"Hmm, we could always send a raven up there, too," the Master said, stroking his chin. "True, but you know how ravenries can be; sometimes it will be a week or two before they even see the message, let alone have a proper answer on short notice," Anwill said with a shrug. "It's worth a shot, at the very least," I chimed in.
"The issue here is what would become of Codrean," the Master said, letting his words hang. "I'm not saying we should go in full force to Odensby. We would have to leave a few of us behind to stand guard. How many are we in total, Master?" I asked. "Just over two-hundred, after the battle," he replied with a lowered tone.
"If we were to leave here with a small party of about twenty, that would allow us to move quickly, while conserving plenty of resources and people to hold the fortress while we're gone," I said after a short pause.
"You have got a good head on your shoulders, young Thoma," Anwill noted approvingly. "I agree with him," he said to the Master, who immediately rose from his seat and began pacing his study. "While we know that Irun has a higher potential for being the traitor than most, that still doesn't confirm he's the one to blame," the Master began, pausing near the window that overlooked the training yard.
"If the traitor remains among us, we risk any and all information getting into the wrong hands. If this person, or these people, are capable of charming an ochelon, we have to assume that they could also break any mana wards I put up to prevent them from gathering the information stored in this very room," he continued.
"So we're taking everyone with us? Abandoning the fortress?" I asked, feeling my stomach drop. "It may be our only option, but I must consider it. I'm sure we are all exhausted after the battle, and we all could do with some rest," he said, sitting back down on his chair.
"We shall continue this discussion tomorrow. Oh, and I would very much appreciate it if you were present for that decision, Thoma," he nodded, making me blink a few times in confusion.
Is he finally starting to trust me as much as he does Bernar? I wondered.
"At first light, Master? I'll be there," I tried to hide the exhaustion and excitement in my voice. "Don't be late," he nodded with a grin. "And so will I," Anwill cut in a smile. "I'm sure that you must have more pressing matters to attend to back in Caegwen," the Master said. "Nonsense. This is the most fun I've had in nearly a century. Plus, before I left, I put you-know-who in charge of not just Myrdin's, but Caegwen's defenses," he said with a wry grin, getting a soft nasal chuckle from the Master.
Aaaand I'm kept out of the loop… again, I mentally sighed.
"Very well, then," the Master said with a nod. "Thoma, head down to the infirmary to notify your brother and Master Garett," he said. I nodded and headed out the door. The stairs that led from the Master's study to the infirmary seemed longer than they had ever been, but I nearly missed the turn I needed to take as I was lost in thought.
I can't imagine the Hjalfarian school falling so easily, he thought to myself. I mean, if only about a hundred of us could take on such a horde, the Hjalfarian school must have been under a heavy attack indeed. Either that, or something truly powerful overcame their forces. They were one of the oldest schools on the Continent, and had some of the most experienced Synners. It just doesn't make sense. Think, you fool, think, I furrowed my brow and tapped a pair of fingers to my temple, trying to piece the facts together.
Continuing down the halls, I realized that nothing was as it had been before. The walls seemed older and darker than they had looked just a few weeks ago. I felt the weight of the battle finally weighing down on me and my body.
Damn it, I feel like I'm carrying my brother on my shoulders after having trained all day, I thought.I reviewed what had happened in the battle, thinking about what I could have done better or more efficiently. I'd gambled with my life with that final attack, after all.
Won't be doing that again any time soon, I thought with an awkward chuckle.
Walking down the final flight of steps that would ultimately lead me to my destination, the smell of blood and sweat began to fill the air. I stepped through the doorway and saw beds filled with wounded Synners. I had never had much contact with most of them, since most of the wounded were not in my immediate circle of friends, so I began looking for the ones I did.
I found Garett kneeling by one of the beds, tending to a wounded sinner whose chest had a ghastly cut in it. "Master Garett," I said quietly. "In a minute," Garett said, holding up a hand. I observed the wound being given the same treatment I had received from my brother.
I don't miss that feeling of wounds being seared shut with mana. It feels like a small horde of maggots on fire burrowing through your skin, I shuddered briefly.
He finished searing the wound shut with mana and gently touched the woman's shoulder. "You'll live, lass," he said comfortingly. "Thank you, Master Garett," the woman replied weakly. "No need to thank me; just doing my job. Go on, get some rest," Garett replied with a warm smile.
He rose from his kneeling position and turned to face me. "Be quick about it. I have others that need tending to," he grunted. "The Master has called for you in his office at first light, Master Garett," I said quietly. Garett knew that couldn't be a good thing. "Anyone else invited?" he asked. "You, me, Bernar, and Anwill, Master Garett," I replied. "Anwill? The elf?" he raised an eyebrow.
Unfortunately, I was even more puzzled than he was.
"Y-Yes, Master Garett," I replied. He sighed and shook his head. "I don't usually trust elves. They're too old for their own good, and it creeps the living shit out of me. If the Master wants him to be there, I have no choice but to suck it up, I guess," he said with a sigh. "I'll be there, don't worry," he replied with a firm nod before moving on to his next patient.
I nodded and made my way over to my brother, who was tending to Irun's wounds.
A broken rib or two was never as severe as an open wound, unless of course they had punctured a lung, I thought.
"You got lucky," I overheard my brother say. "Lucky?" Irun wheezed. "The ochelon's claw could have impaled you. Would you rather it had?" Bernar asked with a shrug. "I think anything else at this point would be more comfortable than barely being able to breathe," Irun replied, getting an instant flick on the forehead from my brother.
"So you would take death over a bit of discomfort? You seem fine to me if your shitting that much from your mouth," I chuckled, approaching the side of the bed. "Oh, munch on a prick, will you?" Irun said with no small amount of sarcastic spice in his voice. He coughed and wheezed for a moment while I just shrugged my shoulders.
"As funny as that was, I don't think it's a good idea to cause more damage than you've already got," Bernar said with a grin. "Hurry up and fix me, then," Irun said impatiently. "Careful, now. Getting fixed in some places means having itchy and scratchy sawed off with a dull knife," I said, not bothering to hide the shit-eating grin on my face.
Bernar snorted with laughter and almost lost focus on what he was doing. "He's got a point. Careful what you wish for," he said, desperately trying not to lose focus as he continued sending mana towards Irun's wounds.
"Your parents must have been something special for you two to be able to make jokes at a time like this," Irun groaned. "Thanks, it's the trauma," I winked. "Shut up and lie still," Bernar spat, flicking his middle finger on Irun's forehead again. "Oi, can you not flick me for five fucking seconds?" Irun exclaimed, but after my brother glared, he gave in and put his head back on the pillow.