by Candy Rae
Jim descended from the command post. He needed to find both Robert Lutterell and Afanasei. He found Robert tending an injured infantrywoman. The commander of the infantry lifted a grimy face towards the Susyc as Jim approached.
“We won then?” he said, fingers busily tying the knot on the bandage. “Settlement?”
“Sent Lindars to their aid a while ago. The last of the attackers are being hounded to the beach. Perhaps ‘hounding’ isn’t the right word, but ‘wolfed’ sounds most peculiar and wrong.”
“You’re letting them go?”
“Can’t do much else. We are all too exhausted. There are still some Larg inland as well. They’ll need to be hunted down.”
“Don’t think I want to fight any more,” said Robert, “and to think I used to read war and adventure stories for pleasure. Never again!”
“Seen Afanasei?” asked Jim, looking around for him.
Robert indicated towards the tree line.
“Last time I saw him he was over there with some of the wounded.”
Jim nodded at Robert and headed to where Afanasei was. The white male had streaks of blood on his flanks but did not appear to be badly hurt.
“Pack Zanatei Lindar?” asked Jim.
“We are Rtath Zanatei no longer. We are Rtath Afanasei now. I was asked and have accepted.”
Jim’s look begged the question.
“Winston and Emily tried save him but his wounds too great. Zanatei name will live on in song.”
Jim sighed. Is there to be no end of it? Who else hasn’t made it?
“Be not sad,” said Afanasei. “He saved you. I was with him when he died. He was very proud of you.”
The words were bitter comfort. Jim’s whole body sagged.
“I am sorry.”
“You win battle,” said Afanasei comfortingly. “All rtaths will honour Ruza Jim. All rtaths honour Ruza Zanatei for saving Ruza Jim. Pack Afanasei will honour you above all.” A number of nearby Lind whined approval and some lowered their heads in a gesture of respect.
Jim smiled ruefully; it would take some time to get used to this new status but perhaps Zanatei and the Lind had the right of it. It was not the individual who was the most important; it was the rtathlians and those who inhabited them that mattered. Perhaps to die in battle was not an entirely bad thing when one died defending what one loved and cherished. It was still a waste of life, war was always a waste but he should be proud and honoured to have led these soldiers, Lind and human. He would grieve for Zanatei and the others, but first there was work to be done, the living to care for and the future to plan.
“Go now and visit the injured Jim. I will find you later and we will talk more.”
Afanasei watched as the man headed towards the Holad, purpose in his step once more.
He met the weary Ustinya and Louis. The young man was dismounted and was stumbling along at his partner’s side. Ustinya was limping, but not badly.
Louis, Jim realised, was absolutely covered in dried blood.
“You hurt?” he demanded.
Louis looked down at his stiff clothing.
“The blood’s not mine,” he answered in a dull tone.
“Larg got through, Jim,” said Ustinya contritely. “I am sorry, communications broke down when they broke through to the rear.”
Jim shrugged. “In the event it didn’t matter too much,” he told them. “Larya managed until Kolyei’s mind kicked back into the loop. Have you seen Tara? Is she okay?”
“Ustinya says she and Kolyei are sleeping. We’ll go and check on her in a little while though I believe Alan and Kiltya intended to go and see. Where is Larya?”
“With the medics. Nothing serious but her flank needed attention. I’m going to her now.”
* * * * *
