The Attack

“There you go. It shouldn’t give you any more problems now.” Diane rests a hand on the broken arm she has just healed.

“Thank you,” the girl says. She looks much too young to be a soldier, though Diane can understand her determination to help protect her home.

“You’re welcome.” Diane smiles as the girl leaves, then looks around the primitive hospital room trying to decide who should be next.

It’s not easy; the increased number of attacks on the surrounding villages has brought in many refugees, many wounded. And while healing magic works fast, it still has its downsides. The main one being that it can’t be delegated. She or Tenna has to be there for every patient, even for minor injuries that wouldn’t need more than a good cleanup and a tight bandage. On the other hand, she’s glad she has enough work to keep busy enough that she doesn't have time to think too much. Don't think about Aster and the upcoming wedding. Don't think about the too pretty princess. Or the brewing war. Just focus on helping people.

Avoiding the royal brat had become easier since Rafe banned her from the strategic meetings after her outburst. And since Diane prefers to eat in the kitchen with the chefs and maids or in her room with Tenna, the chances of running into the princess are very slim. This also means that she hardly sees Aster, and she reluctantly admits that she misses him. For all that she’s found her place here, she misses their time on the roads. Just the two of them.

He seems happy enough though. Busy with the escalating attacks, as well as all the preparations for the wedding. Diane makes a face. Why does she care? If Aster wants to see her, he knows where to find her, no matter how busy he is. That had been such a transparent excuse. But then he’s done his duty when it comes to her, hasn’t he? Found her and brought her here safely. Found her a proper teacher, and then promptly abandoned her.

It seems that working and caring for others is what she’ll focus on in this world too. Just as she had done back home. She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath to clear her head and push down the strange longing that swells in her chest. She has work to do; the injured need her.

On the other side of the room, Tenna is hard at work, slowly healing a group of newcomers, all with severe burns. After another look around, Diane decides to join her, making good use of her latest spell, Cold Flames. It had been created only a few days ago when one of the maids had a nasty accident in the kitchen. Now it’s perfect, leaving burnt skin smooth and soft again. After an intense half hour, they’re done. Now, who’s next?

She looks at Momo, curled up on the chest of a boy with a fever and a very bad cough. The kitten has good instincts, and her very presence has an uplifting effect on everyone. Ever since she started spending most of her days in the hospital with Diane, she’s become the unofficial mascot of the place. The sick boy is gently stroking her fur, a look of blissful awe on his face.

Smiling Diane is just heading over to him when muffled cries from outside make her stop. What’s going on out there? Her eyes meet Tenna’s across the room just as a man bursts into the room, bleeding profusely from a cut on his cheek.

“We’re under attack!”

“What?” Diane darts to the door and looks out upon chaos. Violent chaos. There are people, and beasts, everywhere. Shouts and snarls and the clang of metal against metal fill the air.

“What’s going on?” Tenna joins her at the door, gasping as she sees the full impact of the attack. She places a hand on Diane’s shoulder. “Looks like we have our work cut out for us today,” she says grimly.

A loud boom shakes the ground, and a cloud of smoke and dust rises in the distance, higher up on the mountain slope, to the east of the fortress.

“What was that?”

“The only thing up there is the monastery.” Tenna’s eyes widen. “And their orphanage.”

“Orphanage? Are there children up there? Under attack?” Diane looks around frantically, but can’t see Aster anywhere. Or anyone she recognizes. She catches a glimpse of Lilah, tall and formidable even from this distance. She's high up on one of the castle walls, swords glistening in the light as she darts between opponents. Human and otherwise. Who else can help?

Tenna grabs Diane’s arm and drags her to a secluded corner of the courtyard where a man is sitting, two arrows sticking out of his chest and shoulder. Diane remembers him from some of the strategy meetings. One of the captains. Not a member of the family. Not a shapeshifter.

Tenna pulls out the first arrow and heals the wound before going for the next.

“Captain,” she says as she’s working. “Is there any way to send help to the monastery? The children…”

“Of course, I can send a small group of wing-troops up there.” He gets on his feet, gingerly touching the places where the arrows had been. “Thank you, Master. Given the look of things, I’m afraid they may require a healer too. If they were near that explosion...” He swallows hard, slowly shaking his head.

Tenna looks at Diane, calculating.

“Are you up for it, child? I can handle things here on my own.”

“Of course,” Diane says quickly. “I want to help. I can do it.”

“Come with me then,” the captain says, leading her toward the center of the courtyard. He has to use his sword a couple of times, but soon they’re in what Diane thinks of as the eye of the hurricane. A deceptively calm spot in the middle of chaos. The captain blows a whistle. Loud. Three times.

A group of the castle’s green and beige-clad soldiers comes running, and he quickly explains the situation. In unison, six fists touch armored chests.

“Of course, Captain.”

“How will we get there?” Diane asks even as she uses Warm Hands to heal a shallow cut on one of their arms.

“Thank you, Miss Diane,” the young soldier says and points to the sky. “Here’s our ride now.”

A trio of giant eagles swoops down, each with a rope ladder hanging from its talons.

“Get on and hold on tight,” he shouts before scrambling up one of the ladders. The others follow suit, and with a running leap, Diane gets on the last one. The two soldiers already clinging to it grab her arms to help her get a good grip. A desperate squeak makes her turn. Momo is chasing after them, clearly unhappy about being left behind. With a great jump, the kitten sails through the air until she clumsily smashes into Diane’s leg. Sharp claws get a solid hold on her boot, and Diane frowns down at the now very pleased kitten.

“That was foolish of you.” She tightens her own grip around the rope, they’re high enough that a fall would be lethal. “But I’m glad you’re here. Now hold on tight, you hear.”

Meow.

From up here, the battlefield looks even worse and is a lot bigger than she’d expected. Smoke and screams are spiraling up from the forest where some sort of ambush is happening. Through the dense tree crowns, she can’t tell which side is doing the ambushing, or which side is winning.

Then they’re clear of the trees and are flying up the stony side of a mountain hill until they reach a flat piece of land, ending in a blunt edge. On the far side is a large building, or rather, the remains of a large building. Now it’s a burning heap of logs, bodies spread around it. Some still moving.

They quickly get to the ground and run toward the injured, Diane getting to work immediately. The soldiers bring the survivors to her and lay these beyond saving in a neat row at the edge of the forest. There aren’t as many as she feared, and a small boy whispers that most of the children got away, running into the forest, hoping to hide from the attackers. Diane prays he’s right and that they won’t find small dead bodies scattered in the forest. So far, they’ve only found one adult alive, a young priestess. Her injuries were so bad that it was a miracle even magic could save her. Healing her leaves Diane proud, but exhausted, her mana almost depleted. She may be improving, but she doesn’t yet have the stamina or experience to cast spells for a full day. Not like Tenna.

“Should we search the forest for the lost kids?” Diane asks one of the soldiers, who nods.

“We should. There’s nothing more we can do here at the moment. Let’s find as many as we can, and wait for pick-up.”

He turns, and an arrow comes out of nowhere and buries itself between his shoulder blades. Diane stares in shock, kneeling next to him, blue flames at the ready, but he’s already gone. They're not alone. A group of soldiers, much larger than theirs, storms in from the forest, bows and swords at the ready. The children scream and dart away, followed by the priestess, while the remaining soldiers draw their swords and place themselves between Diane and the attackers.

“Run, Miss Diane. We’ve got this. We’ll protect you.”