Myrkron (Volume Two of The Chronicles of the Myrkron) Read Online Free Page A

th ese men.  He had lost twelve of his own.  This battle had been so overwhelming that the wounded were surprisingly few.  There had been few Dain could save.  Bran suddenly realized that Mardak was no longer right behind him.  So lost in thought was he that he failed to realize the absence of Mardak’s heavy footsteps.  He looked back and saw the massive ogre down on one knee. He was beside a man who was working furiously to staunch the flow of blood from a ragged belly wound on one of his fellows, who was obviously in agony.  Bran saw Mardak hand the man a small pouch and give instructions in a low voice.  The man nodded and immediately opened the pouch and looked in then looked back at Mardak.  Bran saw Mardak smile and nod, then pat the man gently on the shoulder as he rose.
    Mardak walked over to Bran.  At Bran’s questioning look, he explained.  "I gave your surgeon an ointment to use on those more severely wounded.  It will slow their heart rates and take away their pain.  They will sleep peacefully.  It has a healing property that will help a little, but I fear wounds such as that man’s are beyond its abilities.  The ointment will give him relief and make his last hours more tolerable.  No one should have to suffer the pain of such a wound before passing.  If it wasn’t for helping me, then maybe Dain could have saved that one."
    Bran saw genuine sorrow in the ogre’s big black eyes.  He studied Mardak’s face for a few moments.  "You are not to blame.  You did not inflict this wound.  In war, men die.  It does not matter what we wish to be, but what is.  We, none of us, can save them all.  Dain has done his part.  By healing you, he has brought you and your men to us as allies.  By that act, he may have saved the lives of countless others."
    Mardak looked down on the small dwarf before him.  He smiled as if seeing Bran for the first time.  "Wise words, Axethane, however words alone do not heal the heart; though I take your meaning and agree.  Come.  Let us go check on Dain.  My heart will lighten knowing he is well."
    Bran nodded, turned , and started walking again.  Pace would have taken Dain to the rear, as far from the mouth of the pass as he could.  They came to a place where the pass opened enough to setup a few small tents.  Bran headed for the small gray one.  He recognized it as dwarven, not only because of its stone color, but by its rounded shape, a vastly different style than the peaked roof, hide and canvas tents of the humans. By the presence of Pace standing guard outside the small tent, Bran knew Dain to be within.
    Pace nodded to Bran as he came up to the tent.  He looked up at Mardak as the big ogre went to one knee so as not to tower over the smaller dwarves.
    " How is he?"  Bran inquired.
    " Resting, Axethane.  He was so exhausted that he didn’t even stir when I set him down to setup the tent or when I moved him inside.  I've checked on him a number of times.  He has not yet moved."
    " Let the lad rest then.  We only came to check on him.  Karg and his men are watching the mouth of the pass along with Captain Hamil and some of his archers.  They have reported no movement out in the marsh.  Why don’t you get some rest?  I’ll watch over Dain for a bit."
    Pace smiled and Bran saw his shoulders slump slightly.  It had been a hard morning for all of them.  "Thank you, Axethane.  I could use a bite to eat."
    " Go on then.  I’ll get Captain Kallen to assign someone to watch over Dain until you've had some rest," Bran assured him.
    After Pace set off to find the nearest cooking fire, Bran sat down next to the tent opening.  He let out a small sigh of pleasure at being able to get off his feet.  They had fought for many hours and the forced retreat into the pass had taken an other hour.  Then he had to see to his men, what was left of them.  It was nearly suppertime now.  The sounds his stomach was making reminded him that he had not eaten