In the middle of battle Eriana has fallen and it is Ursula's task to save her if it is possible. Once the situation stabilizes tough decisions must be taken to protect those in the arena and to rescue the two Counts. Eventually the weary survivors return to their hostel where the injured must be more closely inspected.

The Voyage of the Visund

A tale of Anmar by Penny Lane

68 - Consequences

Disclaimer: The original characters and plot of this story are the property of the author. No infringement of pre-existing copyright is intended. This story is copyright (c) 2022 Penny Lane. All rights reserved.

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No. No. No. No. The word came automatically each time Ursula pushed hard down on Eriana's chest.

She - he - had lost patients before, but they had been merely city folk who had been in an accident, had been shot or stabbed or had a heart attack, something like that. Another life to attempt to save in an endless procession of broken bodies through the door of the hospital.

Sometimes Valeriy Kuznetsov had been successful, sometimes nothing was ever going to save the patient. Such was life when you worked the Emergency Department.

To her astonishment she had discovered that she had a great deal invested in this particular patient, even though the injury should not have been life-threatening. She suddenly understood why her men loved the tall, blonde Princess and were prepared to follow her all the way to hell itself. She was a perfect specimen of womanhood who defied every expectation of that species, preferring to live life her own way - their way.

To her surprise, that love included herself. Whether it would have developed into something more she would never now know. Without the essential 21st-century Earth apparatus for restarting the heart, all that she was doing could only prove ultimately futile.

She abruptly became aware that the noise around her had ceased. To begin with, this had been because her focus had, as appropriate, been entirely on saving her patient, but now she realized that there was, in fact, little activity around her either.

She looked up to find, astonished, that the Norse all surrounded her in a circle, bloody swords and axes in their hands, their eyes watching her work and assuming that she would be successful, such was the trust they had in her abilities. Her eyes flicked around, discovering that the battle had been brief but was now over.

As she tried to see beyond the legs of the men around her, to see what had happened, her hand slipped from the accumulated sweat, making the next push a hand's-breadth higher. There was a gasp followed by a cough from her patient, then a sigh from the watching men.

She looked down to see her patient clearing her throat and beginning to breathe steadily on her own. Despite this, she put a hand to Eriana's throat to check her pulse, finding it steady but not yet strong.

Eriana's eyes opened. "What..." she slurred.

"Easy, Highness. You received a thump to the chest which stopped your heart."

The voice was a croak. "Ursula? Thank the Gods." Her eyes closed and she visibly relaxed.

Tevos had been watching from the edge of the crowd and now moved into Ursula's sight.

"Mistress? Can you yet tell us her condition?"

Ursula sat back on her haunches, looking up at him.

"She will certainly live, Marshal." There was another sigh of relief from the men. "She took a blow to the chest which stopped her heart, I saw it happen."

His eyebrows rose. "And you restarted her heart? Maker! Now I understand why you are here today."

She held up a hand. "She may be fine, once she has rested, or there may be some other damage inside her that I would not be able to fix. She must be treated as one of the injured until we know more." She looked around at the waiting faces. "Where is everybody? What happened to the attackers?"

It was Bennett who answered. "Mistress, when Her Highness fell all the men went mad, just as you did. They slew every one of the attackers before any order could be given otherwise." There was a look of satisfaction on the guardswoman's face. "I understand their reasons, Mistress. It was the right thing to do."

There were nods and mutters from the men.

«Berserksganger,» muttered Ragnar. «To see Princess fall, that was the end of our world. At that moment I wanted nothing more than to die in battle. To see Ursula take up sword, to slay two men, that was an amazing thing! You are berserker also.» He smiled at her astonished face. «Are you sure you do not have any Norse blood in your veins?»

Bennett offered her a hand and she looked down at her patient, who seemed to be resting quietly, her chest rising and falling in the normal way. Very reluctantly she accepted the hand and staggered to her feet. It seemed that she had been pumping for hours but it had probably been less than five minutes. Nonetheless she was stiff, her leg muscles protesting from the unnatural stance and her arms aching from the resuscitation effort.

"Thank you, Bennett. Gods, I am tired. Marshal, what is the situation?"

