Eliona's War 3: Lethal Healer

Ch. 41

Eusebius the Madi.

It took Severance a few moments to remember why that name sounded familiar. It was the name Agadhi had mentioned when the strangers had visited the House late at night. This wild-looking man was the reason that Severance had been shooed out of Elionia by Mouna.

Now Eusebius himself was standing before Severance, clad in mismatched furs and wearing an amused twist to his scarred lips.

"Need some help with that?"

Eusebius nodded toward the arrow embedded in Severance's shoulder. He didn't seem to be bothered by the snarling vastlhidan between them.

Severance sat on his knees, his body shaking slightly as his health bar continued to flash an angry orange. It had still been green when he'd tried to pull out the arrow.

How long had he been out of it?

He gritted his teeth. "What do you want?"

"I want to help you."

The wildman's face twisted; scars stretched, ivory teeth flashed, and brown leathery skin creased into a caricature of a smile.

It was possibly the most unsettling expression Severance had ever seen in his life. And he'd seen a few.

He laid a hand on Vast's rump, and the beast immediately quietened down, backing up to sit beside him. Vast still made an effort to show his own pointy teeth in warning.

"And after that?" Severance warily asked.

"We have a little talk. Don't worry, little cibel. I promise not to bite." Grinning, Eusebius stepped forward.

Vast immediately stiffened, rumbling louder. Severance stroked the beast's back, silver fur slipping through his fingers. He considered his situation. It wasn't good. He couldn't heal himself until the arrow was out, and he lacked the fortitude and strength to pull it out himself.

Really, he should just directly teleport back to the House and get the Veiled to help. But...

Eusebius the Madi was known to the Veiled. There was a connection there, one that even the Veiled Head, Agadhi, refused to elaborate on.

Severance narrowed his eyes slightly. This was risky. Very risky. But at the end of the day, Eusebius had already seen him passed out on the grass in a very non-Outsider way. That meant he already knew of Severance's greatest weakness.

There was little point in hiding it.

"It's okay, Vast," Severance decided. "Let him be."

Vast lowered his head a little, his rumblings softening just a tad. He watched intently as the wildman approached.

"You call him Vast?" Eusebius grinned. "Creative."

"It does the job." Severance tensed as the man closed in.

"Aye, that it does. Now let's take a look at your shoulder." Strong fingers grasped Severance's upper arm, holding him in place. There was no warning nor any hesitation on Eusebius' part. The man simply grabbed the arrow and yanked it out in one smooth motion.

Next thing Severance knew, he was sprawled on the ground. He couldn't breathe. White spots danced before his eyes, and the corners of his vision pulsed an angry red. Death was perilously close. Vast practically lay on top of him, snarling at Eusebius.

He groaned. A rough hand clamped down on his shoulder, applying agonizing pressure. Severance struggled for a second before realizing Eusebius wasn't intentionally causing him pain; the wildman was slowing the bleeding.