New Novel - Read Here
The cavalrymen gathered like tributaries flowing into a main river. They streamed continuously from every corner of the village toward the road at the entrance. The horses’ hooves churned the ground into a muddy mess. The dark, blackened sludge turned the ground into a quagmire deep enough to swallow feet or hooves.
The restless warhorses shifted uneasily, eager to leave this wretched place as soon as possible. Yet their riders held the reins firmly, restraining their mounts so that not a single hoof would step into the farmland beyond the road.
Several wagons, piled high with sack after sack of grain and smoked meat, were protected in their midst. There were no vegetables or fruits that would spoil easily, these were standard marching rations.
The elite cavalrymen waited silently for their general’s order to depart. Their chainmail face guards, freshly oiled, concealed their expressions. They stood as silent as statues, exuding an unsettling sense of discipline.
“You surprise me, Healer.”
The scar on Tesolus’s forehead had been stitched neatly. Instead of looking ferocious, it resembled a strange kind of ornament, revealing the meticulous care of its creator. He was now smiling as he looked at the girl standing at the village entrance.
"I originally thought you’d be eager for me to leave. Surely the rest of the village feels the same, which is why they’ve all hidden in their homes. Yet you’ve been waiting here since early morning. Have you come to see us off?”
Talina’s cheeks puffed out slightly.
"You left too early yesterday, and your cavalrymen wouldn't let me come find you. Take these herbs with you. There’s still a risk that the wound on your forehead could worsen. Boil them in water and drink the decoction. They can also help prevent illness. Here are some clean white cloths. You need to change the dressing on your wound every day. Otherwise, in the humid jungle climate, it could easily fester...”
The doctor admonished Tesolus in an almost nagging tone, stuffing one package after another of herbs and other items into his hands. This gave Tesolus the strange impression that he was a great benefactor who had saved the entire village, which explained the profuse thanks.
But the truth was that they had terrified everyone in this village yesterday. Some of them surely had not slept well all night, worried that the soldiers might burst into their homes and kill them. Such things were common everywhere, especially in this forest, where entire villages were sometimes destroyed by bandits or armies.
"Aren't you afraid of me, Healer? Yesterday, you were so frightened that your fingers were trembling. Why, then, are you voluntarily giving me these things today?”
Tesolus accepted the girl’s gifts without hesitation and placed them in his saddlebag. At the same time, he asked this question. No matter what the girl might ask of him, he would agree at this moment.
Seeing the Imperial general accept her offerings, Talina could not help but smile. Upon hearing his question, the girl did not hesitate in the slightest. Almost instinctively, she replied:
"Because you are my patient."
"Huh?!..."
Tesolus, who had not expected this answer, let out a startled exclamation. But the girl continued speaking without pause.
"If I hadn't given you these herbs and everything you needed afterward, you might have died from infection. What would my treatment have meant then? A healer’s duty is to keep people alive. If they can’t do that, then they’re not truly a doctor, especially if they’re capable of doing so. Besides, My Lord, you’re a good person. Even though you look fierce, did you not spare Biso yesterday? You are more merciful than all the other nobles. So what is there left for me to fear?”
Tesolus regarded the girl before him with an amused expression. He continued watching her until she finally stopped talking and looked at him uneasily, as if she feared she had said something wrong.
Tesolus concealed the faint shame in his heart. He was embarrassed by his rash assumptions and judgments, yet his face showed no trace of it. Looking at the girl who loved rhetorical questions, he leaned down and brought his head close to her ear.
"I must apologize to you, Doctor. Also, I have some advice: leave this place as soon as possible. Someone will come after us soon. We have done our best to clear all traces around here, but the fact that you helped us could easily bring trouble upon you. Those people may not be trustworthy, so be careful. It would be best to leave today. I considered taking you with us, but you would be in even greater danger if you followed us."
The girl, whose face had already flushed from his warm breath near her ear, suddenly grew tense at Tesolus’s words. The man's next action made her even more flustered.
Tesolus reached out and placed his hand on the girl’s waist, where a hard dagger hilt rested.
"No matter which Imperial town you go to, as long as you present this dagger, you will receive help. Do not draw attention to yourself. Set out as soon as possible.
“We will clear away all the bandits on the road. If possible, wait for me in Labufia...”
He stood up straight, waved to the doctor, and issued the order to depart. Yet, even as he did so, he couldn't help but recall the soft sensation from just moments before. This girl really didn't seem like a Holsian at all.
The Empire’s finest warhorses panted heavily as they traveled along the road through the jungle. The road was not particularly narrow. Thanks to the prosperous commerce of the nearby towns, merchants traveling back and forth had long since widened the jungle paths considerably. A large army could even move along these routes unimpeded.
The faint but continuous sound of their armor scales rubbing against one another filled the air. All the soldiers remained utterly silent. They were survivors, avengers, and seekers of refuge alike. No one knew how far the Holsian pursuit force had traveled. The only way to ensure safety was to reach the nearest Imperial town.
They would not fear any Holsian army, but if successive waves of attacking forces slowed their speed, the enemy’s main army could easily hunt them down. At that point, escape would become exceedingly difficult.
Several dozen scouts clad only in light chainmail fanned out into the surrounding jungle. Their mission was to scout the road ahead for the main force. The heavy wagons at the rear were firmly protected by fully armored cavalry. The warhorses' strength was precious, so they had purchased five pack horses in the village to pull the large carts.
The grain was not only their own rations, but also the most crucial provision for maintaining the warhorses’ stamina. If the horses fed only on grass, they would grow thin at an astonishing rate and would never again possess such powerful physiques.
Thus, they passed unimpeded through one forest after another. The thin mist of the jungle settled silently upon their oiled armor. Without speaking a word, they advanced like a legion of the dead, moving stealthily through the fog, ready to exact bloody revenge on those who had caused their deaths or reap the lives of the living.
Happy Reading!
Join our Discord for release updates and to chat with other readers.