"Stable at the moment, Mistress. One small detachment of the regular troops all had yellow strips and we have secured them separate from those who tried to rush us. We now have sentries on the banks watching for further trouble."

It seemed odd to neither of them that he was giving his report to a civilian who had no position in any chain of command.

"Can you defend this place?"

He shook his head. "It is too big, Mistress, and the banks are easy to climb everywhere. If there had been walls then the situation might be different."

"What about the wounded?"

He shrugged. "Our own field surgeons are doing what they can, Mistress. If you are content to leave your leader then your help elsewhere would be most welcome."

She involuntarily looked down at Eriana. "I should come but first, it would not be wise to leave Her Highness on the ground like this."

Thinking, she looked up at the surrounding Norse. «Boys, I want to put the Princess in the wagon.» Several heads turned. The wagon was just inside the opening to the arena but not now close to where they all stood. «Just a moment, you will not be able to move the wagon. I will ask Tesk to bring it closer.»

She called, "Tesk! Please turn around and bring the wagon to me. We have injured to look after." She emphasized what she wanted with some simple thought pictures.

The dranakh bleated, then began pulling the wagon around in a circle inside the arena, finally ending up two strides from Ursula. It bleated again.

Tevos's eyes popped out. "You can control these great beasts, Mistress? You have not even been introduced!"

A smile. "Ah, but I have, before we left our hostel this morning. Boys? I don't know how you'll do it but lift her gently, please."

As if they would lift her any other way!

Swords and axes were flung down and eight of the men carefully picked Eriana up and moved her to the rear of the wagon, where some others had already climbed aboard to receive her. Her scabbard was carefully removed and she was placed down gently, a roll of cloth - which Ursula did not examine too closely - being used as a pillow. She had begun to come to properly so someone on board crouched down ready with a water bottle.

Eriana was sufficiently aware so Ursula walked over to the tailboard and addressed her.

«Highness? I do not think that you have any serious wounds, not obvious ones, and I know that you will want to get up and join in the fun but you should stay there for now until I have had a chance to examine you properly. Do you understand me?»

Eriana struggled up onto her elbows to look at Ursula. «Ow. My chest feels sore but there are no cuts, no blood. What is the problem?»

«The problem is that your heart was stopped and I had to restart it. Highness, you were dead for a few minutes, understand me? Without blood going around your body other parts begin to die very quickly. There may be internal damage.»

«Dead? Loki's balls! If I was dead, why did you not leave me so? I would have been welcomed in Valhalla!»

«Highness, your men need you. It is not yet your time, Anmar needs you.» A pause. «Highness, I need you. You are important to me, you are important to all of us.»

Eriana stared at Ursula and then her expression softened. «I will do as you ask, Ursula. You are important to me, also. I would not leave you bereft.»

She sank back onto the wagon floor, her eyes closing again.

Ursula turned away. "Marshal, let me fetch my things and we can go."

"Mistress." It was Tyra, holding out her basket with one hand. The other still held her bloody sword.

"Thank you, Tyra." A raised eyebrow. "Are you going to clean that sword off before the blood dries?"

"What? Oh, Mistress! Yes, of course."

There was a mutter from the men as they, too, remembered their weapons and went off to retrieve them. Tyra followed the men to the sprawled bodies of the dead, where she imitated them by cleaning her sword on the corpses of the fallen. Remembering that she had also swung a sword, Ursula looked around for Eriana's big blade but the ground was now relatively clear once more.

A noise made her turn to find Lars approaching with Eriana's sword, now cleaned.

«More to you than I first thought,» he told her. «But you are from the mother world, it is to be expected. How do you feel?»

Ursula understood the question. «No time for that now, Lars. As a healer I have learned to push my own feelings and reactions down inside so that I do not affect my patients. Later I will have to let it out.»

He nodded solemnly. «Most of us do the same, now. That is one reason why we sing songs and drink ale later.» A sudden grin. «Only one reason, though.»

That made her smile and she realized that Lars had deliberately lightened the mood. «It seems there is more to you as well, Lars. Are you going to give that back to Her Highness?»

«Not until you tell me it is safe for her to have it again.»

