Kai walked to her tent to find her friend Clana seated stretching her arms, "It has not been an easy day since the arrival of the soldiers. I have to nurse their sorry necks. Telling me stories of their fiancé marrying someone else. Imagine my own fiancé ditching just before my departure", she complained as she released her hair from the bun. "I'm glad that I will have my sleep today whilst you work tonight", she laughed jumping in bed with the same clothes. Kai knew better than pointing it out. She sighed as she walked out to be stopped again by "Oh", Clana turned to her. "I saw the god of war. More like the god of handsomeness", she said. Kai knew who the subject was. General Sen, her estranged husband. "I still can't believe it you are his wife", she looked at Kai. Kai sighed.
"That's why I don't say I am married unless I am forced to", Kai said. "My husband is too handsome for a girl like me", She laughed.
"No, he does not deserve such a hardworking wife whilst he enjoys all the fame as the god of war. Imagine the singers jumping on him", she said looking at Kai. Kai frowned "I can't wait for this war to end", she muttered turning her back to Kai.
"I wish the same… Good night, Clana", Kai said, walking out into the bright moon. She rushed through tents to the medic tent. She has heard about her husband arrival, but she has not seen him. She used to go eager only to be ask why she was there by none other than Lady Claire (the first knighted female). But, she has patients to treat so long husband. She walked in.
"Oh man, I was expecting cute Clana", one of the sick soldiers complained.
"Well, she is busy right now", Kai said walking to the small medic room.
"Thank God, you are here. We were dying", Lily said looking at Kai. Kai looked around. All six medics were cramped having their meals.
"Some of you need some sleep", she said. "Tonight, isn't to much work. Some of you can go. Decide among yourselves" she said.
"Oh my god, you are an angel", Sian said looking at Kai. They were overworked with little to no compensation. She has asked for more staff, they kept telling her that war cost will increase. So, overworking them was the best option. Isn't her life just great? She was supposed to be sleeping during the day until she got an emergency surgery done without pain medication. She can still see his screaming face when she close her eyes. She scooped water into a bowl and drunk. She walked out.
"Hey lady, my back is hurting, and I smell something foul", he said showing her his back. That looked like a great infected wound.
"That looks manageable. We will treat it with some ointment and some bowl of medicine", she said. She brought a basket of hot water and a cloth to clean the skin around the area. He was shot with an arrow that missed. "What happened?"
"I don't remember all I remembered was a shot of pain down my body", he said. "I just don't want to die. There are things I want to do before I die", he said his voice cracking.
"It is not easy, but you will be alive. This wound will heal soon. The war will end eventually, if we could just reverse this war on our stupid king", she muttered the last phrase. "You may experience a bit of stinging", she applied the ointment.
"That's like applying chill on it", he seethed.
"It will get better", she wrapped white cotton cloth around him. "Make sure you drink the whole bowl if you want total recovery then we will work on using your arms", she said.
"Thank you, lady", he said. She walked around checking with the three girls helping. She walked out the tent to cool her heard off. She was dizzy.
"I am going to fall if I don't hold onto something", she muttered. She felt the ground swirling. She closed her eyes expecting the ground, but she floated, it was like euphoria. She sighed into deep slumber.
"Kai, one of the patients…", Sian stopped looking at General Sen.
"Shh", he did.
She gestured to shut herself up. "I can't believe that she is actually married to the General", Sian muttered, giggling as she walked in the tent.
Kai opened her eyes; how did she get here? The tent looked unfamiliar. The bed was not lumpy, it was luxurious compared to herself. She stood up quickly to only be laid back on bed. "Relax, it's me", she looked at Sen, her husband. She breathed.
"That scared me. How did I get here?", she asked.
"You were dizzy with sleep and fell", he said simply. She tried to move out, but he stopped her.
"I am stinky in front of husband!", she yelled embarrassed. "I really need a bath"
"Compared to the field, you have a fresh scent", he said knowing that she did not like his comparison. "I am serious, you smell fine",
"I will come back to have another dose of sleeping. I promise", she said, as if she was coming back.
"I will seriously discipline you if you don't", he glared at her. Sen was a descendant of the Swad tribe who were typically dark skinned with sharp startling eyes of green or golden. His sharp green eyes looked at her, "This is not an empty declaration", he said. Sure, as if he cares.
"I will come back", she jumped so eager to leave. The warmth next to him vanished. He sighed. The war was wearing him out. He can't even have a proper conversation because of their war responsibilities. If the king has got nothing to help to stop it. He will personally assassinate him. He walked back to his desk.
"You look fresh", Clana looked at her.
"I went for a wash", Kai said.
"Finally,", she clapped her hands.
"Says the person who has not removed her shoes for weeks. I wonder how it smells like", Kai mused.
"Forgive me. I forget you have a dagger for a tongue", Clana retorted. Kai laughed.
"Better be careful", she said back. She went for a new set of fresh clothes.
"I will head out. Any emergency I am entitled to wake you even when you curse at me. I apologise in advance", Clana said, laughing as she walked.
"I feel like you enjoy it", Kai muttered "And the soldiers called her cute", she shook her head. She was ready to go back to sleep until she saw Lily's pale face as she walked in the tent.
"What is it?", Kai asked, "I won't asked since you look traumatised", she said. Lily stood out of the tent.
Lily's composure was better compared to the rest of the team vomiting. "An infection. Great, an easy way to dwindle our numbers", she walked to armour herself with a thin cotton cloth for the nose and mouth with a set of useless big glasses. "Talk about protection against infection", she mused.
"This place is quarantined until further noticed. Enter at you own risk and don't expect any treatment since you have been warned. Any injured will have to treat themselves since all our staff is infected. I hope this will not increase war cost", her last phrase was a jab at the knight. The soldiers looked at her as a fool.
"What is the commotion here?", the knighted lady stood.
"The commotion is about one of your soldiers who brought a special gift for us and now we are all sick and some are dying as I try explaining it to you again, ma'am", Lady Claire glared at Kai. "Alright this place is off limits soldier, but you have to help bringing water, and supplies out here"
"Yes ma'am", they said.
"Make sure the water is boiled please", Kai added as she walked into the wall as the foul air hit her. This will be fun, she told herself. She looked at her staff they were all sick. They will need to stay hydrated.
"I will have to get some help", she said looking around the place. She needed to get them hydrated and arranged the bedding from worst to worse. She walked out.
"Is everything, alright?", Sen walked towards her.
"Don't come any closer. I am not rejecting my own husband. This is for our safety. Stay away", she said. "I might have the disease and I know you are one of our best. I don't want Lady Claire glaring at me with you sick in bed", she said. Sen laughed.
"Alright. I wish to respect my wife's wishes", he bowed, keeping his distance. She sighed. "But is everything fine", in a serious tone.
"Not really. I need some supplies to get them back to health. Things are a little overwhelming with just a pair of hands", she said, crossing her arms. This war made him even angry.
"Let me know what you need", his gaze softened as she looked at her, "I – we might make do with a few things", he said.
"I need a few hands to move the sick. The tent needs a thorough clean, or another big tent made. I need huge amounts of meat and kurvana plant. I will accept bones if it will not increase war cost", she will not tire mocking the person who told her that.
"I will do as you wish", he said bowing down then he left. He must have gained humour during his war ventures. 'The good side of war', she thought to herself.