Steel and Sorrow: Rise of the Mercenary king

Chapter 143: Public show

Alpheo sat quietly as Agalosios finished closing the wound, the medic's skilled hands stitching the gash before wrapping his hand in layers of bandages. The pain had dulled somewhat after the tea of willow bark and honey had been administered onto the wound , though it still throbbed persistently beneath the wrapping. He flexed his fingers, grimacing at the tightness, but was at least thankful the worst had passed.

Mounting his horse with his wounded hand hanging limp at his side, Alpheo guided the reins with his good hand. As he rode back toward the camp, the sun had begun to dip toward the horizon, casting a long shadow behind him. 

Clio, riding close beside him, broke the silence. "Are you alright?" he asked

Alpheo gave a slow nod, glancing over at him. "As good as I could be, given the situation," he replied, his tone dry. "I'm not dead, at least, though I'll admit I've been in better shape."

Clio frowned, looking at his bandaged hand. "He caught you off guard," he said. "That won't happen again, you will have to own better security from now on, you are no longer a simple mercenary."

Alpheo chuckled, though it was more of a low exhale through his nose. "No, it won't. I should've expected something like that. Desperate men are always dangerous, and Thalys... well, his mind was already dead the moment we arrived, did not expect the bastard to be so loyal to end some five meters underground for a dead men."

Clio looked ahead at the nearing camp, the fires beginning to flicker in the distance. "What happens now?"