She nodded. «Good enough. Can I leave you in charge here?»

«Yah, Mistress. Go and mend people, it is your job.»

The first patient she came across was Stine. He had been standing on top of the bank and had suffered a crossbow bolt through his left calf.

«That looks nasty.»

«They crept along under the edge of the bank, Mistress. We did not see them until they were almost upon us but by then arrows were in the air. I fell down the bank, that is why it looks like this.»

Ursula shuddered. A crossbow bolt through a muscle mass was one thing, but Stine had then rolled down the bank, the ground catching the missile and twisting it around in the wound.

«You have not tried to take it out?»

He grinned at her. «I have been around you too much, Mistress. I am more careful now of what I do to my body. Will there be a problem?»

She looked at the bloody hole. «Actually, it might have been harder to get out if it had just gone in clean.» Turning around, she gestured. «Torvin! Give me a hand, please.»

Once the bolt had been pulled it was a simple case of cleaning and bandaging. She stood and looked around.

There is no organization here at all. Correction, we have Faralmark marines protecting our wounded and Fanir marines guarding the prisoners... some of whom are also wounded.

But it is already beginning to warm up.

"Marshal Tevos!"

He jogged up to Ursula. "Mistress?"

"Can I ask your plans, Marshal?"

"Surely, Mistress. It seems to me that we have a problem... or mayhap several problems, I deem. My own duty urges me to take as many men as I can and to discover if my liege still breathes, by now the household may be sorely pressed if what happened here is any guide. However, there are many wounded as well as prisoners and I fear for what may happen if I do leave."

"I agree. My concerns are for those who will remain here, Marshal. You would want to leave all your wounded behind, and there are also the prisoners." She pointed a finger at the sky. "It is going to get hot, Marshal, and the shape of the arena means we won't get much in the way of a breeze in here. We are going to need awnings at the very least, water, plenty of it, and very soon we'll need food and some means of feeding everyone who stays behind."

"Indeed, Mistress, and shortly afterwards you would also need latrines and everything else that would be part of a permanent camp." He scowled. "We do not have sufficient men to ensure the mansion is safe, I cannot spare anyone to provide for you and the injured."

Just then Vikzas joined them. "Tevos, Mistress, I see you are having a discussion, if I may join you?"

"Of course, Vikzas. We were talking about the tasks which must needs be done."

"Aye, I thought as much. Tevos, you'll want to take your men and find out if you still have a ruler, I expect? Look, we of Faralmark ought not to take part in that argument, I deem, but there is no reason we cannot stay here and mind the injured. Our marines can guard the prisoners and the rest of the camp while you go off and save Upper Faral."

"Done, Vikzas, and thank you. I had wondered what part those of Faralmark could safely play. But Mistress Ursula has other needs, she desires shade for her wounded, food and water for all who remain."

"Is there anybody we can contact in the town who you know to be loyal?"

"No - but we do have two galley crews in the port we may rely on. If you will permit, I will ask yours and mine to provide a supply train for all the Mistress asks for."

"You would leave our galleys uncrewed?"

"The ships would be of little use to either side in this conflict, I deem. This is a fight for the Duchy, the river is of little importance to that desire." Vikzas shrugged. "The worst that could happen is that the rebels fire them. Should they fire any vessel carrying a Faralmark standard then that puts us firmly on your side, Tevos. Then they will learn what Faralmark marines, aye, and those of Palarand, would do to them."

Tevos considered before nodding. "It is a risk, but a necessary one. Can you get a messenger through to the port? Your colors may not protect you."

"That is true. We might strip one of the dead -"

"Marshal," Ursula said. "Our men wear no uniform today for various reasons. I could send one of them with a written message. Depending who we send they may even be recognized by those on your galleys."

"Done, Mistress. Let me find somewhere to write orders to our crews. Vikzas, you had better add your name to them. Mistress, I'll need a list of what you desire."

A short document was written bearing the signatures of Tevos, Vikzas and Ursula. Finding some who could make their way through the town proved more difficult.

Despite offering earlier, I can't send any of the Norse because they are not familiar with these kinds of towns, she thought. Besides which, most of them are still not fluent enough in the language. I need someone with street smarts...

