Trees. River to the west. A glow from a campfire. Soup rolling down my neck... Its all I can recall from fading in and out of consciousness.. I must have been out for a few days as I've created an odor that the flies adored. Finally finding my strength to sit up I looked around to study my surroundings. I realized I was in the slavers wagon. Shit. The battle! Things went terribly wrong. Where is Mayli? Fumbling around I made my way to the back. Becoming light headed I stumbled forward on the door and to my surprise it flew open and I fell right out landing hard on the road. I watched the wagon carry on a few yards then come to a halt. I could see a figure hop down and rush to me. I tried to move away and get back to standing but all I managed to do was slip and fall on my face. I lay hopelessly waiting to get grabbed and thrown back to the wagon but nothing. Taking what little energy I had left I pushed up from the ground and sat back on my heels and looked up. Mayli! I let out a sigh of relief then fell unconscious again.
I awoke leaning against a tree by a fire. Mayli was preparing lunch. We were in the same place from where I fell of the wagon and can see lines in the dirt where she dragged me to camp. Embarrassing! This trip is not going as planned. What even happened to me? Why am I so weak? I watched her cook as I slowly became more awake. After some time she presented me with some soup and thankfully I was able to eat it on my own. She ate opposite from me. After we finished she looked up and frowned.
"I'm really sorry about that. I haven't quite masted my skills yet."
Shocked I looked over and said "Oh no that's the best thing I've ate all week! Is there more?" And held up the bowl.
"Not the food!" She snapped back as she took it. "About what happened at the ferry. I..." She stopped and looked down at the bowl filling it. My brows narrowed and I stared. "The reason you have been out for a few weeks..." The words hung in the air. "...was because of me. You are so quick and sI didn't see you rush in to get those last few guards while casted my spell on them. After I saw you fall I rushed over and was able to use some of the resilient energy and divert it away healing you enough to live." She handed back the soup. "After it was all over I freed the slaves and in return they helped carry you inside and other gave us food and supplies and I had us continue south. I cast healing spells on you daily and did what I could to keep you alive."
I just stared with my mouth open. "That is amazing!"
"What? NO! its awful! look what I did to you!" She protested.
"No, you are powerful! To be able to put a group down like that and still able to revive me is impressive."
She gave a light smile. "Thanks, but I am still sorry."
"You did not mean for it and its not like we had much practice fighting together. Well need to work on battle plans once I've got my strength back!" I grinned back at her, relived I had not fallen by an enemy. We sat quiet once more where I became aware of my awful stench again and cringed. After finishing eating I felt I hand enough strength to move. I thanked Mayli for the lunch and staggered to the river throwing my shirt off in some mud. I was too exhausted and dirty to care if she saw me bath and removed the rest of my clothes as I entered the water. Best I stay in view anyway if I pass out again. After going under a few times to rinse my hair and wash my face I opened my eyes to see Mayli on the shore laying out soap, and fresh clothes. She avoided looking at me, but I caught her peek back as I crawled out to grab the soap and she scampered back to the fire.
Feeling Fresh and energized I cleaned out the back of the wagon which still smelled like a hogs pen. I helped Mayli pack up camp and joined her in the front of the wagon and we continued south to Archers Grove.
We arrived at a huge tree. I was still a bit foggy headed but I believe we met with someone named Perlog who fed us then escorted us to the high rooms. Mayli went to at hers and I was led across the hall to my own. It was elegantly decorated with golden fabrics yet contrasted with woodsy accents. It was nice to for once be greeted as royalty and accommodated as such. This is the kind of life we should have already been living. I laid in the amazingly soft bed and fell asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow.