Mary brought two fingers to her lips and whistled sharply. Once she had the attention of all the commoners, and some knights, she barked:
– Oi! Listen up! This Sir here knows healin'. His mother taught him, but he ain't a healer. He gonna treat ya wounds. He ain't chargin'. Is an honour thing for'im. Got it?!
– Dan and Gil already got help. Jack agrees, right? – Meg added.
– Ay! – Jack confirmed loudly.
– Yeah, yeah – Gil added.
Dan didn't answer, so Nick looked for him.
He spotted him lying down, his eyes closed. Nick rushed to his side, grabbed his wrist, and placed two fingers on it.
– What's wrong, Sir? – Lily asked
– I'm just checking on him. – Nick answered, releasing a tense breath once he felt the steady pulse under his fingers.
– He alright?– Meg asked.
– Yes. He's just exhausted, but he's holding up nicely. Let's let him rest. Shall we go back to Rob?
– Ay, Sir, – Lily responded.
Back beside Rob, Mary commanded:
– Ya turn, Rob.
– Don't need it. I ain't bleedin'. – He argued.
– That's good news. – Nick assured. – It looks like you're having a bit of a hard time breathing, though. May I have a look?
– Is just the wound. Am fine.
– Alright, could you just lift your arm slowly for me? Like this. – Nick slowly raised his own arm above his head.
– Oh, just like th—
Rob quickly raised his arm. He did not manage to raise it to his chin before he gasped sharply as the pain hit him hard. He clutched his side and doubled over. Then a deep, long growl left his throat.
– Wow, easy... I said slowly – Nick kneeled beside him and placed a hand on his shoulder. – You're alright... Let's sit you back up, it'll hurt less... Come on... Try to loosen up...
Slowly, Nick began to support Rob and gently brought him back to a sitting position, leaning him against the tree trunk.
– There... That's it... Lean back... Steady now...
Gradually, Rob's breathing stabilized and his shoulders dropped. He was still clutching his side.
– Why that hurt'im so badly, Sir? – Lily asked.
– I think he has one or two broken ribs.
– Broken ribs, Sir?
– Yes, it's the bones that go from here to here – Nick explained while using his own body as a model.
– The bone cage, Sir?
– Yes, those, at least one, but probably two are broken.
– Broken ribs dangerous, Sir? Could he be dyin'?
– Not from the broken ribs, but those could hurt his insides, and then he could die.
– How we stop that from happenin', Sir?
– He needs to stay as still as possible. No turning or twisting, no lifting anything, no bending, no running.
– No movin' at all, Sir? – Lily asked.
– Can he walk, Sir? – Meg added.
– He can move slowly. He can walk carefully. He needs to avoid anything that hurts. Acting tough and pretending he is fine will only put him in danger.
– Ya heard that Rob? Ya hurt badly. Ya gotta take care. – Meg lectured him.
Rob responded with a dismissive grunt, without opening his eyes.
– Please, Rob, – Lily said, kneeling beside him, just like she had with Gil, but this time her hands stopped before she touched him. – I want ya to live. Get strong again. Please take care? Really don't want ya dyin'.
Rob opened his eyes and met Lily's. They exchanged a long meaningful glance. Lily suddenly lowered her gaze, her cheeks turned red. Rob smiled.
– Will take care, Lil'. If I don't, can ya help remind me?
– Ya promise?
– Promise if ya promise remindin' me.
– Promise – Lily said, extending her hand to him.
Without moving his upper arm, Rob held her hand and said with a smile:
– Promise.
As the handshake lingered a moment longer than was common, Meg turned to Nick and said:
– What ya think about our young lovebirds, Sir?
– I think I really like all four of them.
– All four of 'em? – Meg asked.
– Yes, all four of you. – Nick responded, giving Meg a meaningful look.
– Ya eyes need some fixin', Sir! Ya seein' wrong.
– What do you mean? You're certainly still young enough.
– Ha! Ya got some good humour, Sir, give ya that. – Meg answered while walking away towards the next wounded commoner.
Nick chuckled, and the five of them moved on to the next patient. After treating two more sword injuries they finally made it to the arrow wounds.
– Ya turn, Jack! – Meg announced to her brother.
– Ya done with everyone else? – Jack questioned.
– We done with sword cuts. Now we doin' arrows. Ya turn.
– Do everyone first. Am alright.
– Jack —
– Meg, they followed me here. Am the reason we like this. Do 'em first.
– What ya think, Sir? – Meg turned to Nick.
Nick studied Jack for a moment. He looked as strong and as lean as everyone else. He was a little pale and his breathing was stable, though slightly fast. The shaft embedded in the outside of his thigh looked stable, a faint trickle of blood emanated from around it.
– How about a compromise Jack?
– A compromise?
– Yes, a deal. You let me put a bandage around your leg, and lay down as I say, and I'll do everyone else first.
– Deal.
– Good.
With Meg and Mary's help, Nick fastened a shirt with two belts around the arrow. Jack tensed up and breathed through his teeth, but stayed calm.
Then they helped him lay down and carefully elevated his wounded leg with what the forest could offer.
Once Jack was comfortable, Nick took a moment to note the patterns of the shadows. He frowned. There were still a dozen or so wounded commoners, most with arrows in their arms and legs to tend to. And he still had to clean and dress all the wounds, especially Darius'. His "favourite healing concoction" was ready, but would there be enough time for everyone? He would have to get the women to help.
– Sir? Ya comin'? – Lily brought him back to the present.
– Yes! Sorry.
