This Unjust World
POV: Alexandra
It took several hours to patch up the Countess, she had so many wounds both externally and internally that it took time to find everything and seal it. I had asked the med why they wouldn’t just use the water magic. It was explained to me that since there were so many wounds that water magic wouldn’t be nearly as effective as fire magic in this case. I was also told that water magic was more effective in pyrios and since the Kastilidans were lycans, it was best to use fire magic to seal the wounds. I pulled the apron I was wearing off because it was smeared in blood from my having to lean over the Countess. I was sweating since the fire heated me up from the outside but sometimes when I cast it, I could feel the warmth inside. I wiped the back of my hand across my forehead as I emerged from the surgery area. The med patted me on the shoulder, “You did great, Your Grace. You should probably study fire medicine since you’re such a natural. Vellum could always use volunteers like you when these types of things occur. If you don’t mind, I can have some spell books sent to Blackwood that you can study.” I smiled at him, “I actually would love that. It was really interesting to do that type of magic. Up until now, I only thought my fire magic was good for magical tools.” He shook his head, “There are so many more uses to your magic. I’ll send a book on different uses. You wield one of the most diverse types of magic.” I nodded, “Thanks Doc.” That was what everyone called the head medical tech that was out here because his name was Doclin and he had a degree in medicine so it was natural to just call him Doc. He accompanied the Countess to the spot they designated for her but he said as he was leaving, “You should take a breather. Using that much magic is exhausting.” I wiped more sweat off my forehead, “Yeah, as much as I want to help. I think I need to get some air and water.”
I walked over to the tray with the water and took a small amount of water and chugged it down. I wiped my lips and walked toward the opening of the tent. I stopped in my tracks and looked around for Edgar. He was helping Jess pull more supplies out of a crate so I walked over to them. He looked up at me as I approached, “I heard you got to assist in surgery. How are you feeling?” I sat down in the chair of the desk they were standing by, “I think I used the limit of my magic. I don’t want to take a break but I’m also not trying to be a patient here.” He smiled and nodded, “You have to take care of yourself, young one. I hear they are handing out some snacks in the mess hall to tide people over before dinner. You should probably try and take in some sustenance.” I got up from my chair and started to head to the tent entrance again but I felt a presence behind me. I turned to find Jess following me closely and nodded, “Right my guard. I keep forgetting.” She smiled and put her arm around me, “I know it’s a pain but it’s better to be breathing. I think you’d agree.” I shrugged, “I’m not complaining. Besides, I couldn’t have better company. I don’t want to keep you long from unpacking the stuff my father sent. Let’s get the food quickly and come back.”
We walked the short distance to the mess hall which was practically empty except for Alita piling apples in a bin. She turned and smiled at us, “One of you looks like you just came from war.” Jess ruffled my hair, “She might as well have. She was in surgery for a few hours assisting Doc with the Countess.” Alita’s eyes widened, “So they found her? Any other survivors?” Jess nodded, “They found the housekeeper with her. She wasn’t doing nearly as bad as the Countess. She broke her arm and dislocated her shoulder.” Alita pulled out a tray and loaded it with granola, the apple, a small brown paper package and a glass of juice then handed it to me, “You look like you expended a whole lot of magic. All of these should help keep your energy, especially the contents in that bag.” I gratefully took the try, “Thanks. The Countess had over a hundred wounds and several of those were deep that needed some concentrated fire magic. It took a lot out of me.” We all walked over to the table and sat after the other two ladies took the same combination of foods excluding the package. I picked it up and it was rather lightweight and I looked at Alita, “Pardon my ignorance but what is in here?” She giggled, “Oh it’s not ignorance. This is kind of a military secret. You put the powder in the juice, and the sugar in the juice will activate the ingredients in the powder. It will replenish some of your magic. Just be careful of how much you put in there or it will get bitter.” I opened the bag to see orange powder, “How much do I put in?” She shrugged, “It’s different for everyone. Derek will put the whole thing. I can only handle a spoonful. It just depends on how well you can handle the bitterness. I suggest you try a spoonful first.” I looked over at Jess and she nodded, “That’s how we all start out.” I shrugged and placed a spoon in the package and pulled out the spoonful of powder and added it to the juice. Alita handed me a coffee stirrer, “Just in case you need the spoon again.” I took the stirrer and swirled it around the orange liquid and took a sip of the concoction, “I don’t taste anything.” I did this ritual three more times before I could start to taste the bitterness in the drink and told myself that perhaps two and a half spoons would have been better.
