They reached a rundown building not far from the pub and she stared at the peeling paint on the wood-chipped exterior. The windows were cracked and needed dusting. The wooden frames were rotting and there was a distinct smell of what she hoped wasn't urine. She looked up at Sav who walked beside her. He was far from what she was used to as a soldier, he was unkempt, and his beard was far too long for her liking. She looked back at the young man named Jensek behind her. It felt like he was staring a hole into the back of her head.

"How long have these men been staying at this place?"

"Not long, we had to transfer them here to keep a low profile. We can't have people panicking about Hitcher raids." Jensek said.

"Are any of the others wounded?"

"The men that follow Vestin are a strong bunch. A few have a scratch here and there, but only one received major injuries." Sav replied with a shrug.

She looked over at Sav as he scratched his ass and sighed a little before looking away.

"What exactly happened?" She said.

"At the order of our captain, Vestin, they were fleeing an ambush. He stayed behind and helped a few of his men who had been cornered. When they separated from their captain, they said this young lad jumped in front of a Hitcher and took a hit for one of the men lagging." Jensek replied.

Sav looked back at him and shook his head and sighed, "How many times I gotta tell ya it's not your fault he ended up like this? If ya keep beating yourself up over every little scratch a comrade gets you'll end up with a severe case of the Mopes."

Loraz kept quiet for a moment then whispered to herself, "So his injuries are due to his nobleness as well as his foolishness."

Jensek heard her then pulled on her shoulder and flung her to face him. Her back pressed up on the wall, he stared at her. His face was red and his breathing a bit off he shouted at her,

"What exactly makes him foolish?"

Sav jumped to pull Jensek from her then stopped in his tracks.

Loraz stood straight, her eyes locked onto him, her hand held a blade already pointed at his throat and another pointed at his torso.

Jensek removed his hand from her shoulder and then stepped back a few steps. He watched her hands each knife appeared out of nowhere.

She slowly lowered one of her blades.

"Only a brave fool would jump in front of a Hitcher. I understand the poor creatures suffer from an illness that drives them insane, but they are still a dangerous bunch even when they are sane. Rushing into action with an unclear mind and no plan of action leads to limitations on life or even worse loss of life. I understand that you care for him a great deal, but beating yourself up for what has already passed will do you no good. Don't give up on him just yet, he still breathes."

Sav stepped between them and looked at Jensek then at Loraz.

"From my understanding, they wish to die so they seek out others to grant them a warrior's death. Although many died in their search for self-relief." Jensek replied.

"Too true." Loraz nodded.

"You're not like most royals," Jensek said while he extended his hand.

Loraz chuckled a bit and took her blades both in one hand then with her free hand took hold of Jensek's. Sav still slightly between them stepped back a bit and just watched.

"I will take that as a compliment. I grew up among my people. The same village as Vestin. As someone who understands the burden of guilt, I will apologize to you, sir for speaking ill of your friend...I used to wonder if I had stayed in my village, what path would I have gone down..."

"We are who we are, not by choice but by the Ancestors doin'. They knew the path you are destined to walk and so they sent you towards it." Sav said.

"There are times I wonder if this path was meant for me." Loraz sighed.

"I know that feeling," Jensek said.

They began walking down the hall again and climbed two flights of stairs. Stopping in front of a faded red door with the numbers two-zero-six painted across it.

"We're here, "Jensek mumbled.

Loraz took a deep breath and looked up at Sav who opened the door. They walked into the room, and she saw it held only one rundown makeshift bed, a small stool by a broken window, and the only source of light was an enchanted candle on the floor by the bed. The walls were slowly rotting in some parts, and it looked like mold was growing in the ceiling. Her heart sank into her stomach as she looked over the patched-up figure laying on the bed barely able to breathe. Flinging off her cape and throwing it to Sav she immediately rushed over to his side to assess his injuries. Kneeling beside him she went to reach for his arm then paused. She saw his chest rising up and down in a weird pattern.

"Seems like he is having trouble breathing. Breaths are short and quick."

Picking up the candle beside her she lifted it to brighten up his face a bit more.

"Discoloration around the eyes and his jaw seems to be swollen. There is a possibility of infection."

She gently lifted open an eyelid and saw his pupils were a bit dull. Sitting up straight she looked over the cloths that dressed his wounds. Sniffing at oils and paste combinations of herbs that were already used. He had some around his chest and torso, a few on his left hand, and his left leg. From the heavy smell of a crisp citrus scent, Gotte must have used a large amount of gungun berries. She pressed her lips in a thin line and sighed. That would help the wounds heal, but it would do nothing for pain or to kill the infection. It was a miracle the young man was still alive. She looked at one area of his shoulder and saw the purple web-like veins that trailed down it. The sign of the poison slowly made its way to the heart. Looking around she saw a small bowl of gingun berries and next to it a bushel of winter vine leaves soaked in haysticale oil.

The young man opened his eyes slowly and looked up at her as she scanned over his body and looked at the bow berries. She sat back and smiled warmly.

"Hello sir, I am here to help. I will ask you a few questions. Do not try to speak, to answer just blink. Once for yes, twice for no, and none if you are unsure. Do you understand?"

The young man blinked his eyes once.

"Good. Now, are you having trouble breathing?"

He blinked his eyes once.

"Is there pain when you inhale?"

He blinked his eyes twice.

"Is it there when you exhale?"

He blinked his eyes once.

She shook her head and looked at Sav and Jensek, "Possible there may be some internal injury to the lungs..." She turned back to the injured young man "Can you eat?"

His eyes stared for a bit then he blinked twice.

"How about drinking? Can you swallow liquid?"

Jensek stepped forward and answered for him, "We give him water a little at a time. He seems to be okay with that much and broths."

"Good, then he'll be able to drink the tonic. I may have to make them all liquids for the treatment to work." Loraz said.

She looked back at the young man and whispered

"Okay...I'm going to have to undo these wrappings. Will that be ok with you?"

He blinked his eyes once then looked over at Jensek. He managed a smile and Jensek sighed.

"You are a blubbering fool. Smile when you can eat whole foods again."

He blinked once.

"Okay, I'm going to need both of you to help me lift him. We must clean the injuries and find out which ones are infected. Let's hope Robert finds all of the things I need."

Jensek looked at her and then at him.

"Can you really save him?"

Loraz looked up at him. She knew a great deal about medicine due to her years spent in Mossca, but because she didn't have the proper tools with her or clean working space at her disposal, she was sketchy on the outcome. Telling this to Jensek was of course out of the question and so with a fire burning in her eyes she replied,

"If his blood is spilled my blood will spill, those were your words, correct?"

Jensek looked back over at his comrade and scoffed.

"Stop bringing up the past and focus on what's in front of you."

Loraz nodded a smirk on her lips. She could tell he held a deep respect for her and was just refusing to show it.

They all went to work helping Loraz clean up his wounds.