Bennet and Semma aren't going to leave Eriana's side and they are wearing a uniform, even if it is an unusual one. Too noticeable.

Kaldar is the obvious choice, a boy running through the streets would be barely noticed. On the other hand he has probably been too sheltered by his father to be street wise. That leaves the only person who I do know is street smart.

"Tyra! I have a job for you."

* * *

All the most serious wounds had either been attended to or their owners had died. Ursula only had a few minor cuts left to deal with when she stopped for a breather.

"Odo, can you attend to him, please?" she pointed to a rebel with a cut on the forearm. "I have to stop for a moment."

Odo, who was also a rebel as well as a farmer, replied, "Surely, Mistress. I have never seen someone work so hard as you, you deserve a break. Is there any more water?"

"There is not, Odo. I have been making do with some of the wine we found. Look in those bottles there, there might be a little left in one of them."

"As you command, Mistress."

It was not even noon. The day had become very warm and promised to become much warmer. The relief supplies had not arrived and, at the back of her mind, she wondered which side would eventually appear first. There was no shade and no water. Most drink that the various combatants had carried had been drunk already and the situation would shortly become serious. All had been shared out with regard only to need rather than faction, a decision that had caused amazement among the prisoners.

Some of the water had been used to clean wounds and no-one disputed her right to do this, even though it meant that some might go thirsty. It had been evident from the beginning that she was in charge and certainly knew what she was doing.

Her task had been helped by the discovery that among the rebels had been three men who could charitably have been described as 'field surgeons', having some experience of medical matters in their homesteads and villages. Admittedly one of those only had experience of treating gavakhan but it was better than nothing. Together with the two Faralmark marine medical attendants they had been shown what she wanted them to do and her instructions had been carried out to the letter.

I hope Tyra is all right. I will never forgive myself if I sent her off to her death.

Where are they? I do not like this quiet. If there had been fighting in the town we would have heard it here, surely?

She shaded her eyes against the glare and looked at the four arena entrances in turn, seeing no change.

It is so bright! I wonder how long it will be before someone invents sunglasses? Why did I not think to bring my hat? Almost nobody in the arena has a hat except some of the hill men. I suspect that hats are not considered to be part of any uniform. That needs to change.

The lookouts posted above were all seated now and must have begun to suffer in the heat.

I know Vikzas sent them some water but was it enough?

If this goes on much longer then it won't matter if the rebels attack again. We will all be done for.

There was a shout and she turned to hear a series of whistles from the bank. Torvin and Ragnar, who had stuck by her side as escorts but had ended up helping her move and turn patients - and bodies, also turned to listen, but Ragnar then heard a call from a different direction.

«Mistress, Princess calls.»

Eriana was still in the wagon and someone had rigged an old blanket as a shade while Ursula was elsewhere.

«Highness. Is there a problem? Do you feel faint or dizzy?»

«I could do with some water but I know there is none left. The whistles say that someone is coming.»

«We heard. The marines are getting ready in case it is trouble. I need to know about you. How do you feel?»

«My head is clear, Ursula. I am thirsty but I would not desire privilege. My chest is sore but I think I can breathe easily enough. I will not know until I rise. Do you think I may sit up?»

«I think so, Highness. Just make sure you keep your head and your upper body under that shade.»

«Give me a hand, would you?»

Ursula climbed into the wagon and offered a hand to Eriana, who used it to help herself to sit up against the front panel.

«Ah, that is better. Ow.» She massaged her chest. «Do you think anything is broken?»

«It is possible. If we survive long enough to get back to the hostel I will give you a full examination, as I will also do to all our men.»

«Princess, Mistress,» Ragnar called from the end of the wagon. «There are many wagons and I can see a Marshal from one of the galleys.»

Ursula stood up on the wagon bed to see clearly. There were at least eight wagons coming in a line through one of the arena entrances, all well loaded. Either side walked heavily-armed men in uniforms of Upper Fanir, Faralmark and also a few in the gray tee-shirts and cargo shorts of the Visund.

Seated on the front wagon was Water Under-Marshal Kodal and beside him was Tyra.

«Highness, they have come, I can see Tyra. I must go and greet them.»