After we sat, snacked, and chatted for a while, I had decided it was probably time to get back. I rose from my seat and threw away my trash and returned the tray to where it needed to be and made my way to the opening of the mess tent when Melody Maigny entered. She looked at me and scoffed, “Oh look, it’s a drenched cow. Do you even make an effort to make yourself presentable?” I rolled my eyes, “Well unlike you, I’m getting my hands dirty to make sure the people in the Glades are well cared for.” I had heard that Melody was doing the bare minimum like checking on patients but only the ones who weren’t terribly grotesque and she was only organizing the supplies her father sent and making sure that the people knew it was from “the most generous House in Vellum.” I wondered if she bought the bull shit that she sold out of her lying mouth. I didn’t have time to match wits with the witless so I shoved by her, “I have to get back to the injured.” I heard her say as I left the tent, “You’d think she was Grand Pretre herself.” I thought to myself that she would be dealt with sooner or later. We walked back to the medical tent but Jess stopped me outside of the tent before we went in, “Hey, don’t let her get to you. This is the most upset I’ve seen you.” I shook my head, “It just bothers me that there are people suffering here and all she can think about is her looks and what people think of her instead of making an actual difference. It isn’t about me, I can take whatever crap that blonde chimp throws at me.” I shook my head again and ducked into the tent and took a clean apron off the supply table, “I’m going to check in on the patients unless you need me to help you with the supplies.” She looked over at Edgar who was still unpacking the crate and shook her head, “No, I’m perfectly happy unpacking this. I can’t handle being amongst so much suffering. It makes me dizzy. This is the closest I can get.” I stroked her arm and started to walk off, “I’ll see you later then.”
I walked onto the patient floor and saw that Lucy was finally asleep. I asked a nurse who was passing by, “Do we have a sewing kit handy? I have a stuffed patient I need to patch up for someone special.” I pointed at Lucy who was sleeping with her uninjured arm loosely holding the bear and her thumb perched in her mouth. The nurse smiled at her, “Of course, I will bring that right to you, Your Grace.” I walked over to the bedside of the little girl and sat in the visitor chair. The nurse came over with a sewing kit and I whispered to her, “Thanks. Out of curiosity, where are her parents?” The nurse walked to the end of the bed and looked at her chart that was clipped to the bed. She then pulled out a clipboard she had tucked under her arm. Her face fell as she looked through the papers and she whispered, “This young lady is now an orphan, unfortunately.” I sighed, “What will they do with the orphaned children?” She placed the chart back at the end of the bed, “They’ll probably be sent to the orphanage to Tarn.” I shook my head, “Would it be possible for a noble family to sponsor them?” She thought for a little bit and shrugged, “I think that would be up to the General and His Majesty.” I nodded, “Thank you for the information.” She smiled sadly, “No problem, Your Grace.” I sighed sadly and gently pried the teddy away from the little girl and set to work on the reparation of the bear. I sat in the silence as I repaired the bear thinking about how it was unfair that this little girl would grow up without a family when people like Melody were out there being raised in luxury and she still wanted more. I furrowed my brow as I pulled the arm all the way off the bear so that I could sew it back on straight. As the thoughts swirled in my head, I found the work calmed my mind to rationality. I would ask the General if we can send messages later and ask for some paper. I would rally for this child at the very least. She would have a home to go to if I had it my way. After I finished the teddy bear, I tucked it gently back into the arm of the little girl and leaned to kiss her on the forehead.
I turned away from her bed and I could feel the tears stinging my eyes, saddened by the fact that this child would never again know the embrace of her mother and father. I felt hopeful for the future I had in mind for her. I had heard that the orphanage in Tarn wasn’t exactly a great place to live so the thought of this sweet little girl ending up there with a bleak future, it hurt me in my very soul. As I walked away I saw a black wisp out of the corner of my eye. I followed the wisp as it landed at my feet. I looked down to see the eyes of my shadow dog looking up at me patiently. Bash had finally come out of hiding and he was smiling up at me with his pearly white teeth. I crouched down, hugged him, and wept into his fur, “I can’t understand how any of the realms work Bash. It seems so unjust.” After a small cry, I leaned back and he licked the tears off my face. I nodded at him, amazed at the now medium-sized dog that was before me. I scratched him behind his ear and walked on to the next bed where an older woman was sitting up with her arm in a sling. She smiled up at me as I approached, “Your Grace, I would curtsy for you but as you can see I am stuck in this damned bed.” I smiled back at her and shook my head, “Oh don’t fuss about it. I guess you know who I am?” She nodded, “Oh, yes. I saw you when you were just a baby at the castle. I was with my lord at the time, perhaps you know him. His daughters were Dorothea, Zebinezer, and Evelyn.” I gasped, “You knew my godmother’s grandfather?” She winked and nodded, “I know a lot more than that, I was his housekeeper. I know your godmother’s father. If you keep me company, I can tell you all about it.”
