From Death, A New Beginning

James got out the house to see Alex and Chris leaning over at a fence pointing at cattle.

He walked over them.

“You think that one would make for the best steaks? I mean maybe but look at that fat one over there, the black one. It’s plump and ready for the taking.” Chris said as he pointed.

“Just like your mother.” Alex replied

Chris punched Alex in the arm.

“Ouch. Sheesh, you got some muscles for being a healer.”

“And you have quite the mouth for a knight.”

James leaned over the fence next to Alex. Alex’s smile evaporated when he noticed James, his hand curled into a fist.

“What’s the matter this time?” James asked

Alex growled, “Oh, don’t you get me started.”

“What did I tell you earlier about being honest?”

“Rudolf is fucked up. What he did was unforgivably wrong. What a disgusting bastard.”

“Yeah? What of it? You think he deserves to die, that we should give up?”

Alex shook his head, “Not exactly but he was vile.”

“No matter how vile the person was we still have a job to do.”

“I guess. The man was still a monster. Does that not bother you? Has any commission bothered you?”

James sighed, “there was one…it haunted me, what happened. It taught me an important lesson, there is no limit to vile depravity some will sink to. The most dangerous evil will come with a smile.”

“Yeah, your job still sucks.”

“I should be asking you that. We were told the healer for Duke Rudolf was dispatched out here name is George. You know him?” James asked

“Oh, George Vasa? Yeah, I know him he’s an odd fellow. He often goes fishing and he will sometime filet and cook up fish to eat with his patients.” Chris replied

“Isn’t weird that the healer for the duke is dispatched out here into the countryside? Like shouldn’t he be always at Augenstein Castle?” Alex asked

Chris looked at Alex bewildered, “No. Not at all you know the Duchy of Augenstein has a massive amount of people, we Hospitallers are stretched thin. It would be much more unusual if he wasn’t visiting patients. Normally, I would be going about the city doing house calls. It’s a good way to get practical experience.”

“Fine then, where will we find this fishing healer?”

Chris opened a book of his own and leafed through it, “According to the patient records. George should be checking in with a few patients in Minsi. We can check on one particular since this farmer doesn’t live too far from Doctor Vicky.”

Chris, Alex, and James got their horses out from the Viktor’s barn with Cecilia’s assistance. “Don’t forget about Yolanda.”

Alex clenched his fist assertively, “we won’t. I swear on my honor as a Knight of Lyris she will be safe.”

With Chris leading the way, the men rode out into the outskirts of Misni.

They were riding along the path when James noticed blood.

“What’s that? Blood on the ground.” Alex asked.

James got off from his horse and motioned for Chris and Alex to do the same. The trail of blood led to a grove.

Before he had time to investigate there was a low growl and a sudden attack.

A direwolf leapt and knocked James down.

James got knocked to the ground. He started to desperately struggle as the direwolf went for his throat.

James could feel himself struggling as he felt the direwolf’s teeth on his throat. The direwolf started biting and gnawing at James’s throat. The direwolf was powerful. James had no doubt it could have ripped his throat out right there. Claws were ripping into his flesh.

The sound of thunder.

Then there was a strike of lighting as Alex’s sword struck the direwolf and pushed it off. James then kicked the direwolf away. He got up to see a pack of direwolves now surrounded them.

“Just the sort of stuff I been waiting for.” Alex said with a confident smile.

“Let me handle this.” Chris said as he pulled out a talisman woven with red and white fabrics.

Chris stated to chant. James watched as from the talisman bloomed a bright raging fire and then in flash the fireball flew out and engulfed a direwolf in a white pale flame.

The direwolf howled in pain. It’s fur catching on fire as it burned and twisted on the ground. The other wolves growled at the sight of their burning companion and then retreated into the countryside.

After a moment of waiting for another assault that didn’t come. Alex slapped Chris in the back of his shoulders, “that was crazy! Since when did a healer needed to know pyromancy?”

“It’s a long story. I really don’t like direwolves.” Chris rolled up his sleeves to show bite scars on his arm.

“Well, well Chris I’m impressed.”

Chris gave a faint smile, “I just do what I can.”

James rubbed his throat, that was a close one. He got a better look at the grove and noticed now there was bloodied blue cloak and a medical satchel. Chris rushed over at the sight.

Chris opened the satchel hastily. He then pulled out a fishing hook. “Ah shit, George…you should have always been more careful.” Chris held the satchel bag with a mix of pain, disbelief, and shock.

Alex put his hand on Chris’s shoulder and gave it a shake, “you going to be, ok?”

Chris gently placed the hook back into the satchel. He then picked up the blue cloak and draped it over his arm.

“Yeah. I will be. I’m just still in shock. I just don’t know what will tell George’s mother. How can you tell a mother her son was dead? George was always her little boy.”

James shook his head, “How convenient, attending healer for the duke is dead.”

“Could this wait James? Chris’s friend is dead.” Alex said irritably

“Right, you have a point.” James replied as he watched Chris going through George’s bag seemingly still in a daze. “Here is what we can do. Chris, we will give you all the time you need to handle George’s affairs. Alex and I will go back to Augustein Castle, we need to look for Yolanda.” James continued

“Something I can get behind.” Alex replied

Chris sighed and shouldered George’s bag, “I’ll take it to his family. Shouldn’t be too long.”

James and Alex nodded, and the three men rode back to Svarostadt in silence.