by P. G. Thomas
Hakk, Aaro, Fen, and Gor arrived back at camp, and going over to Bor, Lauren joined them. After Aaro had cleared a large section of ground, he picked up a stick, using it to draw in the dirt. “Our camp is here. North, there is a series of small stream valleys, all now dry. South be the same. Major game trail to the west runs north to south. West, a large stream we found. Fish fresh, find we did. Pools deep, rapids shallow, cross it we can.”
“Animal tracks many we found.” Fen continued, “Boot prints none seen. We set intrusion traps, which we will check often, and if any wander these woods, we will know.”
“The greatest threat is to the east,” added Hakk, “The black-clad traveled road. There are numerous deadfalls that will provide protection. Tomorrow, pit traps and more we shall deploy.”
“What about the elves? Will they not activate those traps?”
“No, Earth Daughter,” replied Bor, “First, this is forest, elf home. Traps, elf showed dwarf how to make and spot them they will. Second, Earth Guard walk paths not walked by others.”
It was close to dark when Alron, Panry, and the Dawnfalcons returned. As all gathered around the small campfire, she advised them that John had woken for a brief period.
“There was much activity at jailhouse this day,” Alron started, “Yesterday the Dawnfalcons hitched and sent forth several wagons, and many tracks the soldiers try to follow. They brought out the bodies and dumped in unmarked graves. Great disrespect to their own men they have.”
“The road sees much traffic this day. Patrols many we counted,” continued Babartin, “Many black-clad wear fresh wounds and happy they do not look.”
“I don’t understand,” said Lauren, “What do you mean?”
“Captains, frustrated they are,” began Alron, “and they beat their own men. Lessons wrong taught to men that deserve not. The black-clad are ruthless, Earth Daughter.”
“The road is no longer safe,” Careel added, “Game trails we shall scout tomorrow.”
*******
The next morning, Lauren woke to the smell of fried meats, “Gor, I told you that Gingaar and I would look after the meals.”
He signaled for her to come closer, his thick baritone voice wrapping around her like a warm blanket on a cold morning, “Gor is homesick. I miss our breakfast together. Hot breakfast for brothers I made, so they left me here so you could enjoy the same.”
“How did you learn about the chests?” Lauren looked at the meal cooking on the fireless hot plate.
“Mirtza explained, ring and contents. Chest, strange it is, so much there but not, which I liked. My brothers were tired of cold rations, so I made all hot food.” Gor then handed her a plate of pancakes.
Inhaling the fresh smells, her face suddenly went white, “The smell of food, it’ll alert others to our presence!”
“Dwarf and elf defended we are. Many may desire to sample my talents, but unexpected guests, none will arrive. Sit, be Lauren. Your Earth Daughter cloak, to the ground, let it fall.”
“I need to check on the injured.”
“Gingaar, purpose she seeks, purpose she has. Ryan, Zack, help they do. Sit, eat, and talk with Gor.” As she ate her meal, she tried to speak of the current situation. “Concerns for Earth Daughter, Lauren not. Bean juice or more syrup, answers that Lauren knows only.” She smiled at Gor, “You stand taller when the weight from shoulders is lifted.”
“One more cup of bean juice, and then I must transform into my alter ego.” After fifteen minutes, she stood and asked, “Have the others eaten?”
“No, you first they did say. Care for you much, all do. To me send them. Hot food, bellies full, shortly all will be.”
As Lauren approached the wagon, she heard Ryan and Zack describing an imaginary basketball game. Eric was coaching the Golden State Warriors, voiced by Ryan. The opposing team was the Washington Wizards, coached by Mirtza, voiced by Zack. After calling the end to the first half, she told them to go eat breakfast. Then she examined the two motionless coaches, and despite the fact that neither had managed to open their eyes, they looked relaxed. Checking on John, she tapped him on the shoulder to see if he would respond. If he was going to wake, she wanted to be present to muffle any screams.
Rolling onto his side, he bit down on his lip. “To think that I used to say that quantum physics was painful. I’ll gladly do battle with any chalkboard without complaint. How does my back look?”
