Traveler's Blessing

Chapter 8: Jus Drein Jus Daun

The infantry is marching into Shallow Valley, with Lexa, Indra, Anya, and Gustus leading on horsebacks. Behind them are Lexa's personal guards and the generals' sekens.

"What? You are kidding me?" Costia whispers to Han.

"No, I'm serious." Han rolls up his sleeve to show off his new tattoo to Costia. "Bos Tri ga."

Costia leans over and touches Han's forearm to inspect the tattoo. She couldn't believe what she was reading. A giggle forms at the back of Costia's throat, and at once, she crams her fist into her mouth to stop it from spilling out. Han beams at Costia, even though the joke is on him. She holds onto Han's arm, fighting to keep the giggles from breaking free and from falling over in laughter. Bos Triga means "best shooter." Han is great in archery, and he has outshot the best archers in Polis. But the tattoo artist must not agree with Han when she gave him this ink. By deliberately putting a space between the "i" and the "g," it changes the phrase's meaning to "best tree girl."

"Shof op." Anya turns her head and reprimands the two sekens for chitchatting as they march towards unfriendly turf.

"Do you remember what happened during this expedition?"

Costia recalls her earlier conversation with Indra.

"No. I wasn't part of this mission last time around. While some things remain the same, this time, things are a bit different. Perhaps it is because I am your Seda this life, and you have personally requested me to join. All I know is that it ended with no bloodshed, and Louwoda Kliron kru joined the Coalition afterward."

Costia can only hope history repeats itself for Shallow Valley but worries that too much has changed for the same outcome.

Han's good nature is a welcoming distraction, but this is probably not the best time. Still smiling, Costia elbows Han and shoves him away, "Seriously, best tree girl, listen to your Seda." Costia teases as she tries to regain her composure. Han grins from ear to ear.

Ahead, the friendly banter was not lost to the Commander, and a bubble of annoyance simmers under her stoic appearance.

From a distance, a scout runs towards Lexa but collapses before he reaches them. An arrow in his back.

"Shil op! Shil op!"

Without warning, a rain of arrows sprays down towards the unexpecting targets. It is an ambush. A lone arrow hits Lexa's steed and sends Lexa falling off her saddle. She rolls off the fall and pulls out her sword to defend herself. Gustus quickly got off their horses to protect his Commander. "Protect Heda! Protect Heda!" Gustus yells, and Lexa's personal guards quickly file around Lexa and Gustus with a shield wall to block incoming assaults.

"Indra! In the trees!" Lexa shouts, and immediately Indra understands her task.

Warriors with me!" Indra yells and hand signals Anya. Anya nods, and her unit flank left, and Indra's unit bank right into the woods to confront their assailants.

Where's Costia?

Lexa swings around to look for Costia. Costia is defending herself in front of Han from incoming arrows with her dual daggers. Lexa pushes to get to Costia.

Han is holding his right shoulder, his shirt stained with blood. Amidst the chaos, Han saved Costia by instinctively pulling her behind him as an arrow struck him on his shoulder near his deltoid. "Costia, please," he falls to one knee, "save yourself," grunting as he struggles to stay conscious.

"No way!" Answers Costia in defiance as she dances around the tempest of arrows.

As quickly as it started, the arrows stopped. It is replaced with men shouting and the sounds of swords clashing. Anya and Indra's units had found their mark in the woods. Immediately Costia drops her weapons to inspect her friend.

Lexa had also made her way to Costia, with Gustus in tow. She bends down next to Costia as the young fisa pulls Han to the side and cuts his clothes to expose the wound. Han has passed out. Gustus turns around and has his back against the trio in a defensive stance, alongside Lexa's guards, serving as lookouts while Costia treats Anya's seken.

It is not a deep wound; he shouldn't be unconscious.

Costia picks up a nearby arrow and sniffs the point, turning her nose; the tip is laced with poison. She must act fast ...

"No!" Lexa tries to stop Costia but is too late. Costia had brought her lips to Han's wound to suck out the poisonous blood. Lexa looks at Costia incredulously as Costia spits out the dark tainted blood and repeats the process.

"Heda, the enemy has retreated." A warrior reports back. Lexa nods, her eyes still on Costia as the situation unfolds. Costia stops and takes a minute to inspect Han. His breathing is stable, his face flushes pink, and his blood is running red again. Satisfied that she got most if not all of the poison out of Han's system, Costia pulls a bottle from her sack and pours it on the cut.

This should do it.

Costia starts to dress Han's injury but finds her fingers fumbling. Her adrenaline rush comes to a halt, and her eyelids are starting to feel heavy. She blinks and shakes her head, unable to concentrate. She feels dizzy and is starting to see doubles.

Skrish, I must have ingested some of the poison.

She looks up to meet Lexa's concerned green eyes before everything turns dark.

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"Costia!"

Costia just fainted and collapsed onto Lexa. Her head is nestled in the Commander's embrace as Lexa catches her. "Fisa nau!" Lexa yells her order while holding onto Costia, trying desperately to control the string of emotions in her voice; anger, worry, jealousy, pain, and panic. Lexa brings her hand to the corner of Costia's lips and wipes off the streak of leftover blood with her thumb. Costia's face is pale and clammy. Seeing Costia unconscious makes Lexa feel helpless and small, even scared. "Come on, Costia. Please, please ... don't do this ..."

"Heda." Nyko, the chief healer, and a few other healers made their way to Lexa. Lexa looks up, her eyes pleading. A moment of weakness rarely witnessed by her subjects. She gently puts Costia on the ground as Nyko inspects Costia. Rising from her knees, Lexa slowly backs up, giving room to the healers. Lexa feels numb, and her stance is wobbly. She looks down at the blood on her thumb. A memory invades her mind - the same hands blacken with nightblood during the conclave. The body of a childhood friend, laying face down in a sticky pool of inkjet blood. The smell of metal and iron, a sickening feeling churning in the stomach suppressed with the will to survive ...

Indra and Anya had made their way back to the main road rushing to Lexa's side. Both warriors wearing blood on their faces and armors - leftover evidence from the battle.

"Heda."

Lexa wills the memory away, coaxing her face back to its usual emotionless expression, and turns toward her generals.

"Report," Lexa commands, her voice stern.

"nineteen dead, and ... thirty-two injured." Indra's jaw tightens as she steals a glance at her motionless Seken lying on the floor. She knows in her heart this is not Costia's time, but the scene still troubles her.

"The enemy has retreated. We didn't attempt to pursue in case they double back." Anya continues.

Lexa nods. "Any captured?"

"None, those alive committed gouthru klin."

It is not a huge loss; since Lexa's infantry is three-hundred strong. The ambush target is obviously directed at Lexa.

"This is a declaration of war," Lexa states, her eyes seething.

Lexa looks over her shoulder. The healers are still working on Costia and Han. Her knuckles are white as she tightens her fist. "Set up Camp. Send a message to Polis. Call upon the Coalition for Blue Cliffs and Broad Leaf to march against Louwoda Kliron." Lexa clenches her jaw, her voice cold with fury. "Jus Drein Jus Daun."

"Sha, Heda." Replies Indra and Anya in unison as they hurry off to carry out their orders.