Of Healers and Medicine

[Bernar]

Carts drawn by man-, horse-, or mule-power form a steady stream from the town\'s warehouses to the docks and back again. Such life where the Old Forest Road meets the river Celduin, leading to the Long Lake. Added to this traffic are the folks carrying supplies back and forth to the well-organized camp abutting the town proper. In a sort of grid, as much as the land allows, the center of camp is marked by banners raised tall. Karath\'s golden sword and axe on red and dark blue sits ever-so-slightly below the golden emblem of the King\'s Men.

Raucous laughter of soldiers off-duty emerges from the Ox and Fiddle Inn as someone steps out the door who fills the entire doorway: Lord Bernar of House Karath, resplendent in a gold-trimmed black cloak and his usual regalia. He has some parchments rolled up in his hand. The bustle parts around him as he makes his way down the street, soldiers stopping to salute with fists on chests and everyone else simply moving lest the bear of a man trample them accidentally.

[Brev(#30997)] In such an atmosphere as this, it is hard to keep track of individual comings and goings. Amongst those coming up the path from the docks are a little knot of folk who are clearly not soldiers, for most are female. One tall figure, however, lingers to set shoulder against a wagon with a stuck wheel, exchanging a few good-natured words with the burly black-bearded fellow minding it. The hood of his grey cloak falls back to reveal a head of dark curls and skin several shades darker than that of most folk round here.

By the time the wagon is moving again Brev has lost sight of his former companions and must instead witnesses the emergence of Bernar. Neither salute nor any swift movement is forthcoming he does, however, duck his head in a nod and murmur a polite, \"Afternoon.\"

[Bernar]

\"Master Brev!\" thunders Bernar, clapping the man on the shoulder. Several nearby folks turn around to see what\'s the matter, given the noise. Most quickly turn back on their way, but a few look confused. \"I wondered if you\'d come. Got that infirmary to run, got a noblewoman to see to-\" He grins. \"My congratulations on that last. So I didn\'t really expect you, but you are a welcome surprise.\"

He softens his voice, the rumble becoming more the tone of a bumblebee. \"We don\'t know how bad it is, yet. So far we\'ve only lost two, and largely to bad luck.\" He rubs his shoulder. \"And I took an arrow, but the old armor stopped most of it.\" He shrugs, self-consciously flexing the muscles affected.

\"But you must be thirsty, hungry after a few days of shipboarda fare,\" he says, voice rising back to normal.

[Brev(#30997)] Brev grimaces involuntarily to that thunderous bellow in his ear. Small wonder that he takes a step back at the clap on the shoulder, bearing up under it mainly by dint of the fact that there\'s now a building at his back. He musters up a polite listening expression that briefly slips into an answering grin at the mention of noblewomen. Then he says simply, \"Figured it was here my skills would be most use. I\'ve seen more of fighting than most of them - plus I don\'t have a gaggle of bairns hanging at my skirts.\" A snort at that.

The next words send his brow arcing up he watches Bernar\'s movement with an appraising air before enquiring, \"It\'s healing well? No swelling or pus? Any others injured?\" In face of the immediate issues the final query is forgotten.

[Bernar]

\"Not yet, you don\'t,\" counters Bernar with a wider grin. \"The gaggle comes later.\"

Then he looks more serious. \"No, it was quite shallow, all things considered, and Captain Celys of Taurdain saw to it before I could even make my report on the patrol. Changing poultices a few times, and-\" He shrugs, making only a slight wince. \"Good as new, just about. Give it another day and I\'ll forget about it altogether. And horses saw more injury than men. I am the only one with more than a light scratch.\" He frowns deeply before saying, \"There are wargs.\"

\"You certain you don\'t need food or drink? Price has gone up since we came to town, but I\'m buying. And the army\'s supplies are yours, as well - but we can do better than salted fish and cram.\"

[Brev(#30997)] Brev\'s lips twitch. \"I wasn\'t planning to start wearing skirts,\" he retorts, before his features grow solemn again.

He ceases frowning at Bernar\'s explanation, nodding. \"We\'d heard mention of wolves,\" he murmurs. \"Figured there would be bites. Mistress Gwende sent some store of herbs - where should supplies go? Where do we go, come to that, to be out of your way? Don\'t much fancy being trampled in the rush.\" He glances round the town and up at its stout walls and shivers suddenly.

\"I reckoned we\'d get fed as part of the deal,\" he answers the final topic drily. \"And most things are better than salt fish.\" This time the shudder is exaggerated and clearly for effect.

