The Wolf, the Butterfly, and the Kraken

Chapter 51

                                                                   Vam

I read the letter to the council. It had taken a while to translate, which was frustrating, but here we had lots, and lots of time. I would get reports from Lieutenant Apin, who would make the journey to Finton by river boat twice a day. Sometimes he had messages from Joann. I missed her.

This scroll had been sent from Captain Harris to us from Lieutenant Apin. Apin told me he had read the message as well, and that he would be available at the regular times tomorrow, as well as noon.

The council gathered around me as I read the missive to them. "Captain Harris writes, and Lieutenant Apin concurs." I swallowed at the not so easy tidings. "Soon two things are going to happen. The kraken breeding season will end, and with that raiders will be headed our way. We are located at the mouth of a river that travels far inland. The unit guarding Finton has reckoned with many raiders that came to this area along the coast. But now they are taking care of us," I eyed the warriors around me, "and a moonpox epidemic. The raiders who come will not know of the illness. They could catch it, spread it further around Venera, and possibly back to Lyngara." I let that sink in.

Already 27 warriors had gone to the river camp. Not all were sick, but all would have to remain quarantined for a time. It still had not been decided what to do for them if a boat came. Even then every day one or two more would leave with Apin.This had not escaped anyone's notice.

"Also, Captain Harris reports that supplies are running low, and even though there has been an increase in communication about healing techniques, from the Academy in the capital, nothing has been heard from command regarding a supply wagon."

Supplies were running low. Rations had not been cut yet, but it seemed likely to happen soon.

"Further, the people of the Armen plantation who might be able to help, in normal circumstances, have fallen gravely ill as well. Yesterday alone 3 elders and two small children died. Only one of them lived long enough to even make the trip to the river camp. There had only been 70 people there to start. Now there are 30. They are struggling to take care of their families and animals. Most of those at the plantation are women, children, and elders. The able bodied men are fighting.

"If supplies do not come in the next few days my unit will be dangerously low on supplies, as our supplies have been sent to the river camp to aid the sick. I will be coming to the meeting place halfway up the mesa, along with Lieutenant Apin, and the matron of Armen. Lieutenant Green has fallen ill, and will not be able to speak for the people at the plantation." I rolled up the message in the silence. I did not need to tell these warriors that bringing a civilian to a meeting of warriors was not common.

"Does he have the fever?" Greyr asked.

"Not that is known," I said.

They all thought their own thoughts. I took a deep breath. "I will be there one way or another as translator. I think at least 3 of you should go in case a majority vote is needed." That meant if two stayed behind they would lose their vote. None wanted to lose their vote in whatever was decided on that mesa tomorrow.

And so we found ourselves halfway up the mesa, on a shaded outcropping. Lieutenant Apin joined us shortly thereafter, coming up from the river. He was smiling.

"Do you have good news?" I asked him.

"Yes, I do. Kroser woke up last night. He is weak, but asks that I send you his greetings and thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. Joann and Sharem are keeping a very close eye on him to make sure he doesn't regress."

"Thanks be to Mother Moon," I muttered, along with the others.

Apin nodded, "And of course Joann sends her warmest regards. She has an assistant healer now. He is young, but proving himself capable. If he survives moonpox and raiders I might give her her chance to serve him some justice."