«Tyra? You sent Tyra to fetch them?»

«Later, Highness.»

By the time Ursula reached the edge of the camp the lead wagon had pulled up there. Tyra and Kodal jumped down. There were maybe thirty-five to forty men with the wagons, which included some of the Norse sailors. Adin and Kedian jumped down from the back of the first wagon and came to join Ursula and Tyra.

«Is there anyone at all left at the port?»

«Very few, Mistress,» Adin replied with a grin. «Master Baros is on board the Green Ptuvil with the barge men and all our women, with strict instructions to unmoor at any sign of trouble. If he has to he will float out and anchor out in the Sirrel beyond arrow reach.»

«And the Visund?»

«Captain Tor has three with him, which is just enough to row themselves away should it become necessary, Mistress.» Adin looked around. «A busy time you had here, I see. We have brought some kitchen equipment with us, where should we set it up?»

«I had better ask Marshal Vikzas about that.»

Vikzas was well organized once he found out what had been delivered. Although the sailors among the newcomers were from galleys most knew about canvas and lines, so awnings began springing up immediately to screen the rows of injured. Another wagon held great barrels of water and this was being used to refill all the empty water bottles.

He held a discussion with Kodal before the two came and joined Ursula's group.

"Mistress, this field will be used in several weeks time for the Harvest festival," Kodal explained to Ursula. "At that time the booths providing hot food usually go over there," he pointed, "beyond those two goalposts. If your two men would join my cooks, we shall soon have the rudiments of a meal ready for everyone, even the prisoners." He frowned. "If I may ask, why are they in two separate groups?"

Ursula pointed, her other hand shading her eyes. "Those men there are from the attack, Marshal. I have spoken to them and most are levies from farms well to the north. Most were told lies and do not want to be here, they would rather be at home harvesting their crops. I would consider them no danger to your men or the Duchy and I do not think they should be kept long once the question is decided."

His eyebrows raised. "You would trust them so far, Mistress?"

"I trusted three of them far enough that they helped me treat the wounded of both sides, Marshal. Men who were told what to do by their liege lord, I cannot fault them for doing what he asked in the lack of any other information."

He nodded. "As you say, Mistress. A bad business, this, but I understand you. What, then of the others?"

"Those are trained troops who came here today to take part in the planned exercises. Each had a yellow strip concealed under their tunics, presumably to be pulled out at a given command. Given that they are wearing your colors and carrying weapons, as opposed to ordinary clothes and carrying farming tools, my reading is that they have actively committed treason and should be treated differently."

His gaze hardened. "Do you tell me? Were these men scattered among the formations or grouped together?"

"They all come from one company, Marshal, and that includes their Lootnant. Oh, and the driver of the wagon that brought us here, together with his mate and their officer, are also part of the plot. We brought our own weapons with us and they tried to steal them from us once we had swapped over."

"Maker, this gets worse! Very well, Mistress, I thank you for your words."

"Can you tell us what is happening in the town, Marshal? It has been very quiet and we have had no news at all."

"Surely, Mistress. We did receive word that an attack was mounted on the mansion of the Counts but that it was repulsed. It was said that loyal units have come to the aid of Count Darkwin and Count Olva. More than that is uncertain but we assume that everyone is still safe. For our part we took a route which kept us away from that part of town."

"Thank you, Marshal. Are we safe enough here?"

"I do not know, Mistress. This kind of warfare is not what I am accustomed to. Where is Tevos?"

Vikzas replied, "He commands one of those loyal units, Kodal, and has taken all the available Fanirs from here to the mansion. He knows what we face and he knows what your lieges face."

"Good enough, Vikzas, and thank you for your work here. I expected a desperate defense here, not the order I see around me."

"That is mostly due to the Mistress," Vikzas told him. "She knew what must needs be done and it is all good military sense, I deem."

Kodal gave Ursula a questioning glance. "If I may ask, Mistress, how is it that you have military training?"

"Marshal, I do not. What I did here was just to think about what might happen and what we needed to do." She paused, then decided to admit, "However, in my past I have had a little military experience. In the land where I was born, all young..." she was about to say men and realized that would not work, "...men and women are obliged to do a certain amount of military service, so some of what I have seen today is familiar to me."

