Page 68 of Firebird
He seemed to listen to me, falling deep into a slumber. Koska returned shortly after, and I settled to wiping off the second layer of herb, then added a third, though there was little blood at all oozing from the wound now.
Still, I wanted to be sure. I needed my dragon to heal and be well. I wasn’t sure what was in store for him, for us, but we’d both need to be strong for the fight ahead. For there wasonething that was certain and clear to me now. If he planned to kill Caesar, I was going to help him in any way I could.
XIX
MALINA
Trajan stood looking over the war table at maps. I was folding some of the clothes I’d laundered on the rug in the open area of the tent while Trajan stared at one, making some notes with a stylus.
“What happened to the barbarians?” I asked.
“Vanished,” he said, still bending over the table, shaking his head.
“That is unusual in your experience?”
“It’s unheard-of. Especially considering their attack on us had been successful.”
“They defeated you?” I hadn’t thought to inquire about the battle, my sole obsession being in getting Julian better.
For the past three days, Julian had slept, waking in brief moments as the fever flared up. The healer, whose name was Polla, came to check daily, assuring me that I’d done well with the sutures and that the general was on the mend.
“Nearly four hundred dead,” said Trajan.
“How many of them were killed?”
He looked up at me from the table. “None. We found not one of their dead once we were able to scour the forest when the fire was put out. And we captured none of their wounded for interrogation.” His brow furrowed. “This is certainly a defeat.”
Koska had told me there was a raging fire that had burned the entire forest to the north of us. I’d paid it no attention at the time, my sole concern being Julian.
“That was the other thing,” added Trajan. “Fire.”
“What do you mean? Romans always use fire in their attacks.” An image of burning trees in my village flashed to mind.
“True,” he said flatly. “But wedidn’tuse fire. They did.”
Shocked, I stood with the folded linens in my hands. “Has that ever happened before?”
“Never,” came the rusty voice of Julian from the private quarters.
Instantly, I rushed to him behind the curtain, Trajan following quickly behind me. I placed the linens on the rug and poured a glass of water.
“Here. Lift your head.” He allowed me to help him and drank the entire glass.
It was good to see him without a trace of fever, even though he appeared pale and weak. Not the powerful man I knew. But his fever breaking for good was a start.
He tried to push up into a sitting position but struggled. Trajan and I helped him to sit up. He panted with the effort, seeming completely drained.
“How are you feeling?” asked Trajan.
“Like I’ve been gutted and sewn back together.”
“Well, that’s accurate, then.” Trajan smiled. “You look less like Pluto’s meat today.”
“Good to know.” Julian sighed, his gaze skating to me, softening for a moment.
“They knew how to use fire to their advantage.” Trajan switched quickly to business. “They used nets to entrap us. They were all pre-set with mechanisms that were triggered by our men walking on the forest floor. Somehow, they evaded the nets and the fire altogether. Now, they’ve disappeared for good. No sign of them anywhere.”
Julian remained quiet, but his expression was dark and pensive. Finally, he said, “I believe I spoke to their leader.”
