The Scarlet King (31 page)

Now all Daniel could do was to wait as
Jason's heart began pumping some of his life-giving blood into the
Captain. He repeatedly took the pulse of both the giver and the
receiver, trying to estimate how much blood was transferred.
Captain Cook continued to drift in and out of consciousness but
Daniel noted that his breathing was much easier. He asked Jason if
he was having any dizziness and Jason denied any symptoms, but
Daniel remembered when he tried to raise up when he gave his blood
to Heather. Stabilizing Jason's arm, he had Jason sit up or at
least try to sit up. The dizziness was obvious as Jason's eyes
could not focus and Daniel had him immediately lie back. He pinched
off the reed, saying, "You have given enough blood."

He then ever so slowly withdrew the reed from
the Captain's leg and secured the vein by tying the threads around
the vein tightly. He removed the reed from Jason's arm and again
tied off the vein. Daniel pulled down the Captain's lower eyelid;
indeed, the color was much improved. This stimulus was enough to
awaken the Captain. After he finally got his eyes focused, he
recognized Daniel. He mumbled, "My leg hurts bad."

Daniel replied, "Your ankle and foot have
been crushed and I need to amputate them. There will be much
pain."

The Captain was again drifting into
unconsciousness and spoke not. Jason, however, was quite concerned
about all the pain and wished Daniel to use the ether. Daniel
shrugged his shoulders, saying, "He is not strong enough for the
ether. Better to suffer the pain then risk his ability to
breathe."

He then began giving orders to prepare for
the amputation. He had the crew members securely tie their Captain
down to the table. He placed another tourniquet just below the knee
after having cut away the Captain's trousers. Using some of his
concentrated Sacred Water, he cleansed the area and took a deep
breath before picking up his obsidian scalpel. He turned to Jason
and said, "It may be best if you watched not."

Jason, who was definitely pale, replied, "I
will stay and help for it is my fault."

Daniel used his obsidian scalpel much like a
pen to draw a line around the Captain's leg just below the knee,
scratching the skin just enough to create a line. This was just
above the first tourniquet; Daniel thought the tissue would be
viable at that level. He checked again the upper tourniquet and
then took the scalpel, cutting deeply along the line he had
created. This caused the Captain to scream out in pain, but Daniel
either heard not the scream or somehow simply ignored it. He
continued his work, cutting down through the tissues and tying off
the bleeding vessels as he encountered them. The Captain had
thankfully slipped back into unconsciousness from the pain.

Daniel stretched and looked around to make
sure those helping were okay before he started peeling the muscle
from the bone. When he had the bone uncovered for a few inches, he
reached for his small saw and began sawing through. Again the
captain screamed despite his semi consciousness, but the tie-downs
held. As he cut through the bone, the foot and lower leg simply
dangled from the tendons. Daniel cut through these with the scalpel
and the leg rolled off the table, landing on the floor with a
definite thump.

This was more than Jason could take, and he
stumbled off to empty his stomach with his dark shadow following.
Daniel could not look after him for he needed to finish his work.
He secured any remaining bleeding vessels and then had the fire pot
brought forth. He used the metal probe which had been heated
red-hot to sear the ends of the muscle that were continuing to ooze
ever so slightly when the tourniquet was released. The stench of
the burning was overwhelming, but the crew who were helping stayed
the course with Daniel.

The Captain was alternating between screaming
and cursing, but Daniel just continued his work. He carefully
folded the muscle ends over the amputated bone that he had smoothed
to the best of his ability. The skin was then brought together with
strong sutures, each of which brought out another curse from the
Captain. When Daniel finished, the two crew members untied him from
the table and carried him back to his quarters. Jason returned
looking very pale and asked, "How is the Captain?"

Daniel finished cleaning his instruments
before replying, "He is strong and should heal. Heather had a fever
for a few days after receiving the blood, so I would expect the
same with the Captain." He then asked Jason, "How are you
doing?"

Jason responded, "I feel as if I have had
several glasses of wine too many."

Daniel responded, "I would expect this
feeling to pass quickly, but drinking extra water should help."

Daniel was packing up his equipment,
preparing to return to the camp of the injured, when those of the
Forest began arriving bringing with them the injured. One of the
last to arrive was Heather on her great white horse. She was
obviously limping as she climbed down from the horse and moved to
the waiting boat. She was no sooner aboard their ship when she
began giving orders for their departure. It had been a long night
for all, but she insisted they depart with the first rays of
daybreak. She left the arranging of persons and equipment to Elrod.
She conferred first with Daniel and then Jason. She disturbed not
Captain Cook.

Jason was not yet recovered enough, so
Heather took the helm. As the first rays of light were breaking
over the eastern horizon, she had the sails raised and the anchor
pulled. Only after they were out of sight of land did she relax
enough to tell Daniel her story and her plans. Daniel listened but
his fatigue was such that his eyes kept closing. He had rested not.
Heather suggested that he should get some sleep, but Daniel wished
instead to return to the wounded. Heather gently suggested, in the
command tone of voice, "Would not your work as a healer be more
effective with a little rest?"

Daniel gave out a big yawn before admitting,
"Maybe a little sleep would help."

Heather set the sails and continued due south
for several hours, hiding in the vastness of the ocean. Her own
fatigue was becoming overwhelming. When Jason returned topside she
was more than happy to hand the helm over to him, saying, "I would
you continue bearing into the wind for a while longer before
turning to the west. I wish to make landfall to the west of the
city just before darkness sets in." She had wanted to ask of his
companion, the mystery woman, but had not the energy.

Jason asked not her reason why but simply
unrolled his chart and started writing numbers down on his pad.
Heather watched him but for a few minutes before going below to
their cabin. Daniel was sleeping soundly and awoke not as she
joined him in the small berth. Despite her fatigue sleep would not
come to her, for her mind raced with many thoughts and worries.
Daniel's gentle snoring finally overcame her anxiety and she fell
asleep.