Removing the blanket, Lauren noticed that the wounds were healing faster than she thought they should. “While you may not believe it right now, you’ll live. You need to stay flat for a few more days, as I don’t want you pulling out any stitches. I’ll send Ryan or Zack over in a few minutes with breakfast for you.” She then went over to a tired-looking Gingaar, who was again kneeling next to Logan, caressing the bump on his head and singing softly.
“Have you been up all night?”
“No, Earth Daughter, but I heard Logan moan, so I tried to comfort him.”
With the bump now smaller, Logan was looking better, so she sent Gingaar over to Gor also. Returning to Eric, she looked at his one hand, which needed immediate medical attention, but she was uncertain of what to do. Going back to Gor, she picked up a plate of food and a cup of bean juice. Even though she said one of the boys would bring it over, she now needed a reason to talk to John. As he ate, she gave him an update on what the dwarves and elves were doing to safeguard them. Then explained what had happened to Zack, and how he had rescued them from the jail cell, but she had to repeat the story a second time so that he understood everything. When done eating and the update had ended, Lauren went strangely quiet.
“What’s wrong?”
“When they tortured Eric, they broke his ribs, arm, and hand. We set his arm and it feels okay…but I don’t know what to do with his hand. If Zack and Ryan helped, would you be able to have a look? I would prefer to let you rest and heal,” then she turned her gaze to the wagon, “but I don’t think it can wait.”
“Get me something to bite on and tell them to come over.”
Going over to Zack and Ryan, Lauren explained to them what needed to happen, and then asked Gor to retrieve a wooden spoon from one of the chests. By the time they were back to John, he had slowly inched himself up on all fours, but written on his face was a pain, great pain, a volume equal to War & Peace, and before biting down on the wooden spoon, he asked them to be gentle. Slowly, they raised him upright, and squeezing his eyelids shut with such intensity, she was afraid that he would never be able to open them again. With sweat forming on his forehead, his neck and back tensing, suddenly, his head tilted back. Biting down on the spoon, it snapped in two. Opening his mouth to scream, he fought it back, knowing full well that he should not. As Lauren picked up one end of the spoon, she placed it back in his mouth, and he clamped down on it like it was a lifeline. Carrying him over to the wagon, they let him get control of his breathing, as they slowly lowered his legs to the ground. With tears streaming down his face, he began to concentrate, regaining his composure, and then looked down at Eric.
“Please tell me I don’t look this bad!” Seeing the bruised chest, pooling blood under the skin, blackened bruises covering the body, John inched forward to examine the splintered arm, nodding in approval. Ryan and Zack, standing by his side, steadied him. The arm will be good. It’ll heal. He may never be able to throw a football again, but it’ll heal. Looking at the hand, the fingers were all pointing in the wrong directions, and with blood vessels constricted, the colors were all wrong. By this time, Aaro and Fodu had returned, and making their way over to the wagon, they saw the look on John’s face, as he slowly managed to form the words. “Blood is not…flow…flowing to his fingers...right. They need…they need to…to be…be straightened. Fodu…Fodu…cut…a…plank.” When his body tensed, John stopped talking, as he tried to absorb the fresh wave of pain that flooded over him. Grabbing his shoulders, Zack and Ryan held him steady.
“Breathe, John, deep breaths. Just breathe,” co
ached Lauren, “Do you want anything for the pain?”
He shook his head, being afraid he might pass out.
Aaro turned to Fodu, “Brothers, blessed we are this day.” Everybody looked at him, thinking he had lost his mind, a sight he was accustomed to.
“What?” asked Lauren.
The deep voice came out of the small dwarf, “This day John, I proclaim him brother. Father, hear me, welcome John Ironhouse. Your strength, lend him.” Aaro stood beside John, fighting the urge to slap his back, “Look at me. Today, Ironhouse you are. The best ore is found deep in mountains. Brother, dig deep. Tell us, what do you need to save brother Eric?”
John smiled through the pain. “Fodu...cut…a…plank from the…wagon.” He paused, “Trace…trace…Eric’s hand…hand…onto it. Drill…holes—holes so…we can…immobilize…his…his fingers. Now set me down quick!” As Zack and Ryan lowered him to the ground, he maneuvered himself flat, his breathing shallow and rapid.
