All that Glitters (Stavin DragonBlessed Book 1) (28 page)

Angeleese hurried over with a large bag in her hands. Sahren motioned her toward the wagon, and she quickly climbed in. Just a few breaths later Kahndar, Horvan, and Barin climbed out. At Barvil's questioning look, Kahndar raised his hands to his shoulder level and shrugged. "She said get out."

* * *

Inside the wagon, Angeleese removed the wad of cloth Barvil had bound over the wound. She placed her hands on either side of the wound, forming an arrowhead with her thumbs and fingers, and pressed just a little.

Stavin's eyes snapped open. He took a deep breath, then coughed once. He stiffened as a bolt of agony shot through his body, and collapsed again.

Angeleese smiled slightly once his eyes focused on her. "My apologies, Stavin, but I had to know if your lung was punctured. It would appear that you are luckier than most men. It also appears that the Heal-All is going to be of more use to you than I will be."

"The men—" Stavin began, but Angeleese put two fingers on his lips to silence him.

"They are dead." She looked around to draw his attention. "You are safe in your wagon, and your people are on guard. There's nothing for you to worry about. I want your permission to place a sleep-spell on you to help you heal."

"Why my permission?" Stavin asked in a whisper.

"Because I am not powerful enough to do it against your will," she replied with a smile. At his nod, she began chanting and moving her hands in front of his face.

Stavin was fascinated by the sound of her voice and the movements of her hands. He felt himself began to drift and didn't resist as the warmth of sleep enfolded him.

Angeleese kept chanting as she secured a clean pad of cloth over Stavin's wound. The chant and sleep spell worked together to take Stavin into a deep sleep in just a few moments, and Angeleese smiled and checked his breathing one more time before she climbed out of the wagon.

Barvil and Sahren helped her down. "He is asleep and will remain so until I awaken him, or the spell wears off. Three days is the longest I've ever managed. He's lucky you were there and acted as quickly as you did. They missed his lung, but nicked his liver. The Heal-All had already stopped the bleeding, so I just reinforced its magic. He's not going to be good for much for six or seven days."

Barvil seemed to sag a little. "That's a relief. I was afraid this knife might have killed him after all." He held up the blade and Sahren stepped forward.

"That looks like—"

"—The blade that almost got him back at Parvin's Hold. It is. He probably grabbed it to defend himself and got stabbed with it by accident—not that I'd tell the authorities that."

Trader Sahren smiled wryly. "No, I wouldn't tell them that. I had planned to travel on tomorrow, but I think we'd better give Stavin an extra day before we move him." She looked up at the sky and grimaced. "Hopefully this rain will end and we can get some trading done."

The day continued dark and rainy, and night arrived almost unnoticed. Barvil changed back to two-man patrols to spread the load out. Slogging through the mud and rain was much more tiring than most watches. Barvil called his men together as they ate.

"Barin, you did a good job today. When those men attacked Stavin you didn't hesitate to attack them in his defense. With two more kills added to your total, you now have eleven and your second red stripe. Congratulations and well done, Command Sergeant Kel'Kandis."

Morning brought a reduction in the rain, though it never completely stopped. The first customers for the traders arrived soon after dawn, and the traders scrambled to open their wagons and display their wares. When one of the townsfolk walked by wearing light clothes and carrying a rain shield, Kahndar made the comment, "I didn't think many people would come out in this weather."

The townsman laughed. "What, this?" He waved at the sky. "This is hardly a mist. It'll be like this for weeks, and we can't let a little water stop the world, now can we?"

The day proved to be active for the traders, and Barvil found himself bemused by the attitude of the locals. They hardly acknowledged the rain at all.

Near mid day a carriage arrived and an elegantly dressed man stepped down. Servants kept a pair of rain shields over him at all times, but he still squelched through ankle-deep mud as he walked over to the wagons. Barvil and Sahren went to meet him, and Sahren bowed deeply before she spoke. "Greetings, Lord."

The man stopped and bowed his head slightly. "I am Lord Kahrter Zel'Ival. Where is Friend Stavin?"

"Friend Stavin is spelled asleep in our wagon, Lord Zel'Ival," Barvil replied, pointing to the wagon.

"Will he survive?" the lord asked, looking at Barvil for the answer.