His eyebrows rose. "Men and women? Maker! Is the land you came from so beset by enemies, then, that all must learn to fight?"

"Not at all, Marshal. It is merely a precaution so that, should something happen in future, those who are... called as levies, say, would already have some basic knowledge."

"Oh, I see. Still, women! I have seen Her Highness and her hand-maidens girt with swords but the sight is still novel to my eyes."

Vikzas said, "Kodal, I do not think this is the time for such words, leave them until later, if you please. Let us consider our new circumstance. Even with your additional men we would be sorely beset should anyone attempt the field."

"Aye, Vikzas, agreed. But mention of Her Highness reminds me, the young girl here spoke of an injury. Mistress, what condition is she? Can I yet speak to her?"

"She was thumped hard in the chest with a club, Marshal," Ursula replied. "She is sore but I can find no broken bones. However, the shock was great enough that I have insisted that she remain quiet for now. She is awake, there is no reason why you could not have a word or two with her. Marshal Vikzas, by your leave?"

"Of course, Mistress. I'll go and get the kitchen organized."

"Marshal, this way."

Ursula led Kodal back to the wagon where Eriana sat waiting.

"Marshal Kodal, it is good to see you and your men, but did you leave all our vessels unguarded?"

Kodal bowed and replied, "Admiral, some small few remain, whose duty was to unmoor the galleys, your ship and your barge and remove them away from the port. At worst the galleys could have been set afire but, should the rebels have fired any vessel apart from the Ten-Legged Brakky, it would have brought your folk and those of Faralmark in on our side, whereas now you remain neutral." He grinned. "Mostly."

Eriana returned a tired smile. "As you say, Marshal. What of the Counts? Do you know aught?"

He shook his head. "Admiral, we deliberately followed a route to the Shevesty Field which avoided the residence of the Counts. We had a guide, a dranakh who apparently knows your young messenger."

Eriana switched to Ursula. "What is this? I'm assuming he means Tyra."

"Highness... Admiral, we had to send someone for help who knew how to get themselves safely and quietly through the town. For obvious reasons that had to be someone not wearing a uniform. I originally considered your men but thought the language might be a problem. Bennet and Semma were out, I was not sure if Kaldar was confident enough so that left Tyra. I don't know how a dranakh comes into it, though."

Eriana's stare turned towards Tyra.

"Highness, Mistress, I got into the town and managed to get so far but then I met a dranakh coming the other way along a side street I was following," she explained. "It would not let me pass. When I went back to where I had entered that side street it followed me and bleated, then turned a different way. It looked back to see if I was following. I remembered then that the Mistress said that it could tell intentions from a person's mind and that it must have found out what I wanted to do.

"So I took a chance and followed it. I saw several groups of men in the distance waving weapons but the dranakh always found a way around them. When we reached the dock gate I explained why I had come, showed the gate man the outside of the letter and he let both of us in. Once Marshal Kodal read the letter he called all the leaders of the other craft together and they worked out a plan. The dranakh led us by safe ways to the warehouses near the docks and then all the way back here."

"Thank you, Tyra," Eriana said. "A task well done, I deem. Ursula? Do you know why the dranakh did such a thing?"

"Not for certain, Admiral. Since Tyra departed I have been alternately worrying about your safety and her safety. It is possible that the dranakh -" she did not want to say too much more in front of outsiders, "- learned of my worry and decided to make sure she was kept safe."

Kodal picked up the discrepancy. "But, Mistress, why should the dranakh have learned something from you and then traveled to find your maid in the streets of the town? I have never heard of such behavior from such a beast before."

"Marshal, we have a dranakh here, hauling this wagon, and I was introduced to it before we left our hostel. It appears that I can communicate with their kind easier than most other people can, and it must have passed on my worries to other dranakhs in the town. I would ask you not to speak of that to anyone else. That fact may have tactical uses."

He got the point immediately and bowed. "As you command, Mistress. I understand fully."

