“My lord?” echoed Roo.
Erik grinned. “We’ve all got some sort of court rank or another, to keep the minor officials out of our hair. Nobody is quite sure who is who, so we all tend to be addressed that way by those outside our command.”
“What?” shouted Greylock.
“A man without the gate, my lord, demanding to see the master of this freight company.”
Roo said, “Who is it?”
“He says he’s your cousin . . .” After a moment’s hesitation, the soldier added, “sir.”
Roo didn’t wait and started running toward the gate. He passed his own wagons heading out and ran to the outer gate. Just outside he found Duncan sitting on his horse, looking fretful.
“What is it?” demanded Roo.
Duncan said, “It’s Helmut. He’s been injured.”
Roo said, “Where?”
“He’s back at the house. Karli sent me to fetch you.”
Roo said, “Get down!”
Duncan complied and said, “I’ll ride back with the wagons.”
Roo nodded, set heels to the horse’s flank, and was off at a gallop before the words were out of Duncan’s mouth.
Roo nearly ran down a half-dozen people on his mad dash though the city to his partner’s house. He found two of his workers outside the door and tossed the horse’s reins to one of them, passing the other man as he made his way through the entrance.
Luis was waiting for him and told him, “He was ambushed.”
“How is he?” asked Roo.
Luis shook his head. “Bad. Karli is upstairs with him.”
Roo hurried up the stairs and realized he had never been up to the second floor of the house before. He glanced into one door and saw a small room furnished in a plain fashion, which he guessed was the maid’s room. The next was decorated with silk draperies, colorful wall hangings, and warm woolen rugs he guessed it was Karli’s room.
He heard her voice as he reached the end of the hall. The door was open, and as he entered the room he saw his business partner lying on a bed, his daughter at his side. Karli was drawn and pale, but she wasn’t crying. On the other side of the bed stood a priest of Kilian, Goddess of Farmers, Foresters, and Sailors. As a deity of nature, her priests were reputed to be healers, though often as not, the patient died.
“How is he?” asked Roo.
Karli only shook her head, while the priest said, “He has lost a great deal of blood.”
Roo went to the side of the bed and glanced down at the older man. He looked positively frail! Roo thought with alarm. Where before he had seemed only an older man, now he appeared ancient His head was bandaged, as was his chest.
“What happened?” asked Roo.
“He was attacked last night, outside the city,” said Karli, her voice sounding like a child’s. “Some farmers found him in a ditch and brought him in after you had already left for the palace this morning. I sent for the priest and, when he got here, sent Duncan to find you.”
Roo hesitated, then, remembering the lessons taught him by Nakor while they served together, made a couple of signs in the air and placed his hand upon Helmut’s chest. Instantly he felt the connection as energy flowed from his hands.
The priest looked at him and his expression became one of suspicion. “What are you doing?” he asked.
“This is a healing I was taught,” answered Roo.
“Who taught you?” asked the priest.
Rather than try to explain Nakor to anyone, Roo simply said, “A monk of Dala taught me this.”
The priest nodded. “I thought I recognized the reiki.” Shrugging it off, he said, “It can’t harm him. It will either help his healing or aid him in leaving this life.”
Turning to Karli, the priest directed, “If he regains consciousness, have him drink the herbs in a warm cup of water. As soon as he can, get him to eat something: a little broth and bread.”
Karli’s eyes were suddenly suffused with hope. “Will he live?”
The priest’s manner bordered on the brusque, but he kept his voice low as he replied, “I said, ‘If he regains consciousness.’ It’s the goddess’s will.”
Without another word, the priest departed, leaving Karli and Roo alone. Time passed. After nearly an hour of doing what he could for Helmut, Roo removed his hands, which still tingled from the energy he had given the stricken man.
Leaning over, he whispered in Karli’s ear, “I’ll be back. There are some things I need to see to.”
She nodded as he left the room and went downstairs, to find Duncan and Luis waiting. “How is he?” asked Duncan.
“Not good,” Roo answered. He shook his head, indicating the old man might not regain consciousness.
“What now?” asked Luis.