A Different Landing

Chapter-31

Artigus walked out of TonDC weighed down with an armful of blankets as he made his way to the three healing tents. There was the tent for the injured but stable patients, a tent for the patients in need of constant supervision and a third tent that they were preparing for the warriors rescued from the mountain. He concentrated on walking across the uneven ground as he got to the newest and largest tent. Several Azgeda warriors were building cots inside of it. He saw the blond healing apprentice wave him over.

"Great, thanks for gathering those for us." She said, reaching out to help take some of his load.

Nodding carefully, he helped her pile them in the corner neatly so they could be grabbed as needed. "What's next?"

"Can you go to the camp where Xander will be setting up a dinner fire? You need to request he have enough broth made for two hundred people." The girl let loose her messy hair before pulling it back into a new and more secure bun.

"I can do that." He cursed the way his voice cracked.

"Good, tell him Lisa sent you on an errand for Klark." She smiled tiredly at him before turning suddenly to snap at a warrior who'd just dropped a wooden box. "Be careful with that!"

Knowing himself to be dismissed, he slipped out of the tent and began heading for the wooded area where the Azgeda captain had set his forces up. He needed to stay busy, thinking about his father Nyko's face as he lay among the dead was enough for him to feel agony lancing through him. Shoving those thoughts out of his head, he pushed on towards the fire where he could smell food being prepared. Despite not knowing what captain Xander looked like, it wasn't hard to spot the man. He was tall with angular features and the decorated edges of his clothing gave away his rank. Approaching the man, he dipped his head in a slight bow.

"Captain Xander." He greeted pulling the captain's attention to himself.

"What do you need?" He asked brusquely, clearly wanting the conversation to be over and done with quickly.

Artigus straightened. "Lisa requests that you have enough broth for over two hundred people prepared."

Xander looks at him properly for the first time and Artigus wished he could tell what his blank face meant. The man finally spoke. "Why is that amount of broth needed and why is a Trikru bringing me a message from a healer who has a full compliment of warriors at her beck and call as is standard after combat?"

Artigus frowned as he replied. "My father is...was a healer. I'm assisting and Lisa said this is

what was needed so I'm bringing you the message. The wounded need it, and we expect a lot more injured to come in from the mountain."

"What is your name boy?" He asked his eyes narrowed.

"Artigus." He replied.

"Know that if this is a foolish attempt at sabotage I will have you tied to a frame and flayed alive for wasting time and resources. This is your one chance to leave if this is a lie." Xander was facing him his face set.

Artigus felt his throat closing as he swallowed. The captain had authority leaking off of him and Artigus felt like an ant standing before him. There was no doubt in his mind the captain would follow through with his threat. Straightening himself up, he spoke. "We need the broth for the injured. You can ask the general if you don't trust me."