The Hollow: At The Edge (37 page)

Serrel went back down,
and sat on the steps next to Victor.

“You all right?”

“I wish I was dead,”
replied Victor. Every breath seemed to illicit a wince of pain.

“No you don’t.”

“No, I don’t,” Victor
grudgingly admitted.

“Let me give you a
hand.”

Serrel carefully placed
his hand on Victor’s arm, and let the energy flow into him. It was
weird, this new energy that Narak had somehow transferred to him.
It felt more... potent. Like that from the Illudin. You could do
more with it. Taking his time, Serrel managed the numb the pain,
and remembering his lessons in healing spells, slipped the broken
bone back into place and encouraged the ends to start knitting
together. After that he started on Victor’s ribs.

By the time he
finished, most of the energy inside him was gone, and the sun was
well above the horizon. The sounds of fighting were all but gone
from the city.

Victor leaned against
the wall of the tower, more comfortable with all his bones back in
place. “Thank you.”

“Don’t worry about
it.”

“I mean it,
Serrel.”

“You saved my life back
there, so I’d say we’re even.” He looked out across the city. “I
guess we should probably head down.”

“In a moment,” said
Victor. “Let’s just sit here a while. No one’s going to miss
us.”

Serrel didn’t have the
strength nor the inclination to argue. “What a week.”

They sat back and
watched the clouds drift through the blue sky. The storm had
abated, and looked to be a beautiful day.

Part 7
:
Loose Ends.

Serrel awoke to
voices.

“Is he still
alive?”

“Of course he’s alive.
He’s done a lot of weaving, he’s probably tired.”

That sounded like
Edgar, only... An Edgar who was more sure of himself and in
charge.

“What a prat. Always
workin’ ‘til he falls in the ‘ollow. He must like it there.”

That was Greasy
Tim.

“He pushes himself too
hard,” said Mouse. “You could try extending a little effort
sometime, Timmy.”

Greasy Tim made a rude
sound. “Why bother? I’ve gotten along just fine, me.”

“Is there actually
anything wrong with him, though?” And that was Justin. Serrel
sighed inwardly. “I think he’s faking.”

Since it didn’t seemed
like they were going to shut up any time soon, Serrel opened his
eyes. That was a mistake. His vision was filled with the grinning
face of Greasy Tim, who hovered over him only inches away. That was
a hell of a thing to wake up to.

“He’s awake. Wotcha,
Serrel!”

“Give him space, Tim,”
said Edgar, pushing his way through the mass of Pond Scum crowded
around the bed.

Serrel looked around,
and saw himself in a long room lined with beds. Fading light
entered through a tall window on one wall. He had a vague memory of
being led here with Victor, before he had collapsed on the bed. He
thought it was somewhere in Vollumir, maybe a hospice of some
sort.

“How are you feeling?”
asked Edgar.

“Like I just had the
best sleep in days, ruined by you lot prattling on.”

“Excuse us for caring,”
said Justin stiffly.

“How many fingers am I
holding up?” asked Edgar, holding up his hand.

“Two,” replied
Serrel.

“Do you remember know
who I am?”

“Edgar Paum.”

“Do you know where you
are?”

“I think I’m in
Vollumir, in the Faelands, being asked some bloody stupid
questions.”

“I’m just trying to
ascertain if you’ve suffered a head injury,” said Edgar
patiently.

“Do you even know what
you’re doing?” asked Justin.

“Of course I do. I am
the healer on duty aren’t I?” Edgar gestured expansively to the
white sash looped diagonally across his chest to denote his
role.

“But you’re a pig
farmer. What do you know about treating people?”

“Having spent time with
you, Justin, I can honestly say the only difference between people
and pigs is that pigs have better manners.” He gave them all a
haughty look, then checked Serrel’s pulse. “Now if you don’t mind,
I have check his trotters, and make sure his nose is wet. Bull, I’m
going to need some mud.”

Greasy Tim caught
Bull’s sleeve as the bigger boy turned to leave. “He was jokin’,
Bull.”

“Oh,” Bull looked
upwards in thought, then smiled. “Funny.”

“Oh, yes,” said Justin.
“You’re a laugh a minute, Edgar.”

Mouse was sitting on
the other side of Serrel. She squeezed his hand. “I’m glad you’re
all right, Serrel. But I
did
tell you not to do anything
stupid.”