The women introduced Nick to his next patient: the young archer Nick had neutralized earlier.
– Jake, this is the Sir that will help ya wound. Is an honour thing. Don't ya ask.
– Thank you, Sir. – Jake said.
– Thank you for letting me help! – Nick smiled widely, quite relieved while he crouched beside him.
– Will it hurt much? – Jake asked with a slight tremble in his voice.
– Ya gotta be strong, Jake – Meg answered for Nick.
– Jake, ya'll be alright. We'll be with ya. – Lily added as she took his hand.
Nick smiled encouragingly at Lily. She was getting good at this, then he said:
– I'll try my best to be gentle, alright? – he said, then turning to Meg, he asked – did you also fasten this belt?
– Yeah, is done right, Sir?
– Let's check. Jake, I'm going to press on your fingers. It won't be bad, alright?
Jake nodded.
Nick held Jake's thumb against his fingers and pressed it with his own thumb, showing it to Meg and Lily. The colour returned with a minimal delay. Jake didn't jerk or wince, but froze instead, lips parted. His eyes widened slightly, fixed on Nick's hand.
– Did that hurt? – Nick asked, noticing his reaction.
No answer.
– Jake? Ya alright? – Meg asked, as she patted him on the shoulder. – Jake!
– Uhm... I... Sorry... what?
– Sir asked ya if ya finger hurt. Ya dreamin' or what?
– Uhm... No... I... – Jake hessitated his eyes still glued on Nick's hand.
– Jake, is something wrong? – Nick asked. – Please talk to me.
Jake's eyes finally left Nick's hand and met his gaze.
– Thank you. – Jake finally said.
– Uhm... You're welcome, but may I know why you are thanking me?
– Ya didn't kill me. Ya had the shot, but ya went for my arm. Same thing for all of us. Thank you.
Now it was Nick's turn to freeze and widen his eyes.
– What ya talkin' about, lad? – Mary asked.
– He's an archer. Shot this arrow. – Jake said, pointing to his injury.
– What?! – Meg stared at Nick, her mouth half-open. – What you sayin'?
– No... can't be... – Mary said.
– Sir... that ain't true?... Right? – Lily asked, with pleading eyes.
Nick took a deep breath before answering.
– Yes. It is true, Lily.
– Ya shot'him?! Ya shot all of'em!? – Mary shouted at Nick, pointing to the wounded commoners, her face red in anger.
– Yes... I did. – Nick responded, eyes lowered.
– WHAT?! We a game to ya?!
– No. Of course not!
– Ya filthy lier! How ya dare help after shootin' them?!... Ya is worse than'em...
– Mary roared, grabbing Nick by the collar of his shirt and pushing him against a tree with all her strength, before anyone could react.
– Mary! – Lily yelled. – Mary please! Mary!
Mary kept yelling at Nick as she slammed him repeatedly against the tree trunk. Nick kept his hands raised in surrender, away from her.
Meg remained frozen.
– Meg! Ya gotta stop'er! – Jake grabbed her hand, urging her. – Remember I told ya shootin' arms and legs is real hard? But I had to cuz they wearin' armour? But we ain't Meg! He had the shot to kill—didn't take it… and now, why ain't he fighting Mary?!
Meg studied Nick for an instant. Then she rushed to pull Mary off of Nick.
– Mary, let go—
– STOP! Stop this instant! – a knight guarding them roared as he and three more knights rushed over and unsheathed their swords, pointing them at Mary, Meg, Lily, and all nearby commoners, regardless of whether they were standing or lying injured on the ground.
The moment Nick saw the swords, he gripped Mary by her arms and in one swift motion he positioned her behind him, effectively placing himself squarely between the knights and the commoners. Then, he lifted his arms to mid-level and spread them wide, as a sign of both nonaggression and protection.
– You are choosing to defend them, even after they attacked you? – the knight asked.
– It was only a misunderstanding. She did not harm me. I am grateful for your support, but it is unnecessary. I am alright. – Nick tried to appease them.
– Hey, what's going on here!? – Lionel asked as he rushed over, sword also drawn.
– He was tending to their wounds as you said he would, Sir, and suddenly that woman attacked him.
– Filthy scum! You see, Sir Nicholas? You are wasting your time on dogs. You offered them kindness, and how are they repaying you?
– Sir Lionel, is a knight's honour dependent on payment?
– What?
– I'm asking if you consider a knight should behave honourably only when he can be repaid.
– Of course not.
– Then you understand why I don't care about receiving payment. I inflicted those wounds, now I wish to heal them. And I'm very grateful to you for allowing me to do that thus far. May I please continue?
– You don't care about payment, but what about your own life? These vicious dogs attacked us and now we do not know if Sir Darius will live. How can you give your back to them? Why are you supporting these criminals?
– I won't disrespect your intelligence by repeating my arguments, Sir Lionel. You know what I believe about their crime and why tending to their wounds is a matter of honour for me. What else would you like me to say?
– The truth!! Who are you? Are you one of them?!
– No. I'm an archer at the service of Princess Rowena. My loyalty is to her, which is why I shot them when they attacked her, – Nick gestured towards the commoners. – I'd never met them. But after spending the afternoon with them, enjoying their humour, calming their pain, and witnessing their romance, I admit I'm beginning to feel like one of them.
– Aww! – Lily cooed.
– Why didn't you kill them? Why are you defending them!?
– Because my grandfather almost never shot to kill. It's my way of honouring him. As a knight, I'm sure you understand about honour.
– See I told ya. Is an honour thing. – Meg whispered to her comrades.