Page 184 of Sword & Sacrifice

Koen shifted the bandages to one arm and returned to the supply chests. It took him less than a minute to find the vial, but it was long enough for the soldier to wear herself out. She glared up at Emmaline, her eyes determined even as they clouded with pain.

“Use the dropper to measure out two drops—just two.”

Nodding, Koen followed her instructions, squeezing two careful drops into the soldier’s mouth while she continued to insist she could fight. The medicine and the exhaustion worked quickly, and within minutes she was asleep on the cot.

“We can’t knock everyone out,” a nearby medic muttered as he gazed down at his own unconscious soldier. “Or they’ll be defenseless if the fighting spreads to the courtyard.”

Hess pursed her lips and nodded sharply. “Just the worst of the lot then, the ones who are more likely to kill themselves than the enemy.” She glanced at Emmaline and added, “Including your patient.” The medic spoke quietly, as if afraid Dresden would hear her over the noise and fight back.

Emmaline nodded and gestured for Koen to follow her back to Dresden’s cot. But when they arrived, they found it empty. “Echo! Why didn’t you—” she stopped when she realized Echo was also missing.

Where would a determined soldier run off to in the middle of the chaos? There was only one answer of course. Emmaline ran out of the tent, then sighed with relief when she saw Dresden had barely escaped. He’d stolen a crutch and was hobbling across the courtyard, Echo a few steps behind him.

“Stop following me, dammit!”

“I couldn’t care less if you join the fight, but Em would be concerned. Least I can do is tell her where you went.”

Emmaline hurried over and stepped into Dresden’s path. “Captain, you need to return to the tent,” she scolded as she gently took the crutch from him, passing it to Koen, and slipped under the captain’s arm to offer her support. Without needing instruction, Echo picked up Dresden’s other arm and slung it over her shoulders.

“Stop treating me like an invalid! I can still fight,” Dresden insisted.

“You can’t even walk,” Echo grunted.

“I don’t need to walk—I need someone to get me a damn crossbow and let me shoot the fuckers!”

“Captain!” a familiar voice shouted.

Emmaline looked up to watch Langley running toward them. He gestured for Emmaline to step aside so he could take her place. Dresden and Langley were a similar height, which made it easier for him to carry the captain without allowing his leg to drag across the ground,

“Langley, great timing,” Dresden panted. “Get me to the wall.”

“He doesn’t need to go to the wall!” Emmaline insisted, plunking her hands on her hips. “He needs to get somewhere safe!”

“I’d rather die a soldier than cower as a civilian.”

Save me from the stubbornness of Arnsveldian soldiers. “How about dying from an infection?”

Other arguments broke out around her as everyone insisted they knew the best course of action. Suddenly, she understood why Griselda was always growling.

“We’re not arguing,” Silas said, raising his voice above everyone else’s. “We’re all going inside. You too, Em.”

Her eyes widened as she pointed at herself. “Me? But I’m a medic! If someone’s injured, they’ll need my help!” Even if Griselda had forbidden her from entering the battlefield, they would need her back at the tents.

But no matter how she argued, he didn’t listen to her, just insisted it was his job to protect her. When the warning bells rang again, Silas shouted, “Inside!”

Emmaline could now here the sounds of fighting. Although Griselda had ordered her to stay away from the battlefield, all her instincts screamed to rush forward, to help everyone in need. She only made it a few steps toward the wall before strong arms scooped her up.

“Echo, you put me down right now!” she shouted as they carried her up the palace steps.

“Sorry, princess, but captain’s orders were to follow the king’s orders, and the king’s orders are to take you inside.”

Silas shouted after them, “Take her to the kitchens!”

Emmaline struggled in Echo’s grasp until their arms tightened around her. Their hazel eyes gazed at her imploringly as they whispered, “Please don’t fight me, princess.”

How could she argue with such an intense plea? She slumped in their embrace. “Fine, but I can walk on my own.”

Echo didn’t argue with her, didn’t doubt her. They simply slowed their steps and carefully set her on her feet.