Chapter 3

The flickering of a small fire hovering four feet in the air cast warm yellow light across the rough cave walls. I had already scoured the shallow den and confirmed there was nothing besides myself and the human in here. He was bleeding from an opening in his belly, it was already coagulating in a pool around him. It looked like he was able to rudimentarily wrap the wound with some cloth scraps. I’d have believed he was dead if not for the slight rise and fall of his chest.

Still wary of whatever dragged him here, I set up a snare across the entrance that would make noise by scattering some pebbles over the floor if it was tripped. I hurried back over to the human and gently pushed him onto his back. I didn’t have much in the way of a first aid kit but I did have some homemade healing salves. I remember reading a journal that shortly described the most well known first aid techniques. First, I had to staunch the bleeding. I pulled the human’s light chest plate off and tore his shirt away from the wound.

I had no bandages so I went to work cleaning out the bloody mess that was his midsection. I knew enough about anatomy to tell that nothing vitally important was missing, at least not that I could see. Clean snow was used to slow the bleeding and somewhat disinfect the shredded flesh.

I accidentally touched what I assumed was his liver and the body didn’t react well. Blood spurted out and got in my eyes, fucking hell. The blood gushed over my hands and melted all the snow I’d packed into him. I pulled off my cloak and shoved it towards him, desperate to stop the bleeding.

It finally slowed after a few minutes and somehow the human was still holding on. It was a saving grace that he was unconscious, I’d probably die if I saw myself bleed this much.

Luckily I didn’t leave my needle and thread at home. I brought it in case I ripped my clothes because the first spring blossoms tended to grow on cliff edges and in more rocky environments. I began stitching the gash closed but my hands were shaking, if anything, I was doing more damage than good. I pulled away and rolled back on my heels.

“Damn it!” I tried to calm myself with Isayah’s breathing exercises. The clouds of my breath became rhythmic and my hands stopped shaking. I felt something warm around me, and despite the feeling being supernatural, it was soothing.

More confident than ever, I launched into the task once again. My hands were sticky with blood and the cold air blowing through the mouth of the cave kept them on the verge of freezing. It wasn’t comfortable but they didn’t shake again.

The sounds of the cotton thread snaking in and out of flesh filled the cave and before long the worst of the injury was not so neatly closed up. It wasn’t ideal, but it was better than nothing. I uncorked the first of my bottles; inside was a thick paste, commonly used to treat venomous bites and stings. Its composition was similar to that of antivenom. I wasn’t sure what caused this wound but I wasn’t going to take chances. I applied it liberally as the materials were pretty easy to come by.

Next was a drab colored clay like mixture. It used mana root as a base and even contained first spring blossom. The poultice was meant to expedite one’s natural healing rate, although it usually leaves the user feeling parched. Of course, I’ve only ever tested it on myself and I’ve never been seriously injured, so I couldn’t guarantee its efficacy in such a situation.

I spread the foul smelling poultice over the wound and wrenched a long piece of the human’s shirt to bandage him up. My cloak was now frozen solid with blood and so I wrapped him in my coat. It wouldn’t do to have him freeze to death after I went through all the trouble to patch him up.

I had wasted an hour following that blood, so it was almost noon already. I wouldn’t be able to help him back to the cottage in his state and I didn’t want to leave him alone for too long either. I weighed my options against each other. I could stay here and make a fire, I’m sure Isayah will come looking for me if I’m not back by nightfall.

What worried me was the threat of whatever monster attacked and dragged the human here. Waiting here could mean death. I had no delusions about my strength. I’ve never been able to touch Isayah in our mock battles. He trained me since I was little and while I’ve progressed nicely, he says I’m still no match for even a goblin; which is one of the weaker monsters in the area.

My eyes were drawn to something hanging from the human’s neck. It was a necklace made of silver. There was a hunk of metal at the end of it. I picked it up and looked closer, finding that it was indeed a locket that fell open with my meddling. A small portrait of a human woman fit inside.

It was probably his mate. I closed it and slung it back over his head.

“Devin, I’m back.” The sound almost made me jump out of my skin. It was a woman’s voice, coming from outside. I glanced back at the locket. There was a twang and rocks skittered around my feet. Fortune favors the bold.

I charged the entrance before thinking and I tackled the intruder. I wasn’t sure if they were friend or foe yet so I scrambled at their waste to relieve them of any weapons. I managed to grab hold of her knife a moment before she swung her fist into my jaw... hard. The blow sent me sprawling on my back and the knife hurtling away and landing deep in the snow. I barely wiped the snow off my face before she was on top of me.

“Who the hell are you!?” She was roaring at me but she quickly noticed I was just a kid. I had my hands up to fend off any blows to my head but she was just gaping at me. Her face showed confusion, then apology, then anger. “Why the fuck did you attack me, I nearly killed you.” She stood up but I could tell she was still on her guard.

There was already another knife in her hand, where it came from, I did not know. I sat up in the snow figuring if she was an enemy, she’d have killed me already. “My name is Elias. Are you that guy’s companion?” I gestured back at the cave.

“Devin? Yeah, he’s my friend.” After she answered she seemed to remember the dire situation her friend was in. She ran past me to check on him. I didn’t want to provoke her any further, so I just stayed seated.

It was long enough for me to start shivering before she came back out. Now that I got a good look at her, she was pretty young too, maybe sixteen or so. The girl wordlessly walked over to where her other knife had landed. She sheathed it and came back over to sit down a good 5 feet in front of me.

