The Spirit of Wrath

Chapter Twenty-Four: Ascension

The men looked warily at Sahshir as he approached. Most of them were wounded in one way or another. Many were lying about being tended to. But they had formed around a golden standard shaped like a honey badger.

A formidable animal for formidable men. Even Baltoth knew to fear the Calishan Honey Badger, for one had nearly slain him.

"How do we know we can trust this Kalthakian?" asked a man, one of the few who were not wounded.

"He is no enemy of Zigilus, Amus. And we need help," said Marius.

"How can we hope to seize Zigilus now?" asked Amus. "We have saved the standard, but the fortress still stands."

"We must attempt," said Marius. "It may be that they have suffered as desperately as we have. Can we wait for the others?"

"It may be days before he returns," said Arus. "And I do not think we have that long."

"Then, we must complete our mission before that happens," said Marius. "We will press on once we are ready."

Marius' eyes fell on Sahshir's hand. Sahshir shifted as he did. "You are injured. Let my healer tend to you."

"I would appreciate that," said Sahshir.

Marius turned to one of his men. "You, where is Akius, the physician?"

An older man hurried forward, carrying a staff on which he supported himself. His skin had several scars, and his eyes were one of a man who had seen too much. Sahshir had seen the like among Asim's older warriors. "Here, sir."

"See to his injuries at once. We cannot afford to lose anyone to them," said Marius.

Akius nodded, and Sahshir sat down on a stone. As the man drew near, he looked out over the twisted landscape. Monstrous creatures began to ride out of the ground but did not attack. Instead, they wandered away as new plants grew up to shield them. Typhos' wrath seemed to have turned elsewhere.

"Let me see your hand, boy; I may be able to heal it," said Akius.

Sahshir drew off the scarf and pulled off one of his gloves. He felt a little pain from the sumps. Akius' eyes widened as he sat on the flesh, covered in boils. "...What happened to you, boy?"

"A curse from Laevian, long ago," said Sahshir.

"My sympathies. I will see what I can do," said Akius.

His spells healed the wounds, and much of Sahshir's pains and aches were recovered. Yet the fingers did not regrow. As the man worked, Marius moved up to him. "With such an injury, how did you fight?"

"I don't feel my body as I once did," said Sahshir. "This only gives me a mild ache."

"What brought her wrath upon you?" asked Akius. "Laevian uses such curses only rarely."

"Nothing I did," said Sahshir. "It was a curse on my father. All his sons in every incarnation are cursed with it. It took effect when he became who he was.

"Then, he left."

"...I remember your name now," said Marius. "You are the one known as the Leper Prince?"

Sahshir felt injured at the name. "I am called so."

Akius shook his head. "This infection is beyond my abilities. It fights against all efforts to restore the flesh. With time, I might deal with it. However, there are other injured men I must see to."

"No matter," Sahshir rose. His mouth was parched. "Do you have water?"

Someone passed him a canteen. Opening it, he drank deeply. The sensation of the water going down her throat was heavenly. He passed it back to Marius gratefully.