The Mortal Soulbinder (Severed Gods, #1)

Chapter XI: Barikard

"Barik, is that you?"

With one trembling hand clutching a rusted knife, a woman emerged from the concealment of shadows. When she saw Barikard staggering towards them, being helped by the elf, she instantly dropped her weapon and ran into the arms of her husband.

"Oh, Barikard!" She breathed, her honey-smelling breath tingling Barikard's neck. She dug her head into his shoulder, squeezing tightly with her hands. "You have been gone for two nights. We have been so worried! Where have you been, my love?"

"El, we need your help... Arrdan..." Barikard weakly pushed his wife away, gesturing behind him. As soon as Elle looked behind, her hands shot to her mouth. With black, lifeless eyes gawking back, Halfdan was slumped onto a large piece of wood the elf had managed to salvage. In that instant, Elle bolted into the cabin, gesturing Barikard and the elf to quickly follow.

"Quickly! Children - clear the table! Fetch my ointments! Barik and you--" Elle shrieked, scrambling backwards and dragging the children along with her.

Barikard put his hands out both in front of Elle and the Elf, as the Elf crouched low and raised her bow. "Elle - it's okay! Don't panic! She saved mine and Arrdan's life! Now please - help us!"

Elle, breathing rapidly, took a second's pause and slowly released her children, who stared at the Elf with gaped mouths. Elle swallowed and them leaped into action, lifting Arrdan gently. "Fine, you - elf - help me carry him! Place him on the table, that's it - no, no, no, gently! Yes, that's it, carefully, carefully..."

Shouting commands, Elle rushed around with glass bottles containing ointments the colour of mahogany, mauve and graphite, balancing on both of her arms and hands. Some began bubbling away in the heat as she placed them beside the table. Barikard's children flung all objects from the table, with the crash of the pots and pans failing to cover Halfdan's agonising screams. They watched in horror as the trembling man was placed before them on the table, with every inch of his blackened body jerking and clenching after every spasm of pain. They were quickly pulled away by their mother, who was then instantly at the side of the table.

With eyebrows furrowed and teeth clenched, Elle ripped off the layers of blood from his face and chest to reveal the rapid movements of his chest as Halfdan struggled to take the shortest breath. Barikard stammered away, groaning. The elf stared back in terror, not making the slightest sound.

Elle did not glance up, but her expression betrayed her rage. "What are you doing, elf? Help me!"

She decided to comply, holding Halfdan's face still so that Elle could place the ointment on without making a hazardous mistake. As the first ointment was applied, Halfdan's dried blood began to instantly sizzle and froth into dark red bubbles. Screaming, Halfdan jerked up but was instantly pinned down by the elf. Elle's hands clasped around his arm and managed to keep them as still as steel as the second red solution was poured over a protruding wound. Then, with a steady, meticulous rhythm, she spread a bluish mush over the bubbling wound. It smelt sharply of eucalyptus and wildflower. This time, Halfdan's eyes became bloodshot and he began kicking his legs around in a furious frenzy.

"Barik, you coward, help us hold his legs!" Elle shouted.

Barikard also decided to comply, and after a few deep breaths pushed all his force down onto Halfdan's ankles. Without delay, the last solution was poured onto the foaming wound, creating a terrifying sizzling sound. Crying out, Halfdan arched his back, eyes rolling and screaming incomprehensible words. The blackness of the decay protruded from his skin, with the decaying flesh pulsing and wriggling in anger like a spider impaled on a pin. However, the pain elapsed after mere seconds, and he slumped onto the oak table, panting heavily, with beads of blood-red sweat trickling down his forehead.