For reasons of defense the area of the camp was moved closer to where the kitchens were being set up. It meant that most were no longer in the middle of the large field with a space surrounding them where an opposing force could maneuver. The awnings were moved and within a very short period the camp already had a settled appearance. Food smells began to waft from where the several cooks were preparing a lunch for the various groupings.

Most had been fed when whistles were again sounded by the Norse still on lookout duty. This was followed by Marshal Tevos, on foot, leading a relief column into the arena. After dispersing his troops around the camp to reinforce their boundary he made his way to join the other Marshals who were gathered around Eriana's wagon.

"Admiral." He saluted her smartly. "Vikzas, Kodal. Mistress Ursula. So far as we can discover the rebellion has failed. When we reached the mansion matters seemed balanced. A force of rebels had attempted to surround the buildings but other troops led by Marshal Nerek were holding them off. Our appearance, from a direction none expected, broke the attempt and split the enemy. Between us we cornered the larger part and made them surrender but the smaller part escaped. Both Count Darkwin and Count Olva survive and are in good health. I have spoken with both and they send their gratitude to you, Admiral, for exposing the plot."

The Princess nodded gravely. "It was only our duty, Marshal. What of the town? Would it be safe to return to our hostel this afternoon, aye, and to our several vessels?"

"There is the matter of those who escaped but I would deem that Faralan remains mostly loyal to Count Darkwin. Any rebels still at large will find few who will succor them. The docks are secure, I would not know whether your hostel is," he smiled, "but from what I saw your men do earlier today I imagine that they will have little trouble dealing with any problems."

"As you say, Marshal. I am sure that they will."

* * *

It was mid afternoon before a column was put together to release the marines and sailors from their arena duties and let them return to the ships and barracks. Small scouting parties had been able to find no obvious evidence of rebel forces anywhere within Faralan so it was thought safe to return to something closer to normal. The Shevesty field itself, and the hastily-made camp within, would become a holding area for all the rebel prisoners until their futures had been decided.

This decision had an uncomfortable echo for Ursula, who remembered similar arrangements on Earth, but she had been forced to acknowledge that it was a practical solution.

Eriana decided that she would travel back to the hostel in the bed of the wagon rather than accept the use of a carriage. All the Norse would walk behind the wagon.

"A remarkable woman, I deem," Vikzas muttered to Tevos. "It is no wonder that her folk are so loyal to her."

"Aye," he agreed, "I wish that I could do the same for my men. She is an example we would do well to copy, Vikzas."

"Indeed. Did you watch her men fight? They frighten me, I cannot imagine what they do to our enemies! Yet for all they did their injuries are lighter than ours, man for man. If this is a sample of the kind of folk the Norse are, I hesitate to meet them in battle!"

"Aye, they would be formidable foes indeed. Well, Vikzas, we came here originally to stage some mock battles, I think we saw today all that we were intended to see. I will not question the abilities of such folk again, not after this morning."

"Yet, though they slew many, many more surrendered quickly. Neither you nor I could have managed such a feat. Or did you do so at the mansion?"

"I did, Vikzas, I am a quick learner in such matters, when I can plainly see the results they give. Your marines, my marines, they will be a much better force for the lessons learned here today."

"Aye, Tevos, as you say."

The heavily armed column wound its way through the streets but their caution was not needed. On both sides the locals stood and applauded the Norse since word had already got around how they had turned the question on behalf of the Counts. Still, the column halted well outside the hostel while two parties went in and made certain that all was safe. The hostel staff told them that nobody had been near the place since the Norse had departed that morning.

Eriana had insisted on climbing down from the wagon herself to estimate how well she could stand and move.

"Ow! Woden's staff, that hurts. Ursula, I think I must needs make my way to the bathing block and I assume that our ladies will desire likewise."

"A good idea, Highness. I am unsure if there would be enough hot water for a quick wash but we all need that too."

Bennett said, "It is about time they began preparing for the evening meal, if they have not already begun. By your leave, Highness, I will go to the kitchen to find out if there is hot water before I join you."

"Aye, do that, it cannot hurt. Ow! Unlike my chest!"

"Highness," Tyra asked, "if I may go to our chambers and bring down our bathing wraps. If there is hot water you may not desire to put on your uniform again."