“Remember to breathe.” Lauren coached him, “Deep slow breaths. Just calm down and breathe. Don’t you dare pass out on me!” It was both the passively commanding voice of the Earth Daughter and the scared voice of Lauren.
“Pain, something…something…for…the…pain. And…and…he needs…needs…needs…needs to be cut. I—I can’t…do…it,” he started crying.
“Gingaar, get berries for the pain! Not too much. Fodu, carve the plank like John said.” She knelt beside him, wiping the perspiration from his forehead, “Fodu, we’ll need your barber skills once the brace is done. Gingaar, gather the medical kits and bring them over here, so Fodu can see what he has to work with.”
“I will bring my kit,” Fodu added.
Moving to the back of the wagon, Aaro pulled out his ax, cutting a board free, and after trimming it down to size, he handed it to Fodu. Climbing into the back, he raised Eric’s mangled hand so that it could be traced onto the wood.
Jumping out, Fodu advised, “We cannot move Eric from the wagon. The wagon wall is too high. I need to stand on something.”
Going to the side of the cart, Aaro climbed up onto the wheel, and grabbing the top of the sidewall, he ripped it from the wagon, throwing it to the back. “Should anything else in your way be, you will tell me.”
“Earth Mother, a half berry only I used. Too strong I did not want to make it.”
Lauren looked down at John, “He can’t drink it. Gingaar, you know about plants, so find me a hollow reed or similar.” She continued to coach, “Just breathe. Deep slow breathing. Do you hear me? John say anything!”
“Eric…is…going…to…be…pisseddddd.”
“Why?”
“I’m…his…little…brother…now.”
Accepting the long hollow plant stem, Lauren placed it in the mug. “Sip on this straw slowly. It’ll help with the pain. Take it slow, breathe. Just rest right now.”
As Fodu was crafting the brace, Aaro went up to the harness from the stolen black-clad horses. Cutting off several pieces, after he fastened them together, he searched for a rope. When he had both, he went to the back of the wagon and tried to throw the rope over a high thick branch.
After Zack had watched him try three or four times, he advised. “Leave the end of the rope on the ground, and I’ll get it over the branch.”
“You cannot climb that.”
Going out of focus, Zack seemed to be absent and present at the same time. Then a black bear appeared, which grabbed the rope in its mouth, and after scampering up the tree, it carefully walked out onto the branch. “Son of a bit…” He was in his human form, naked. “Lauren! Gingaar! Well, everybody! Turn your backs! Aaro, lower me down!”
The image of their multi-furred, multi-talented, naked friend brought a much-needed dose of levity to the tense scene, and when he dropped to the ground, collecting his clothing, Zack hurried away. “Man, I need to do something about this.”
As he was getting dressed, Aaro walked over to Zack, and slapping him on the back, he knocked him into the grass. Helping him up, he looked to the sky, “Father, blessed twice you are this day. A third son, Zack Ironhouse, I proclaim him. A new son you do have! Or pet or both. Later discuss it we will.” Zack glared at him. “Brother Zack, should any give you grief, you will tell me. Brother I now call you, and insult to you, insult to Ironhouse. Justice will be dealt swift, but a bone every now and then we may throw you.”
Ironhouse. Beats the hell out of the other names they called me at school. I have to admit that this family can kick ass.
When Fodu announced that the brace was ready, Aaro tied the leather harness to his rope. He walked over to John and Lauren, “Brother, this harness on you I will place. Hurt at first it might but pain lessen it should. Friends will carry you to that branch, and raise you we shall, but pressure decrease it will. Understand do you, brother?”
“Aaro, it’s my back that’s hurt not my ears.”
“Filled with spirit you are, so Ironhouse no doubt there is.”
After John had slowly inched up on all fours, Zack and Ryan carried him under the harness, which Aaro fastened. Slowly, they pulled on the rope, hoisting him into an upright position. The spoon clenched firmly in his teeth, absorbed the painful screams his tortured body wished to broadcast. As they raised him higher, he heard Aaro advise him to ‘Dig deep brother.’ When suspended in the air, Zack and Fodu maneuvered the wagon so that John would have the necessary vantage point, and when all was set, they tied the rope off to the closest tree.
“Just breathe. Deep slow breaths. Take it slow. Calm, calm, calm.” Lauren continued to coach, “Think about math problems,” which made him attempt a painful smile.