[Bernar]

\"I\'ve got a large canopy near the center of camp empty and waiting,\" Bernar replies, pointing one thick finger towards the outskirts of town, where the tents abut the buildings. \"And tents set for resting, of course. Are the herbs still on the boat?\" Not waiting for an answer, he extends three fingers and pokes them at three passing soldiers heading towards the Inn. \"You three - go to the docks and find any boxes that came with the healers, and bring them to the healers\' canopy. If you don\'t know where that is, seek out the quartermaster.\"

\"I don\'t know if you have the taste for whiskey, Master Brev, but I brought a bit of something from Barlin\'s private stash, too. When we are certain the threat is dealt with, I\'ll share - and not before,\" he adds with mock-sternness.

[Brev(#30997)] Brev opens his mouth to respond, then shuts it, grinning, as Bernar goes about issuing his orders before he can speak. When there\'s a break in the barrage of orders, he simply nods.

At the mention of whisky his cheek twitches briefly, but he murmurs dutifully, \"A kind offer that. Or,\" one corner of his mouth curls up in a lopsided grin, \"was it a bribe? Lets hope neither of us has need of it before then. Last time trouble flared here, it was - well, lets say I have a new appreciation for what it is to be a rabbit in a warren when the ferrets are loosed.\"

[Bernar]

\"A bribe?\" Bernar scoffs. \"No need to bribe someone with a proper sense of duty - and if they don\'t, I want nothing to do with them.\" And the smile fades slightly. \"Yes. It did occur to me it might be necessary for someone before then. May none need to go under the knife.\" He doesn\'t sound that hopeful about that prospect.

Then the corner of his mouth tugs up. \"But that is why I brought multiple bottles. Only the best for the King\'s Men - and we don\'t want them trying to cough up what is meant to dull the pain.\"

[Brev(#30997)] Brev looks somewhat unconvinced by the sentiments expressed. \"If you didn\'t expect trouble, we wouldn\'t be here,\" he points out philosophically. \"And that\'s a noble sentiment! I\'m sure your lord uncle would approve,\" here he manages to keep his features entirely straight, though there is just the hint of a grin as he asks, \"Sure you\'re not related to that Warden? The blunt-spoken fellow with the pipe? He had a knack for finding just one more flask of spirits ... what was his name again?\" The words trail off and his gaze grows distant as he considers, then recollection comes: \"Magnus! They made him a Girion.\"

[Bernar]

\"I am no relation, I am afraid,\" Bernar says, \"though we seem kindred spirits.\" He smiles at the mention of Barlin. \"But I am my uncle\'s nephew, so to speak. Literally and figuratively.\"

He gestures for Brev to follow alongside him as he walks towards the inn he just left. \"But to business, ere I see to it you break your fast in good fashion. As we do not know where the enemy is concentrated yet, we may be breaking camp and moving quickly. Thus far only the small group has been encountered, but they had nearby reinforcements. Too organized to be an isolated band.\"

\"I have scouts in all directions,\" he continues. \"We should know more soon.\"

[Brev(#30997)] Brev\'s long legs take brisk strides as he strives to keep pace with the oversized Karath lord. \"The healers will be ready to follow as needed,\" he asserts. \"And I have a spear, should it come to that, though Kiern knows I hope it won\'t. It\'s not the skill that\'s lacking, you understand,\" there\'s a certain gleam in his eye as he makes that boast, \"but the ... ah, discipline. I know nothing of your soldiers formations and tactics. A hedgehog\'s bristles need to point the right way.\" He looks faintly amused.

They\'re approaching the Inn now and despite himself Brev sniffs appreciatively at the smells of food and ale wafting out. \"Right,\" he says briskly. \"Hurts inflicted by wolves and goblins we\'re prepared for. You\'ve a fair amount of cavalry, which means leg injuries ... we\'ll figure that in. Anything else I need to know?\"

[Bernar]

A bemused expression settles across Bernar\'s features. \"A hedgehog,\" he muses. \"I suppose a company of spearmen could be considered a hedgehog. And I, too, hope it doesn\'t come to that. You can get more than enough men back in the field to make up for your own absence.\" He opens the door and walks in, causing various cries against the cold air until they notice who is opening the door. \"I can think of nothing else, save that they apparently have decent archers. And let us eat.\"

[Brev(#30997)] Brev\'s gaze flicks to Bernar\'s shoulder. \"Then lets be glad that House Karath apparently have decent armour,\" he returns.

He ducks into the building behind Bernar, moving easily in the wake that the bear-sized leader creates, and is soon sat down at a bench and enjoying what is hopefully not salt fish. Yet.