Chapter Twenty-Two

Maria cleaned Mido's wound, wrapping it with fresh cloths. She poured medicine between his lips, hoping it would be enough to help him. Mido drifted in and out of consciousness all night, moaning quietly from the pain. Maria tended to him throughout the long night, and when morning finally came, Mido was completely awake. He squinted in the early morning sunlight that streamed through a dirtied window. He tried to get up, but Maria put her hand on his chest, gently forcing him back down.

"You, my dear, need ta rest." She smiled at him. "That's some nasty dagga wound ya got. Weren't sure ya were gon make it."

Mido strained his neck up, searching the room. "Where is she?"

Maria said nothing as she finished bandaging his wound. Ian came over when he heard Mido's voice and got to his knees next to Maria, examining her work.

"Where is she?" Mido repeated, his gaze fixed hard on Ian.

"She's gone," Ian said, still looking at the wound, avoiding his stare.

Mido tried to get up, but Maria pushed him back down again. "Ya'll tear out my stitchin'," she hissed at him. "Ya not goin' anywhere in this condition."

"Where did she go?" Mido barked at him. He pushed Maria's arm away from him as he got to his feet. Ian shook his head.

"I don't know. Probably to Scarletta. She was upset about the attack. She said she didn't want anyone to die for her."

Mido bent down and grabbed his sword. He winced as the stitching pulled at his wound.

"Ian, stop him!" Maria barked.

"You won't find her," Ian said to him.

"Why didn't you stop her?" Mido hissed in his face.

"I didn't know she left. She was outside all night."

"We have to find her."

"Mido, you need to stay. It's probably too late, now."

Mido pushed past him.

"Ian! Stop him!" Maria yelled. Ian stood, not moving an inch, and watched him leave, ignoring Maria's threats in his ear.

Mido winced as he mounted his horse. He pushed the mare forward, galloping through the woods.

"He is headin' right ta 'is death," Maria yelled to Ian. "Ya can't let 'im go out there by 'imself. Stop 'im. Help 'im. Do somethin'," she yelled, stomping her foot in frustration.

Ian nodded as he watched Mido disappear into the forest.

"All right," he finally said with a sigh. "But there's not many of us left to fight this." He made his way back inside with Maria and looked over the wounded.

"I'll stay with 'em," Maria said, nodding to the wounded. "If King Sloan shows up, I'll send 'im in ya direction."

Ian nodded again, feeling anxious and unsure about the war they suddenly found themselves in. The sound of beating wings and heartless cries brought him back to reality. He and Maria hurried outside and watched as Scarletta's Nequam flew high over the treetops, heading towards Scarletta.

"Hurry and follow them," Maria ordered. "They'll bring you to Scarletta, and probably Calliope and Mido, too." Maria yelled to those who remained, willing and able to fight and instructed them to follow Ian in their pursuit. The diminished fellowship hurried to gather their things and mount their horses.

Ian sighed. "All right. But this time, when Mido gets mad, it was your idea."

Maria smiled. She pulled to Ian as he turned away. She patted his chest and sighed.

"Please be careful," she whispered to him. She stood on her toes and kissed his cheek. Ian smiled to her, taking her hand in his.

"I'm going to teach you how to use a weapon after this," he said with a wink. Maria watched as he mounted his horse and led the men at a gallop through the woods in pursuit of the Nequam.