"We believe he will, Lord Zel'Ival," Barvil answered. "However, stab wounds can be deceiving."

"Is he in need of a healer-mage? You said he is spelled asleep."

"One of my family is an apprentice-class healer-mage, Lord Zel'Ival," Sahren said, bowing again. "She feels that the Heal-All that Goodman Barvil applied immediately after the stabbing will be sufficient."

Lord Zel'Ival pursed his lips, then shook his head. "I'd feel better if my healer-mage looked in on him. Carvon is a Master, but he's very close to achieving Adept status. And don't concern yourself about a fee. I pay him well enough." Without another word the lord turned and walked back to his carriage.

Sahren and Barvil watched him go, then went to the warriors' wagon. Angeleese was sitting with Stavin, sewing a shirt while she monitored her patient. "Angie," Sahren said, "there is a Master healer-mage coming to check on Stavin."

Angeleese simply nodded and said, "Good."

Master healer-mage Carvon Fel'Horas turned out to be a relatively young man. He had barely thirty years behind him, but he carried himself with a quiet confidence that set most people who met him instantly at ease. He was shown to the wagon and immediately climbed in. "You are the healer for your people?" he asked when he saw Angeleese.

"I am an apprentice healer-mage. Until now that has always been enough," she replied. Motioning to Stavin, she said, "The knife missed his lung, but nicked his liver. The Heal-All that his leader used seems to be taking care of everything. I'm just keeping him still so he doesn't undo the good it's done."

Master Fel'Horas nodded and placed his hands on Stavin's torso, one hand above and one below the dressing. After a moment he sat back and smiled. "You are correct. The Heal-All is taking care of everything. How old are you?" he suddenly asked.

"Seventeen," she replied. "I've been apprenticed for five years, but Adept Doranah says this is as far as I'll go. I don't have the power to do much more."

Carvon looked down at Stavin. "You do well enough with what you have. He should stay still for three or four more days. Even then, he shouldn't overexert himself."

Angeleese bowed her head. "I had thought five days—if I can get him to stay down that long."

Carvon chuckled. "Young fire-eaters, out to conquer the world. Good luck to him." With that, he climbed out of the wagon and found Barvil waiting for him.

"How is he?" Barvil asked, nodding toward the wagon.

"Resilient and healing. Your young healer is taking good care of him. Keep him still for a few more days, and he'll be fine."

"Healer," Sahren began, "I had thought to move on in the morning. Would that be safe?"

"Yes. Just keep him in the wagon lying down for another day, and sitting still for three more. I won't say he's out of danger, but he should be soon." He bowed deeply and walked back to where he had tied his horse.

Sahren turned to Barvil. "We will move him to the bed in Angeleese's wagon in the morning. That way she'll always be with him. For all that this was an unintended stop, it has been a fruitful one. We'll be stopping again in Miller's Ferry tomorrow. I'm told it's only half a day's travel, even in these conditions."

Barvil nodded, then glanced at the wagon. "We will be ready to travel at first light."

T
HE CARAVAN MOVED ON AS SOON
as it was light enough to see. Stavin was in Angeleese's bed, and her wagon had been moved to the number two slot. Kahndar had been moved forward as well, and rode to the right of the wagon. With Barvil to the left of the lead wagon and Karvik left of number three, they all felt that Stavin was sufficiently protected.

The caravan reached Miller's Ferry before mid day, and pulled into the caravansary. The traders had opened their wagons and displayed their goods before the sun had traveled half a span further, but there were still people waiting before the traders were ready.

Stavin was kept in Angeleese's wagon, still spelled asleep. That was deemed better than drawing attention by moving him. Barvil, Karvik, and Kahndar paid extra attention to the wagon as well. No one was going to attack Stavin at this stop.

Trader Sahren decided to move on early the next day and crossed the Zel'Pakrin River not long after sunup. The ferrymen did not want to accept a that a Friend of Evandia was traveling with a caravan of common traders, but finally conceded after the senior ferryman climbed into the wagon and checked Stavin himself.

The Zel'Pakrin was just the first of the major rivers that filled that part of the kingdom. Fortunately, Stavin was awake before the next river was reached.

"Hello?" Stavin said as he slowly regained consciousness.