“Brother, are you fine?” asked Aaro.
“I’m a freaking pain-filled piñata,” he cried out, “Let’s get on with it.”
“Ironhouse spirit, I do hear.”
“Aaro, grab Eric’s arm above the wrist. Fodu is going to have to set the fingers—but don’t let him pull on the arm, just the fingers.” Between the medication and the suspension, the pain became bearable, and John was able to maintain his concentration to give the necessary instructions. “Now, Fodu, tie Eric’s wrist to the brace. Tight enough so that he can’t move it, however, don’t cut off his circulation. Okay, Fodu, Eric’s thumb looks all right. With twenty-seven bones in the hand, fifteen are located in the fingers. There are twelve bones behind those, but they look uninjured. One-by-one pull on each until you feel everything snap into place. Start with his small finger. When it seems like everything has lined up, feel along the bones to make sure there are no bumps or divots. When you think each one is set, tie it down, so Eric can’t move it. Can I have another sip of that pain juice?”
Raising the cup, Lauren saw the perspiration dripping from his forehead. “Gingaar, please find a box to stand on, so we can keep the sweat out of his eyes.”
As Fodu continued resetting the bones, he listened for any additional instructions, and in a short period, all of the fingers were straight and secured.
Aaro then sent Gor to relieve Bor, “Brothers all, let them know two new Ironhouse we have. Fen and Hakk, a double shift they have now.”
John took a deep breath, “Okay, Fodu, do you see the two middle fingers with the large pools of blood? The veins are compromised or ruptured. Make a slight cut into the skin, but don’t nick the vein, as we need to alleviate the pressure. The vein should heal on its own once the blood begins to flow. The first to come out will be the sequestered fluids, which should seep out, after the initial…squirt. Don’t bandage the wound until we see small pulses of blood, as that will show that you have restored the flow. Good, now bandage it and do the same with the second. Pain juice, pain juice, pain juice.”
Raising the mug, Gingaar also wiped the sweat from his forehead.
At that moment, Bor came walking out of the forest, “Brother John, update me, please! I have no need for suspense, but I think it suits you. Brother Zack, rough you look. The sight of blood, bear it can you? Or howl inste
ad, do you want to?”
He glared at Bor, feeling the beast within.
“Brother, you are now Ironhouse. Thicker skin you will need, but many choices you have. Brother Eric, short he looks. Better when over me he towers. Advise of brother big or brother flat. When will Eric block the suns again?”
“We’re almost done.” John continued, “Fodu, do you see the large bruise in the middle of Eric’s hand? Nick the surface to let the blood out but don’t cut too deep.” After he had done so, the small pool of red drained from the hand until nothing remained. “Now massage along the bone, as the vein is compromised and the blood doesn’t flow.” Slowly new blood began to seep from the wound, “Now stop! Wait. Good. His body should do the rest on its own. Bandage it but not too tight or loose. Now get me down, now!” The composure that John had maintained for so long, like his pain juice, was gone, “For the love of God, mother, country, whatever, get me down, now! Cut the damned rope!”
“Zack, Ryan, grab John!” Bor rushed to the tree with his great ax in his hands, and when the two had him firmly held by the armpits, he cut the rope, which fell to the ground.
“Lauren, pain, something, anything. Lauren, help me, please…”
She dropped down beside him, being afraid that he was about to scream in pain, “Gingaar, something strong. Now! We’ve asked too much.”
Racing to the leaf pouch, she grabbed whatever she could find, returning with three red berries in one hand, and a single blueberry in the other. “This is all we have left for strong pain. One is too strong, but other is too weak.”
As his body convulsed in pain, he shook so bad that Lauren thought the leaves would fall from the trees. Grabbing the blueberry, she pushed it into his mouth, rubbing his throat to ease it down. “MOTHER, make this right!” she screamed to the sky, “I’ve done like you’ve asked. Now! Now is when I call upon you! No longer do you get to watch. YOU WILL PARTICIPATE! Refuse and I’ll revolt, and you know what I’m capable of. Turn away from me now, and I’ll turn my vengeance to you. YOU WILL MAKE THIS RIGHT!”