She stared at me for a long time, “So you’re a half-elf.”

“Yes?” Isayah told me that humans and their ilk hated us elves and that I should never let them find out my true identity. I sighed, the first time I met a human and I’m already discovered. Though I guess she only thinks I’m half-blooded.

“I guess it makes sense why you’d hide way out here in the mountains. Even if you’re not a pure-blood, the people in the cities wouldn’t tolerate your presence.” The way she said it sounds like she has personal experience.

“Do you mean they’d run me out, or…” Would they kill me!?

She gave me a half smile before bowing her head, “You saved Devin.” It was said matter of factly rather than as a question.

I suddenly felt uncomfortable, “I… I didn’t do all that much…. really.” My words were catching on my tongue, was this what it was like talking to other people? I spoke with Isayah quite often, but he never complimented or showed any sort of emotion to me. There were rare moments when I’d catch him looking sorrowful, but that was it.

“Where did you learn how to heal people?”

I carefully cleared my throat before speaking this time, “I read about it in a book.” I smiled to myself, I can talk just fine.

“You… read about it?”

“Yes, that’s what I said.” I hesitated, maybe my speech isn’t as perfect as I thought. The girl kept eyeing me like I just broke spoke gibberish.

She scooted a little closer, our knees nearly touching, “Umm, do you think you could help me out some more?”

“Wha… What do you mean?”

She put her hands out in a placating gesture, “I can’t carry Devin down the mountain by myself. We live in a frontier village called Delphi.”

A question had been building up in me for a while now and it finally chose to burst forth, “What are you doing up here anyway?”

“We were hunting. Something made the animals head up here recently and there are a lot of hungry people in the village.” It was suspicious though, she didn’t have a bow or any other ranged weapon for that matter. Of course, hunting didn’t require those tools, but they certainly made it easier.

“I don’t think I’m allowed to go down the mountain, besides, your companion wouldn’t be able to make the trip as he is. He has probably lost a lot of blood.” The healing poultice I used could make him better, but I didn’t know how long it would take.

“But I can’t just leave him up here in the snow.” She was starting to tear up.

“Nobody said you had to leave him, just let him rest up, and then once he can walk, then you can head down.” I can’t believe I had to pacify someone who was years older than me. “Look, I even have some food for you.” I rummaged through my pack and pulled out my lunch.

She perked up at that, “Really?” She paused to narrow her eyes at me, “Why would you go that far for strangers?” Her suspicion was justified, I’m just some kid way up in the mountains who happened to stop by, heal her friend, and then offer them food. I definitely would not trust me.

“I don’t mean anything by it. Just think of it as my good deed for the day.” If I made it clear she didn’t owe me anything she might accept it easier. Whatever the reason she was up here, it wasn’t hunting. Isayah always traveled with more gear than them, even on a simple hike.

But regardless of why she lied, it wasn’t his business, he learned from Isayah early on that you should pry into someone’s private life.

The girl hesitantly took the couple of flatbread venison sandwiches and said, “Thanks again.” She set the food aside and continued, “By the way, my name is Astrid, I know it’s late but nice to meet you, Elias.” She smiled at me brightly.

Hmm, humans don't seem all that bad, “Nice to meet you too.”

~~~~

Night was falling and I, at last, came trudging into our cottage. I ended up helping the humans get a fire going and showing Astrid how to make the healing poultice along with where to find materials she’d need to gather.

The fireplace was lit and Isayah was seated on his large rocking chair. “You’re late.” I froze at the doorway, letting the brisk air waft through after me.

“I’m sorry, I got held up because the snow was deeper than I thought it would be.” Isayah got up and stood over me.

He looked down at me with a hard gaze, “Is that true?”

“What do you mean, of course it’s true.” I looked away.

Suddenly Isayah's fist was in my face, “Don’t you fucking lie to me! Elias, how many times have I told you to not go near humans!” What? How did he know? “What’s worse, you brought their stench back with you! I’ve told you the stories! The stories about how our people were slaughtered by them!”

“Brother, I wasn’t…” A vicious slap shut me up.

“Don’t fucking talk, just listen to me for once in your godsdamn life!” He began pacing around the room. “What do you think will happen if the empire finds out we’re hiding here!?”

“Brother Isayah, please listen to what I have to say!” I’d never yelled at Isayah before so it succeeded in quieting him.

He scowled at me, “What?” He waved his hand impatiently, “Speak then.”

“They think I’m a half-elf, I gave them food and healed one of them. Astrid said that she won’t tell anybody that I live up here.” I preemptively winced when Isayah raised his hands, but he only brought them up to rub his temples.

Isayah plopped back down in his chair. “Ughhh… Just eat dinner and go to bed, I’ll deal with you in the morning.”

I hesitated, unsure if he truly meant to let me off the hook tonight. “I… I’m sorry.” I hurried past him, snatching up the bowl of stew that had gone cold. I climbed the ladder to the loft before he could change his mind and flipped shut the sliding divider.

Phew, I knew I’d be in trouble, but I’ve never seen Isayah that upset before. I ignored my dinner and rolled myself up in my blanket. What is so bad about humans anyway. Astrid seemed nice enough, I couldn’t even imagine her or Devin “slaughtering” the elves. Ah well, I’ll just save tomorrow’s problems for tomorrow’s me. I fell asleep faster than usual that night.