Page 6 of The Glass Unicorn: Part 2
I jumped up, turning to see that the player who had been in the thick of it had fainted. I hurried over to his side, tryingto push away the skeletons attempting to get to him. One was carrying a rusty sword, and it already had blood on it.
Brynn and Thornhold had taken down four of the skeletons. Ray had prepared some sort of spell and Reggie jumped to the side as Ray held up his holy symbol and began an incantation.
“Spirits of the Night,
Those who give us fright,
Hear my holy plea,
Now to turn and flee!”
His voice took on a deep,resonate tone and as the words echoed through the massive chamber, four of the remaining skeletons were encompassed by the flash of a brilliant blue light, and they broke off the fight, turning to flee out the main chamber.
That left three. Brynn and Thornhold took the lead, plowing through them. As I examined the fallen fighter, I found that the blood was flowing heavily from one of his arms. I unbuckled his spaulders, struggling to find the wound, and then I saw it. A large gash on the back of his shoulder that crossed to the triceps. Panicked—he was bleeding heavily—I tried to sort out what to do while keeping an eye on the three skeletons still standing. Ray had to hold the spell intact for awhile, so he couldn’t help, and Reggie was protecting Ray.
I opened my pack and pulled out one of the spare handkerchiefs I’d picked up at Liesel’s house. I folded it and pressed it to the oozing gash, trying to hold pressure. While this seemed to be the main wound, I had the feeling he had sustained other injuries. He was out cold, breathing shallowly.
Praying they could finish off the other skeletons, I turned my attention back to the man. I was managing to staunch the blood,at least. As I sorted through my backpack with the other hand, I found the first aid kit. I managed to open it, but I’d need help.
“Ray, get over here!” I called. We’d have to chance the other skeletons returning.
He hurried over, skirting the fighting going on, while Reggie began smashing the bones that littered the floor into so much dust.
“What do you need?”
“Healing—I think this guy could die,” I said, realizing the finality that was lying in front of me. “He’s a player, not a Sym.”
Ray sucked in a deep breath. “Let me see the wound.”
I slowly eased the cloth off the gash. The blood was still flowing, though it had slowed down a little. “What can you do?”
He thought for a moment. “I know a healing spell—medium strength. Let me get out my components. Damn it, why didn’t the Game Guides make it so we don’t need ingredients to cast spells?”
Ray began crushing some tiny green leaves in a small ceramic bowl. He added three drops of an elixir, then whispered something over the mixture. As he patted the paste into the wound, within seconds it began to close, and a frothy pus dribbled out, then a few drops of clear blood.
I glanced at Brynn. She’d just to shatter one of the skeletons. She and Thornhold took on the last two, while Reggie hurried over to us, bringing out his water bottle.
“Do you need to clean the wound?” he asked.
“We probably should,” Ray said, using a handkerchief from his pack. He poured some of the water on it, then began washing away the blood. I took off the leather helm the man was wearing and brushed his hair back. Taking another look, I realized that he was an Elf, as well.
“Hand me the water,” I said.
Reggie handed it to me.
I found another strip of cloth and wetted it, brushing the cloth across his forehead as Ray cleansed the wound. Another moment and all the skeletons were gone. Brynn shut the doors to the chamber to keep anybody else from catching us off guard.
“Is he alive?” she asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. He’s a player—not a Sym.”
Ray finished cleaning the wound and found a roll of gauze in the first aid kit. He began winding it around the wound, which was already looking better. As I brushed the man’s forehead again, he began to stir. The next moment, he opened his eyes and squinted up at us.
“Hello? What…who are you?” he asked. His voice was gentle, mirroring the look in his eyes. He had the bluest eyes I’d ever seen.
“I’m Erenye,” I said. “This is Ray—he healed your wound. And the other members of our party are Reggie, Thornhold, and Brynn. Here, can you sit up?” I helped him to sit up.
After a moment, he took a deep breath. “Thank you. You saved my life and I owe you. I’m Geoff. I’m a bard.”
