving it there as if he’d forgotten what to do with it. “Sorry…” He slumped over and pillowed his head on his arms on Sar’s back. His eyes closed and his face relaxed into sleep.

“Will he be all right?” Meira rubbed her leg and flexed her foot, brow furrowed with worry.

“I think so.” Although it was possible for wizards to burn themselves out. He didn’t think Elkan had gone that far, but…

“Mother told me Master Noadiah was killed.” Meira swallowed. “Do you know who else?”

“Not too many. I don’t know their names.” Then Josiah remembered. “Except… Nisi.”

Steeled as she had been to face the deaths of her friends and guildmates, this shocked Meira. “Nisi? That’s not—He just started his apprenticeship this spring. It’s not right. Couldn’t the Mother have spared Nisi, at least?” She began to shake and buried her head in Ravid’s hair, sobs tearing from her.

Retana wrapped her arms around her daughter, glaring at Josiah. “How could you be so cruel, telling her like that with no warning? Leave her alone.”

Josiah felt terrible, but how could he have known the always calm and sensible Meira would react like that? He slunk around to the far side of the sleeping Sar. He would rather have distanced himself much farther from Retana, but he couldn’t leave Elkan, so he sat down beside wizard and familiar, leaning against Sar. He closed his eyes, just for a moment, just to rest them…