day 10 17810

Kell waited until they were all gathered around eating. “Our destination is Lynching. We need to be in place and have info by the time the others reach the drop. They will be leaving at first light. So that means we are going to be spending a lot of time in the saddles. We will break now for two horse and again at dawn.” She turned to the mage. “I don’t know your mount, can it handle this pace in the dark? Be honest we can slow it down, but I need to know now.”

He said. “The pace is fine, but I am lost. This is a new route to me and in the dark I fear it will be even easier for me to get turned around.”

Kell nodded. “I would be surprised if you weren’t a bit lost. We are in friendly territory, or should be. So do you know how to tag a person?” He nodded. “Good. Then place a tag on all of our bags. That will let you keep an eye on use, but give us a way to ditch the tag should it be necessary. Anything else?” No one said anything so she nodded. “All right then, finish your food and lets try and get some rest. We’ve a long ways to go yet.” Two hours and a bit saw them on the road again, the stop at dawn was a bit longer then it was back on the trail tell a short stop at noon.

Then the pulled up as evening fell. “This is where we spilt. Intelligence says the enemy has laid siege on the town. We will be fanning the range looking for them, and head counting. Work in pairs. After each counting, mark it on map and then drop it in this tree. Don’t over tax your mounts to get the data. Rest them as you need to. Watch for Phill’s sign. That will mean Bree is calling us in, fallback point is here. Questions?” She turned to the mage. “Let the ones out there know help is here. And you will be with me.” Turning back she added. “I will take the high point so I can keep track of you. Remember no matter what we are to avoid engaging the enemy. Just watch and report. The trackers have been killed, but stash what you don’t need to save the horse the weight.”

“About how long do we have?”

“Bree and them will have to take the road and will have the wagon, so that gives us anther two days at lest. Should be enough time to get a decent idea of what we face.”

Kell nodded. “Just remember we don’t want heroes. Fight smart don’t take undo risks. There will be time enough for that later. Go with the Goddess.” She watched them go and them murmured a brief prayer and finished it with the sign of blessing. Then turned to find the mage watching her. “There is more than meats the eye to all of us. Don’t looked so shocked. If you need to send a report do it now. There will be mages in that city and they will be watching.”

Setven shook his head. “I am good thanks Krelly.”

Kell nodded. “Then lets get going, and it is Kell. What do you prefer to be called theses days?”

“Setf is fine, or hay you, mage, fool. What ever you can think of at the time. My partner’s name is Cord, short for Corridor, really.”

Kell nodded. “I think I can manage that. What do you think of that peak there, fell comfortable or is it to high?”

Stef said. “Looks good to me. But I jus have to ask why it is that they just take it for granted that you can watch all of them?”

Kell shrugged. “They know I will be scrying them. The whole outfit knows I have some mage in me, and I have been with theses guys long enough to know them. That plus the height makes scrying easier. They won’t look like much more then dots, but I will know where they are and they know how to let me know if there is trouble. Not our first run with this type of job. I took this role long before I ended up as scout captain.” The next few days passed in a bulr. There were some minor run ins but nothing to serious before Bree called them in.  (and I am going to skip ahead as I don’t know just what goes on here. Some of Lion officers are able to meat them, note are gone over battle plans made and thrown out after the first battle then we come to the deiced one. I will fill in all this at some other point. For now lets jump into that battle, so I can get to what I want to happen.)

Rob had found one of the undead priest things and was disposing of it. Kell was hunting the other one. Spotting it she dived in and set to free him of his head. This one surprised her buy know how to fight.  She was holding her own when a hen the sound of her name made her turn and instinct let her duck so the blow meant to kill her just grazed her head. She managed to    crawl clear of the two then she blacked out. She wok on a cot.

A voice told her. “Don’t try and move yet. By rights you shouldn’t be awake. But it is near imposable to keep you out.”

Kell said. “Well my teachers wanted us to be safe from poisonings, so there are few drugs that will work on me. I think we have been though this before.” She manage a week smile. “How bad?”

“Nothing that wont heal. Though you are going to have to take it slow. And I want the buns a bit more healed before you try and move.”

Kell said. “Burns?”

Setf answerd. “The only thing that Would take tose to out was a strike but you were to close, and I could not shiled you from the resulting fire as good as I should have. Though in my defense I was not expecting the fire.”

Kell said. “But I thought. No not right know. Mel there is a blue bottle in my back. Bring it ere and I promise I will be out for at lest anther day. Will that do? If my bag is lost then a shot glass from the jug in my trunk will do. Anth will know the one but he will argue with you, so you will have to be forceful.”

Setf handed her a glass. “I carry some to. Thought you would have some, but mine was easy for me to get to. This should make it easier for them to heal you as well.”

Kell took the glass. “Mel should not be have to fight my shields, but if the others are trying they could be. More so any one new.”

Mel said. “I think they were trying to put a spell on you or something. When you first got to me your shields were full up, and it took some time before I could see how bad the damage was, but it has been getting easier.”

Kell started to nod and winced then took the glass and drained. “I am like to ask the same things when I wake, so don’t worry. I will be a bit off.” Things went black again.

 The next time she woke up it was Rick who was there. “Hay there, you want to try and sit up?”

Kell smiled. “And something to drink.”

Rick said. “One thing at a time.” He help her sit up and got the pillows behind her so she could stay that way. “Mel said you would be a bit tipsy, and shouldn’t try to move to much. Here is some water.”  She went to take the glass, but he held it to her lips.

She took a drink and smiled. “I might be a bit week but I think I could hold the glass.”

Rick said. “Your arm and should took most of the blow and are going to be sore. You didn’t fell it last time because of the burns. But you might this time. And the skin on your left side is going to be tender and will need to watched. Besides you know I love waiting on you love.”

Kell nodded. “Nodding bad idea. But I bet Anth would have your head as well. So my left side was on fire, minor concussion and a dislocated shoulder. What else did I end up with this time?”

Mell said, causing Rick to jump. “I see that none of it has bother your hearing. You have summed it up pretty well. You are going to be as week as you were after that mage but it is going to last longer. You body still has a lot of healing to do. And though you are going to hate it I have all ready told Bree and Robert that you are to be in a wagon when we pull out. Once you are no longer dizzy and I am happy with the skin on the leg I will let you try riding some of the day. But that will be a week.”

Kell said. “I am not that silly. I promise. I had no intention of getting on a horse. Heck I am not even going to try and stand just yet.” Mel nodded. “I know you are busy, but those in the town?”

Mel shook his head. “The ones in the house with the mercs will make it, but the others. There was to much damage there. If there hadn’t been mages in those houses I don’t know if we could have saved them. It was close. We will be staying here anther day to give the locale healers time to get up to speed. And nothing more than kissing you two until that skin heals. When you fell like it you are free to go, but move slow, and don’t push it. I would like to keep you here and would if I didn’t know you would be watched.”

Kell laughed. “You mean waited on. I think you had a hand in him being here. Go on and see to the others I will be good.” Mel shook his head but moved on trusting Rick. Kell looked after him then said. “I think I am ready for anther drink.” Rick held the glass to her lips again and she took a drink.