Red Rivers and Nightmares

6. Lifeless Eyes (Part 2)

I have just finished with his bath when my helper comes back. Without a word I hand them Vaine and they leave the bucket next to me. I close my eyes briefly as I sterilize the water but not seeing the suffering does not mean that I cannot hear it. I give myself the briefest of moments to let my body tremble. Then, I push it all down, so far down that I do not have to think about or feel my emotions.

Now, I fall back on all the knowledge and training I have had so far to treat these poor, suffering people. Even so, I think of Fia at every new patient I treat. I think of her so strongly that I have to really concentrate on others to dilute their blood because some do need it. They need those precious extra minutes for me to stop them from bleeding out, so I fight her grasp on my brain and do what they need me to do.

At first, quite a few people need it to give them a fighting chance to survive. I trick their bodies into thinking they are better off than they really are to avoid the worst of shock and sew them closed. Thankfully, I have plenty of thread because of how small and thin it is, even the precious Cardevan thread. My biggest issue is bandages. I did not take a large amount to begin with because I never imagined I would be out here in a healer capacity. I just took some to treat whatever injuries Iien and I would acquire. I took more than I thought I would need for the two of us but it is not enough for here and now.

I pause in treating my patient and lean back on my feet in my sitting position. I quickly catch the eyes of two individuals. The elder is limping towards me and the other is a younger girl who has a gash across her forehead that is already starting to bruise but it otherwise fine. I squint, trying to remember if I have seen her or not. Did I check her for bleeding in the brain already? I cannot remember; there have been a few that I have checked and there were no issues. As she gets closer her features get clearer and even with drying blood on one side of her face I immediately think she is adorable. Surely I would remember checking somebody that looked like her?

The two reach me at the same time. I make sure to direct my attention to the girl, "Have you been checked by me for your head injury?"

She dips into a small curtsy, "No, me lady. An elder put some ointment on ma hurt and its stopped bleeding so there was no need to bug you."

I frown, wondering what our conversation has to do with bugs but thinking about her sentence more critically has me hoping she meant something like 'bother.' I sigh as I stand and attempt to wipe the blood off my hands with my pants, only to encounter metal with the tips of my fingers. I am paused as I remember the greaves I had put on so excitedly earlier. I shake off the new budding emotion and finish rubbing them roughly as I then direct my attention to the elder. His expression is filled with grief, anxiety, and exhaustion. I shy away from my own responding emotions and speak to him monotonously, "I need you to find some cloth we can use in li - place of bandages and take them to my older brother, Iien. Tell him they need to be soaked in boiling water with the mixture labeled s-t-e as long as possible before we need to use them."

They both nod and the girl is about to leave when I grab her wrist, "I need you to stay to make sure there is no bleeding or bruising in your brain."

She looks at me with disbelief, "Brain?"

I tap the side of my head with my free hand. She looks at me mulishly but when I do not remove my hand she sits down with a huge sigh. I send a quick, thankful prayer to our goddesses that somebody taught her to be mindful of healers. Then, I kneel back on the ground and place a hand on either side of her head.

This is not something I have really had to do before either but I was taught the techniques behind it. I breathe in and then I hold it. I can feel tiredness within myself. At this very moment I cannot tell if it is me or my body from magical use as I quickly move from myself to inside her skill. It is hard to pinpoint where I want to go at first as I feel lost.