Later when Daniel awoke he noted his bride
next to him, but carefully climbed out of the berth. She responded
by rolling over but never awoke. He went to the galley and had food
of the sea to eat before checking on the wounded. Captain Cook had
awakened and had a moderate fever but otherwise seemed to be
recovering well. He demanded to be released to the bridge and
Daniel could see no reason why not. He had two crew assist the
Captain to the bridge.

At first the Captain said not as he got his
bearings and looked at the trimming of the sails. He asked Jason,
"Your destination?"

Jason replied, "Heather would have us land
her and those of the Forest as near the west end of the city as we
can." He handed Captain Cook the chart, saying, "I would expect we
would arrive at this cove shortly before nightfall."

Captain Cook studied the chart for some time
before saying, "If you would proceed a little more to the west the
landing would be much less visible, but those of the Forest would
have a slightly longer distance to travel."

Jason accepted the chart back from the
Captain, and after study had to agree that the Captain was right.
He again started jotting down numbers and made a slight heading
change. Larby and Jeremy had been working on a set of crutches for
Captain Cook, and when they presented them he said not. Standing,
he moved about a bit, but he tired easily and returned to his seat.
He nodded in appreciation and said, "I guess if Larby can adapt I
should be able to also.”

When Heather arrived topside the sun had
begun its descent to the horizon. She checked their position but
said little. She was happy to hear Captain Cook barking out his
orders in the colorful language used by those of the sea. She
asked, "How much of Daniel's powder do you have left?"

Captain Cook replied, "We had not much at the
start of this journey, and have used most of that in our attack on
the harbor ships. I will check but probably only two or three small
kegs remain."

Heather asked, "How much powder do you need
to defend the ship if attacked?"

Before answering, Captain Cook called the
first mate and had him inspect the stores for an accurate count. He
then replied, "We can fire the cannons about eight times with the
powder in one of the kegs. That should be enough to allow us to
escape but not enough for an attack."

The first mate returned and reported that
they had three full kegs and one partial keg. Heather accepted this
information and went to find Daniel. He was tending the injured,
and Heather but watched for some time before touching him on the
shoulder and saying, "I would speak with you topside."

Daniel replied, "Let me finish changing this
bandage and I will meet you."

Daniel found Heather in the bow of the ship
just staring off into the distance. He stood next to her with his
arm around her shoulder, and she softened her stance, enjoying the
support of Daniel. They said not for some time before Heather spoke
up, saying, "We must attack the mounted troops and I need your
help."

Daniel was puzzled by her trepidation, but
knew enough to remain silent and let her work through her thoughts
and emotions. When she spoke again there was less of an edge to her
voice. She said, "We have two kegs of your powder, and I would you
plan a method of using them to attack the mounted troops of those
of the East."

Daniel replied, "I am sure Jeremy and I can
come up with something."

Heather was quiet for a moment before saying,
"I have another task for Jeremy. I would have those of the Forest
create a series of trip lines or snares to entangle the horses the
mounted troops ride." She then added, "The horses are magnificent
creatures and I hate to injure them, but I see no choice."

Daniel asked, "Where will you do battle?"

Heather chewed on her lower lip before
replying, "I wish I knew the landscape better, but it would seem
that the east side of the ford where the roadway descends the bank
to cross the river. It is a rocky area which should provide
reasonable cover for those of the Forest."

Daniel asked, "How do you intend to get the
mounted troops into the trap?"

Heather looked down before replying. "I am
using the Army of the Red we have joined with as the bait." She was
quiet for some time before adding, "If we fail, they will pay a
heavy price."

Jeremy showed up and asked, "Is this a
private party or can I join?"

Heather gave him a gentle smile before
replying, "I would very much appreciate some quiet, peaceful time,
but actually I was about to go search you out." She then explained,
"I would you and the others of the Forest create a net of snares
and trip lines to entrap the legs of the horses the mounted troops
of the East ride." She explained, "I hope to set a trap and have
the horses descending the east hill to the ford. Hopefully they
will be in full battle charge. Daniel will then use what little
powder remains to set off the explosion just uphill from your
portion of the trap."

Jeremy thought for some time before replying,
"We have a fair amount of rope and there is enough dust to hide it
from view." He then asked, "Where would you have this trap
set?"

When Heather had told him of her site, he
nodded, saying, "The boulders will give us a point to anchor the
ropes to. I can rig up a simple spring system using the green
branches from along the river, which will allow us to release the
ropes all at once."

Heather then said, "I would expect we will
need at least four hours for travel, which leaves you only four or
five hours to prepare the trap before we lose the cover of
darkness. Those of the Red will begin their attack at dawn, and I
would expect the mounted troops to counterattack within a few
hours. Those of the Red will retreat rapidly to the edge of the
river, and it is my hope that the mounted troops of the East will
be unable to resist attacking an apparent easy prey."

While Jeremy and Daniel continued their
planning, Heather moved aft to confer with Jason and Captain Cook.
For the first time she got a good look at the companion who
followed Jason so closely. The blackness of the skin and the
whiteness the eyes were startling, but as she looked she also
noticed the intense intelligence evident. She was dressed in rags
and yet her beauty was evident. She asked Jason, "I would hear the
story of your companion?"

Jason replied, "It is a story best told
around one of your campfires." He then summarized quickly their
initial encounter with the black ships of the East. When Heather
asked of her place of origin, Jason could only reply, "We know
not." He then went on to explain how Rheon seemed to be able to
read their charts but they had great difficulty trying to
communicate.

Heather asked, "Would she be willing to work
with the young priest so we could learn her language?"