“I know. I just can’t
seem to help myself,” Serrel replied with a smile. “Is everyone
else all right?”

“We’re all fine. Timmy
hurt his foot kicking an elf, but otherwise we’re all good.”

“That bloody elf,”
Greasy Tim complained. “You’d think he was puttin’ rocks down his
trousers or somethin’.”

“What about, Victor?”
Serrel asked. He looked around. “And Kaitlin?”

Mouse pointed her thumb
over her shoulder. In the next bed Victor lay unconscious. Kaitlin
sat at his side, holding his hand and looking forlorn.

“Is he going to be all
right?” Serrel asked.

“He’ll be fine,”
replied Edgar. “You did a good job putting his bones back into
place, and his wounds are healing far faster than normal. I don’t
know how you did it, but that was some impressive weaving,
Serrel.”

“It wasn’t just me,”
Serrel said, thinking about the energy the creature Narak had given
to him.

“Is he going to wake up
soon?” Kaitlin asked despondently.

“He needs to rest and
heal. I’m sure he’ll wake up as soon as he’s ready.”

Kaitlin nodded
sadly.

Mouse sighed loudly,
half turned in her seat, and jabbed Victor in the ribcage with one
finger. He woke up with a pained yelp.

“Ow! Bloody hell, ow!
Son of a...”

“Mouse!” Edgar
chided.

“He’s awake,” said
Mouse simply.

Victor looked about,
still wincing in pain. Then he met Kaitlin’s gaze.

“Please tell me,” he
said slowly, “that you didn’t try any healing spells on me.”

Kaitlin stared at him
in shock. “No, Victor. I didn’t,” she said in a flat voice.

“Thank gods for that,”
said Victor in relief.

Kaitlin was turning
red. “I haven’t seen you in days,” she said. “And that,
that
, is the first thing you say to me? You utter, utter
bastard
!”

She turned and snatched
a pillow from the bed behind her, which was, unfortunately, still
under the head of another wounded soldier at the time, and
proceeded to beat Victor with it.

“I have been worried
sick!” Kaitlin snapped at him, smacking him around the head.

“Kaitlin... Ow!
Kaitlin!”

“Do you have any idea
what we’ve all been through? Would it really have been too much
trouble just to stop by and say hello?”

“I didn’t...”

“And to think of all
the time I spent wondering about the horrible things that might
have happened to you,
you arse
!”

“Kaitlin, stop that,”
said Edgar. He made to move towards her, but Justin dropped a hand
on his shoulder.

“No, Edgar,” Justin
said. “Leave them be.”

Victor struggled into a
sitting position as he tried to weather the assault.

“I thought you were
eaten by elves!” Kaitlin said angrily. “You would have deserved
it!”

“Can I say something?”
said Victor.

Kaitlin hurled the
pillow into his face. “
What
?”

Victor looked her
calmly in the eyes as a few feathers drifted down around them.

“Kaitlin, I am very,
very, happy to see you, and I am very sorry that I didn’t tell you
earlier.”

Kaitlin narrowed her
eyes. “Good!”

“Now, if I could
just-”

Kaitlin cut him off by
grabbing him by the shirt front and kissing him hard on the mouth.
It might have perhaps been more romantic if she hadn’t accidentally
crushed his broken arm in the process, causing him to make a
muffled grunt of pain.

“Aw!” said Greasy Tim
with a grin. “I love happy endings.”

“Finally!” said Mouse
in satisfaction.

“Gods, I think I am
going to vomit,” someone snorted irritably.

The group turned to see
Sergeant Caellix glaring at them from a bed on the opposite wall.
She had one leg wrapped with bandages.

“What happened to you,
Sergeant?” Serrel asked her.

“A Ferine got in a
lucky shot. Had I realised that I was going to be stuck in here,
watching you lot carry on like idiots, I would have let him finish
the job. When can I get out of here?”

“Your wound isn’t bad,”
said Edgar. “But we think you should stay here for another two
days.”

“
Two days
? I’m
can’t stand another two minutes of
that
,” she gestured to
Victor and Kaitlin, who had not yet broken contact. “The hell with
this. I’m going.”

“Sergeant,” Edgar said
wearily as Caellix rolled stiffly off the bed. “We’ve discussed
this. If you go around... being you, you may have permanent damage
done to that leg.”