Angeleese looked back from the wagon's seat, then whistled for the caravan to stop. Barvil and Kahndar climbed aboard before the wagon stopped and Barvil asked, "Is he all right?"

"He is awake," Angeleese answered. "I have to check on him." She climbed into the back of the wagon and looked down into Stavin's eyes. "How do you feel, Stavin?" she asked.

"My chest and stomach hurt. Other than that, I'm fine," he answered.

"There's no need to whisper. It's near midmorning."

"I wasn't—" he said, then cleared his throat and tried again. "I wasn't trying to whisper. It just came out that way. How long have I been asleep?"

"This is the fourth day since you were stabbed, but just barely. You've been asleep for just under three full days."

Stavin stared at her for a moment, then said, "Oh, Gods Below," and tried to get up, but Angeleese pushed him back down with just one hand.

"No, you don't, Stavin. You won't be getting up any time soon."

"But I—"

"Stavin," Barvil said from the wagon's seat, "you stay put. You came perilously close to joining Cordon and Ivalin. Healer Angeleese and Master Healer Carvon both thought you'd need at least five days of rest before that Heal-All will have completed its task. You'll also need to regain your strength after all of the energy it's pulled out of you."

Stavin stopped trying to get up and relaxed. "Yes, Sir."

Kahndar stuck his head in beside Barvil's and grinned. "After you get your strength back, you and I have some work to do."

Stavin twisted in his neck around and asked, "What kind of work?"

Kahndar's grin grew wider and there was a twinkle in his eye as he replied, "I'm going to teach you how to avoid getting stabbed with your own knife."

Stavin collapsed and covered his face, and all three of the others heard his moan of, "Oh, Gods Below."

Stavin regained his strength quickly, though he was still forced to stay in the back of Angeleese's wagon. His mind was kept busy by all of the sights around him.

Angeleese and her family were carvers, and she carried a large assortment of their art. Figures of animals, real and imagined, mixed with representations of iconic figures from the past, all carved from stone, wood, bone, or ivory.

The caravan finally stopped to trade at the city of Zigamarad, one of the greatest imperial-age cities on the continent, two days later. The city and the magnificent bridge that spanned the mouth of the Zel'Horgan River were named for Emperor Zigama Zel'Draval, the man who had ordered their construction. For over a thousand years the bridge had arched gracefully over the waters and commerce of a third of the continent.

Stavin was well enough by the time they arrived that he could sit up with Angeleese and get the full impact of the sight. "Gods Above and Below. I've read about it and seen drawings, but the reality is so much more than I can describe."

"I agree, Stavin. I've never seen it before either," Angeleese said as she guided her wagon behind Sahren's. The traders were forming their circle and Stavin climbed down to unhitch the team as soon as Angeleese had set her brake.

Barvil walked over and looked him over carefully. "How are you feeling, Stavin?"

Stavin took a deep breath and let it out slowly. "It doesn't hurt to breathe anymore, Sir. Nothing is tender or tight. Can I please put my armor on now?"

Barvil looked up at Angeleese, and she nodded. "Take him. His fidgeting is driving me to distraction."

Barvil laughed and Stavin blushed. "Very well. Armor up, Stavin. Stay with Kahndar today and eat when you can. I can see your bones. That Heal-All used up all of your reserves."

Stavin snapped to attention and said, "Yes, Sir," then walked off toward the warriors' wagon. Angeleese caught Barvil's attention before he walked away.

"He really should take it slow for a few days."

Barvil nodded. "I know. That's why he's with Kahndar. Kahn has been through the same thing, so he knows that Stavin isn't up to anything too strenuous. He'll keep him from overtaxing his system."

Angeleese smiled and turned away, and Barvil went to join his men. Kahndar spotted him. "We were just helping Stave get dressed, Sir. Are you sure he's ready?"

"No, but he thinks he is," Barvil answered. "Slow and steady, Kahn. Wait a few days before you start knife-fighting with him."

"Yes, Sir," Kahndar answered.

Stavin climbed out of the wagon and faced Barvil. "I'm ready, Sir."

Barvil looked him up and down, then patted him on the shoulder. "Take things slowly for a day or two. Sahren is planning to stay and trade for two days, so you have plenty of time to recover. Same rules here as in Zel'Fray concerning going into the city."

Stavin said, "I understand, Sir," and turned away with Kahndar.