A Battle of Pride and Desire

Chapter Thirty

Brigette followed the two warriors out of the infirmary to the open grassland that waited outside. Bodies lay dumped all over the field and Healers did their best to remove all the bodies they could. Brigette's throat tightened at the sight of the massacre and frankly, she wondered how it would be possible to clear up so many bodies. The infirmary was in a dingy looking house made of stone and she knew she was far from the castle. She didn't recognise where they were, this was only part of the bloodbath from today's battle. Outside though, the wind was light and the breeze was welcomed. While the smell of blood wafted through the air, the smell of nature battled against it with fervour. It was quiet out here, a stark contrast to what it was like a few hours ago. The sun was setting over the hill and Brigette knew that just beyond that hill was the castle; waiting for them. The sunset painted the skies a purple and orange hue, as if it were saving the last dregs of sunlight. Brigette knew the feeling. The skies were clearing now though, to comfort Magmellans and remind them of the vast opportunity that lay before them. Brigette felt like she was stuck between a rock and a hard place.

Eoin turned to Brigette then and Taran did the same. Brigette stopped walking and crossed her arms in a move to defend herself. They stood in silence for a moment too long.

"What?" she pressed.

"I'm inclined to ask the same," Taran said.

Eoin looked between the two of them and ran a hand through his hair, "Liam will be here any minute, we're waiting for him."

"Why do we need him?" Brigette asked.

"Because he is the leader of his battalion and he'll want to hear this."

"Can we get some kind of preface?" Taran asked.

Eoin just shook his head no. They waited in silence some more until Brigette could hear hooves pounding on the earth. She turned to where the sound was coming from and Liam rode atop a white horse looking like a warrior from a story book. Brigette watched him climb off and tie the horse to the fence beside them. The horse whinnied and began to eat the grass that lay there just waiting to be eaten.

"Sorry I'm late," Liam said. "I was ever so busy."

Taran just slapped him on the shoulder, "And we weren't?"

"I can't say you look it," Liam said and winked at Brigette.

Brigette felt her skin heat up so she looked to the ground. Eoin just sighed and tapped his foot on the ground.

"Just spit it out," Taran said.

Brigette looked up then, at three of the strongest warriors in Magmella, as they sized one another up.

Eoin eyed her wearily in response and said, "Brigette, do you remember what happened at the end of the battle?"

Brigette looked him in the eye, "No and I would like to know."

"You healed Taran, first of all," he said. "And I saw his wound, he was going to die. Not even a healer could do that."

Liam just stared at her, eyes wide, and Brigette would have laughed under any other circumstance, "I don't see how that's your business."

"You mightn't yet," he said. "But do you know what happened while you healed him?"

"What do you mean?" Taran asked.

Eoin looked Taran in the eye, "Does she know that you're..."

Brigette looked between them in earnest. That what? Taran just shook his head no and gestured for Eoin to continue.

Eoin obliged, "It was unlike anything I've ever seen before. She-" he looked to Brigette. "You. You created a bubble around yourself and Taran but you released a green fire. It was lethal and hot to touch, but that wasn't the best bit."