“I’ll take my
chances.”

“Well, I’m afraid I
can’t let you do that.” Edgar stood in front of her with his arms
crossed.

“Um. Edgar...” Serrel
warned.

“I am in charge of the
infirmary at this moment,” Edgar went on bravely. “And as such I am
asking you nicely to return to your bed and behave.”

Caellix glared at him.
“You’re ordering
me
? Oh, do try, boy.”

Edgar set his shoulders
and reached out for her. He stopped dead when a low growl emanated
from underneath her bed. Vost leaned out, baring his teeth.

“If you can get through
Vost,” Caellix smirked, “I may consider your advice. But if you are
overly attached to your legs, I’d suggest you get out of my way.
Now
.”

Edgar regarded the
snarling dog. He took a deep breath, and then screamed at the top
of his lungs, “
Kielleth! Neillin ut!
”

Vost shut up, partially
in shock, and retreated back under the bed.

Caellix gaped at Edgar.
“
You
can speak Norwen Drallic?”

“My father was one
quarter Norwen. It’s a good language for cursing in. Now, Sergeant,
please get back into bed.”

“Who are you people?”
Caellix said aloud.

“We’re just mages,”
replied Justin with a shrug.

“We’re Pond Scum,”
Mouse said proudly.

To Serrel’s surprise,
the sergeant complied with Edgar’s instructions, albeit with a
scowl.

“Edgar,” he said
slowly. “You are my hero.”

“Don’t get cute,
Hawthorne,” Caellix warned. “Just because people think you’re a war
hero, doesn’t mean I’m going to go easy on you now. In fact, I’m
going to be even meaner, just on basic principle.”

“I would expect nothing
less, Sergeant... Hold on, what do you mean everyone thinks I’m a
war hero?”

“You kiddin’?” said
Greasy Tim. “It’s all over the Legion, innit?”

“What is?”

“You killed Vharaes,”
explained Mouse. “Everyone says there’s going to be a medal and
everything.”

“I helped,” said
Victor, coming up for air.

“And nearly died,” said
Kaitlin sternly.

“Please don’t start
hitting me again.”

“Don’t give me an
excuse.” She sighed. “You and I have a lot to talk about.”

“Yes. But in private.”
He looked at the others pointedly.

“Of course. You guys
should leave,” Mouse told the boys, before going back to watching
Victor and Kaitlin intently.

“
Later
,” Caellix
said. “Since you two are still alive, and if Blackwood can extract
himself from his bonnie lass for a brief period, you’d better go
and see the generals. They’ve been waiting for you to wake up, and
you do not keep General Dillaini waiting.”

“Then I guess we
shouldn’t,” said Serrel rolling out of bed.

“Later then,” Victor
told Kaitlin, squeezing her hand gently.

“Definitely,” Kaitlin
agreed. Then she punched him in the arm. His broken arm. “But
you’re still an arse, Victor!”

“Just nod, Blackwood,”
Caellix advised when Victor made to reply. “And the rest of you,
get out. I need some peace and quiet.”

“We’re going, Sergeant,
we’re going.”

Serrel paused to grab
his staff, but it was nowhere to be seen. It took him a few seconds
to remember it had been cut in two, and the pieces burned to a
cinder on the tower roof. That memory was like a punch to the gut.
Losing his staff was like losing a limb. He was useless without
it.

The group filed out of
the infirmary. Edgar, still on duty, closed the doors behind
them.

Caellix cleared her
throat loudly. “Nurse.”

Edgar sighed. “Yes,
Sergeant?”

“If I’m going to be
stuck here, the least you can do is fluff my pillow. And get me
some food. And then, if I’m feeling generous, I’ll let you feed my
dog. Go on, hop to it.”

Following the
directions they were given by her staff, Serrel and Victor went to
see General Dillaini. She had commandeered the office of the
Patrician for her base of operations inside the fortress. It had a
huge desk and an even bigger picture window looking out over the
city.

Serrel and Victor were
shown in, and stood to attention in front of Dillaini, Roth and a
beaming Arch-Magus Grimm.

“Well, well. The heroes
of the hour,” Dillaini said sarcastically. “Nice of you to deign to
grace us with your presence.”

Serrel kept his face
perfectly blank. “We apologise, General, Ma’am. We were only just
released from the infirmary.”

“I trust you aren’t
permanently damaged?”