Eriana smiled. "Unlike some I am surrounded by people of good sense. Aye, Tyra, if you would. For all of us today's attire will need cleaning before we may wear them again. All have spots of sweat, blood or other unmentionables on them, even Ursula. What say you, Ursula?"

"Assuming this morning's excitement is not repeated I would agree, Highness. Fresh attire will help us all relax from what happened today."

"Done. And, after we may have bathed, I assume that you would wish to examine me more closely?"

Ursula nodded. "It would make sense, Highness. The sooner I know if there is a deeper, unseen problem the better. It should not take long, it can be done in time for us to eat and it would be better done while the daylight is still good."

"As you say, Ursula. Now let me see if I can walk as far as the bathing block on my own!"

Later Eriana, Ursula and Tyra gathered in Eriana's chamber, Tyra carrying the depleted bag of dressings while Ursula had her medical basket. The Princess looked at the window and then where the light fell, nodded and lay back on her large bed, her bathing wrap falling open to reveal a cleansed body.

"Tyra," she murmured, "I would not have you stand and wait while Ursula examines me. You have worked hard this day, you deserve time for your own body to rest and relax. Go. Your Mistress will join you before the meal to find something to wear."

"Mistress?"

Ursula considered briefly. She did not need Tyra for such a basic examination. "She's right, Tyra. Go and relax for a while. This should not take too long anyway."

"As you wish, Mistress."

Eriana smiled as the maid closed the door behind her. "I forgot, her oath means that she will only answer to you, Ursula."

"Not entirely accurate, Highness. She is more sensible than that. I agree, though, there is no point having her stand around while I poke and prod you."

"Hmm? Is that what you name it? Then begin."

First Ursula examined the skin under Eriana's breasts, noting the discoloration of the bruise caused by the impact.

"I will put some salve on this, Highness, once I have finished, that will dull the pain considerably. Before that, though, I must make sure just what is causing the pain."

"You think mayhap something is broken? I must admit, since we bathed I feel more comfortable down there."

Ursula shrugged. "It could be a broken or cracked rib, it could be something else. I want to gently feel along the edge of your rib cage."

Her fingers started at the sides and worked their way to the middle, Ursula taking care that she did not cause more pain than necessary as she went across the bruised area.

"Why do you go so high? It does not hurt there."

"Highness, all your ribs meet at a flat bone in the center of your chest just here," she outlined the area with a fingertip. "It is named the breastbone or sternum. There are flexible connections to this bone and one or more may have been damaged, causing more pain."

"Flexible connections? Why?"

"If it were not so you could not take in a deep breath, Highness. Like this." Ursula demonstrated, her own robe becoming loose with the effort. "I want to check where the bones join."

She probed around, testing each joint and finding nothing.

"Apart from the large bruise, I can find nothing of consequence," she eventually reported. "The next thing I have to do is to check your heart and your lungs, to see if anything sounds abnormal."

She delved into her basket and brought out her stethoscope, a turned, shaped tube of wood. It was not ideal and was far from ideal for the purpose Ursula wanted, but it was all that was available. She leaned forward and tried to make herself comfortable but it did mean that she was leaning against Eriana's body. It took several attempts to position the instrument over her patient's heart. She muttered to herself in Russian as she leant down to listen.

"What did you say?"

Ursula raised her head. "Highness, for what I want to check we would use, on Earth, a complicated machine which attaches wires to several parts of your body and produces a paper strip which would tell me what your heart is doing. There is nothing like that on Anmar yet, nor will there be for many years."

"So you must use your ears and your experience and skill instead. I understand, Ursula. You are the best there is on Anmar, do what you can."

So she leaned down again, replacing the wooden tube against that clean, firm, clear skin, smelling the scent of a young woman in her prime. As her ear went to the tube, her wrist brushed against Eriana's breast and there was a gasp from her patient.

"Something wrong, Highness?"

"No indeed, keeper of my soul."

Eriana's arms came up and grabbed Ursula's head, moving it over and then down until their lips were crushed together. What then happened was an explosion of sights, sounds, smells, caresses, movements and emotions. For Ursula it was too late, far too late.

The stethoscope rolled off the bed and onto the floor, unnoticed.