Petals in the Ocean

Chapter Six: Neem and Salt

"We need to get everything to the riverside now!!"

Stepheno didn't need to be told twice. Mara was in Suga's arms as they pushed through thick bushes and sharp branches until they were on the damp bank of the river. Her body was limp, the fresh blood on her making Suga's pound heavily through his body. He laid her down as gently as he could, ripping a piece of her torn sleeve that he soaked in the water. The wound oozed red, slowly covering the entire left side of her face. How big was it? Was it deep? Had it damaged her eye? He was scared to think about it. But yet his hands were steady as he slowly dripped a steady flow of cold water onto her face, watching as streaks of blood were washed down into her hair.

"Sire, orders?" Stepheno asked.

Suga didn't take his eyes off of her. "A fire. Clean cloth for bandages. In Juniper's saddle bag I have a parcel of herbs. Boil chamomile, rosemary and cinnamon. Find the best stones you can, I also need you to grind neem and rosemary into a paste. We need salted water too. It's going to hurt her but this needs to be cleaned."

"Of course my lord, right away."

As Suga wiped the side of her neck, crusted blood came off in flakes and melted into his makeshift rag. She had lost too much blood. It was a wonder she managed to stay upright on her horse to begin with. But why was she in these lands at all? The last Suga had heard, she was still in Rosavna, glittered strongly at the side of her father, looking at proposing new reforms that they planned on sharing to other kingdoms to increase trade. That was only several weeks ago. For her to have rode all the way, to be this close to the borders of Elvedare... was she going there? Was she coming to see him?

"You have no time for that," Suga muttered to himself. The wound wasn't as deep as he worried it was, much to his relief, but it was ugly. Jagged and uneven, red and raised with inflammation and soreness. It extended from her forehead through her brow, thankfully missing her eye, but thickly slicing her cheek so that pink flesh glared at Suga before weeping more red blood down the side of her face. His hand pressed the cloth onto her face, putting as much pressure as he dared as he looked up.

If they were closer to home, he could have found someone with supplies. Even in Drummand they would have a better time looking for medical items. He needed tools; thread, proper bandages at least. She needed a bed, proper food and more meticulous care than a river and her own shirt. But as he saw Stepheno break through the green trees with all three horses that were covered in tiny leaves and their hooves browned with mud and dust, he knew that it wasn't the time to complain.

"Stepheno be quick!"

"Yes my lord, the fire has already started! I'll start the salt water and tea immediately."

Sweat dropped from Suga's forehead onto her nose. Her breaths were slow, almost as if she was sleeping. Suga had never seen her like this before. They had been covered in mud from their practices and rolling around in the meadow, filthy beyond imagination. The only injuries they had were scraped shins and elbows that they would rub dirt into before forgetting about them entirely. But to know that her life could be in danger? He wanted to scream. Nothing would happen to her after all these years, he would make sure of it. Instead he gritted his teeth together and counted to sixty before gently moving his hand away. His own breath came in a gentle huff. No more blood. Carefully he cleaned her the best that he could, wiping dirt off of her chin and temple. Blood came off with a slight pressure onto her skin and before long she was clean until the only thing that remained was her grey tunic stained brown down the front.

"Mara?" His hand pushed the hair out of her face. "Mara can you hear me?"

She didn't answer him. He hadn't expected her too, but his heart slammed into his throat. They didn't have what they needed to be able to give her back her strength. Replacing her fluids would be easy, the river was close enough so that they could draw water and make teas that would hopefully keep her far away from any kind of infection that could be rooting it's way into her cut. But she needed better food. A bed to rest in. Proper needles to sew up her face,