The first thing Max had learned was that Ruth was the only one in Anatol capable of using healing magic. It made her uneasy. What would happen if there was even one more problem?
Ruth lightly flicked his finger at her as if to bring her out of her anxious reverie.
“Worry later. Right now, it is best to continue preparing the servants. I will go prepare the medicinal herbs.”
“A-all right.”
With that he turned around and left the room.
As soon as he was gone, Max brought out her thick, heavy robe and put it on and rang a small bell to gather her servants. Once they’d all arrived, she chose ten strong, young servants and five maids. She ordered them to start preparing to go out. Then, she left the Great Hall.
When she came out to the military training field, she pulled up her hood to block the cold wind. She saw three huge carriages that were being loaded up with bags by the servants. After confirming that everything was packed, she boarded the carriage along with her servants.
After a while, Ruth appeared carrying a large sack over his shoulder. He packed the medicine into the luggage compartment. Max scooched closer to the carriage wall, so he could climb up. However, the wizard was surprised when to see her.
“Oh, is the Madam going as well?”
Her eyes widened. Of course, she thought she had to go and help. But…
“Wi-will it cause a disturbance if I-I go?”
“No. I was just surprised, that’s all. It would be quite helpful if you come.” The wizard sat opposite to her smiling softly.
Soon, the three carriages departed and began to pass underneath the gate. As they were crossing the Dogaegyo Bridge, they began to rattle violently, startling Max and causing her to cling onto the handles tightly. The carriage slightly tilted forward while going down the steep hill. Suddenly worried that she was going to fall off, she clung even tighter.
As he witnessed the entire scene, Ruth shook his head and spoke. “The wheels of the carriage are equipped to handle going downhill. You do not have to be so nervous.”
Max flushed, immediately letting go of the handle. She was embarrassed to show that she had little experience riding in a carriage. How much he must have traveled…
Like he’d said, the carriage came down the hill safely and turned eastward. She looked through the window as they went along the remote forest path, densely packed with naked trees.
The thin branches of the trees cast web-like shadows over the icy ground. Looking around at the bleak landscape, Max turned away from the window and took a deep breath to calm her pounding heart. After a while, the carriage came to a stop.
“We’ve arrived.”
When the servant opened the door, Ruth jumped out first. Following him, Max stepped out only to be greeted by piles of the corpses of evil creatures hardened as if they were stone. In the wide, open space of the lumberyard, there were tree stumps sparsely scattered and it was there that the bodies of huge beasts with pitch-black fur were stacked.
“Werewolves…, ” said Ruth calmly, looking down at the head of the beast, “… if they had secretly tried to climb the wall at night, it’s no wonder the guards did not notice. We need to set up a contingency plan.”
Max managed to swallow the bile that began to crawl up her throat. She did not want to see such an unseemly sight again.
“Wizard, Sir! You came!” A loud voice echoed.
Consciously turning away from the gory scene, Max looked towards the direction of the sound. Between the dense tree line, she could see a few shabby cabins and knights leading their garrisons. One of the knights quickly strode forth to Ruth.
“Sir Wizard, Lord Ricardo has hurt his shoulder. Could you please take a look at the wound?” he said solemnly.
“You say Lord Ricardo is hurt?” A puzzled Ruth queried. How?”
The young knight exhaled as if biding a moment to muster a reply. “It was foggy near dawn, so I did not notice the call for help. Lord Ricardo was holding off the werewolves by himself until the backup arrived.”
“What in the world… where is Lord Ricardo now?”
“Come this way, please.”
Ruth hurried after the knight. Max, who had been standing by the side, was now confused as to what she should do. Instructing the servants to unload the carriages, she quickly trailed Ruth.
As she gingerly stepped into the dimly lit cabin, she could see the wounded scattered across the floor in neat rows. Max examined the dusty space and furtively glanced at the guard lying closest to her.
It was a gruesome sight. She gasped without even realizing it.
Arm bent at a strange angle, the once prim and proper tunic ragged, stained with dirt and blood, he lay there with a mottled and blackened face wincing in excruciating pain. There was also a peculiar stench emanating from him. All in all, he made for a ghastly sight.
Max had blindly followed Ruth, she had little experience in tending to wounds let alone the severely injured. She was now but a blank spectator, as she stood there in a state of panic and broke out into a cold sweat.
However, the able wizard had taken the reins in his hands and Ruth yelled out to her from across the room.
“My lady! Please tell your servants to boil water right away. We will need a lot of it.”
Go Maxi! Really love how she’s being exposed more to the world… although this is abit of cruel situation T T
