The Long Road South

Seth took three arrows during an ambush outside Strahnbrad.

We got him out, but barely. One of the shafts was deep, buried in his side, and he was already burning with fever by the time we reached the foothills. The other two we pulled on the move, but that one, the deep one, I didn’t dare. Taking him all the way to the manor would have killed him. I made the decision without asking anyone.

We rode to Southshore instead. I held him in the saddle for most of it, his weight against my back, his breath shallow and hot against my neck. Every time he went quiet I thought he had slipped away. Every time I shook him and he groaned, relief cut through me like a blade.

Elira didn’t hesitate. She took one look at him and started giving orders. I helped where I could. Mostly I just stood there and watched her work. Fast, focused, completely in control. She cut the arrows out, cleaned everything twice, and started mixing something that smelled foul but made Seth’s breathing ease within the hour.

He was conscious for a while. Long enough to see how Elira and I moved around each other. Long enough to understand.

He didn’t say anything. Just looked at me once, tired but clear-eyed, before the fever pulled him under again.

I stayed until she told me he would live.

Then I rode back to the manor alone.