The Rains of Blood and the Gentle Hands of Asmur
The Khan returned to the clan with his wounded comrades in tow. He had brought Arin all the way to the mobile tent settlement for her treatment. Everyone had already learned of the disaster that had unfolded. A ripple of unease swept through the camp.
To the people of the Prairie, death and injury were almost as common as the grass that cushioned their steps.
“Arin and Rahan?”
This time, however, the wounded were not just any faces. The surprise showed plainly on every set of eyes.
“Was Arin that badly hurt?”
The young centaur warrior who usually talked a mile a minute let out a pained groan.
“Asmur…”
The most taciturn woman in the clan wrapped her arms around her son, her face none of the clan had ever seen before.
The young man clutched the sleeve of her coat, half-unconscious.
Doctors swarmed in. The summons order the Khan had given before he left had done its work.
“You’re here.”
The Khan clapped a doctor on the shoulder as he passed.
The healer quickly checked the wounds of Arin and Rahan.
“Fortunately, the spine is intact. The legs…” He could only sigh.
“What about the human boy?”
“He was lucky. A twisted limb or a wide arrowhead would have meant death by blood loss.”
Asmur stood frozen beside the doctor, her hands trembling.
The healer praised her quick thinking.
“Having a seasoned warrior nearby saved this boy’s life.”
She had cut the arrow cleanly, bound the wound with clean cloth, and tied the starting point of Rahan’s leg to stop the bleeding.
Without her actions, he would have lost far more blood.
While the doctors waited, they moved the patients to the makeshift “healing tent” built inside the clan grounds.
Vesta, who had just finished being treated and his wounds disinfected, approached the Khan.
“You’re someone I haven’t seen in the clan before.”
He spoke of the woman who had treated Arin personally.
“Exactly. I brought Arin here to be healed. Our own clan doctors are skilled, but treating centaurs is no simple matter.”
The Khan looked at the doctor’s back.
“That woman is both a healer and a priestess. The centaurs she has saved number in the dozens.”
After speaking, the Khan turned to Vesta.
His face was scratched in several places.
“Hmm.”
“?”
The Khan handed Vesta back to the doctor.
*
Inside the healing tent the priestess had named “Healing Room,” chaos broke out.
Arin suddenly tried to rise.
Her movement was pure instinct. The priestess and the clan women pinned her down.
Thud.
Arin’s body struggled against the elf women, nearly sitting up. The priestess’s head bumped against her and she staggered.
“Ugh…”
Vesta, standing outside with a fresh arrow, pushed open the tent flap and barely caught her as she fell.
A centaur’s body, unchecked by reason, was like a stampeding rock.
The priestess blinked through the dizziness, offered Vesta a grateful nod, then focused on calming Arin again.
*
Once Arin was steady, the priestess stepped outside, sweating heavily.
She accepted the tea Vesta offered and took a long breath.
“Arin’s condition is not good.”
“It’s the worst, but it’s not hopeless.”
She took the words as criticism.
“…Will Arin be able to run again?”
“I can’t give you a definite answer. But it is not impossible.”
She added a few more words to Vesta.
“Breaking a centaur’s leg is far more dangerous than a human’s.”
“The body is simply too heavy.”
She clinked her teacup.
“When treating a centaur, the hardest part is making them believe they will recover. Especially after a leg fracture.”
She spoke calmly.
“There is an instinct to stand. They unconsciously keep trying to rise.”
Particularly when their mind was confused, she explained.
“It is the same instinct that made them run from enemies.”
“Even with splints or iron rods, they cannot bear their own weight and collapse.”
“So they must lie down until the bones heal?”
“Yes. It is not easy.”
While she spoke with Vesta, two women approached with heavy expressions.
Bia and Aishil—the milk-sisters who had grown up together with Arin.
“Grandmother! Is Arin all right?”
Bia called the priestess “Grandmother.” The healer answered in her usual calm tone.
She shook her head at the question of whether Arin could be seen.
“Just a little longer.”
“Thank you. I will repay every kindness.”
“The Khan has already paid all the costs.”
The priestess returned inside. Bia stamped her hooves impatiently outside the tent.
Anxiety. Worry. A clear fear she never showed in ordinary times.
Bia stared worriedly at the tent, then noticed Vesta. She bowed deeply.
“Thank you, Vesta.”
She had heard the news of him fighting the orcs.
“Arin was unable to fulfill her duty. Please let me apologize in her place.”
It was true that Arin had not protected him.
But.
“Arin did her best.”
Even with her leg bones broken, she had not let go of her bow. In the worst situation, she had still shot down an orc archer.
If she had not stepped in when she did, Vesta’s life would have been in danger.
“Three of you returning safely means the debt is paid.”
Bia’s expression brightened at Vesta’s words.
“You protected not only my sister’s life, but her honor as well.”
Perhaps those simple words were enough to heal something.
“I will repay this debt no matter what. I will help with anything.”
From her expression alone, it seemed she would gladly lift Vesta onto her back.
Aishil also expressed sincere gratitude.
“Were you hurt anywhere?”
“I’m fine. I was lucky.”
Vesta’s wounds were mostly surface cuts.
“Arin is the one I worry about.”
She had nearly died, but would her body recover enough to run again?
*Arin must have run herself ragged.*
Not being able to run was almost like a death sentence for a centaur.
“It’s all right.”
Bia answered firmly.
“My sister will definitely overcome this.”
She believed in Arin completely. Vesta nodded.
He believed the same.
He wanted to see the cheerful Arin, not the gloomy one.
*
When Vesta returned to his quarters, Asmur was already waiting.
“Thank you, Vesta.”
She knelt the moment she entered the tent.
Vesta was startled and helped her up.
“You needn’t kneel.”
“You saved my husband’s life.”
“He is my friend. It was only natural.”
Vesta spoke lightly, but Asmur could not accept his kindness as such.
—This was the Khan’s fiancé who risked her life.
After standing, Asmur bowed again.
“I am sorry. My laziness caused everything.”
She believed her decision to send Rahan outside had only made the situation worse.
“It was only the result that was bad. How is Rahan?”
“We stopped the bleeding and sutured the wounds.”
“Did the color return?”
She had some medical knowledge.
*She had seen every kind of injured person.*
For a warrior, emergency care was as important as fighting itself.
“Yes. The color has returned.”
If she had delayed stopping the bleeding, he might have lost the color of life while his leg died.
“Thank goodness.”
Fortunately, that disaster had been avoided.
*Now I just hope the nerves in the leg stay intact.*
That was not something Vesta could discuss.
“I will not forget the kindness that saved Rahan. When my husband recovers, I will come to greet you together.”
Asmur expressed polite gratitude and left.
“Tell Rahan…”
*—Heal quickly and come back for sword lessons.*
“…Yes. I will pass on the message.”
*
Asmur quietly closed the door.
The young man who had finished treatment lay on the bed.
Asmur’s eyes trembled at the helpless figure.
She stroked his forehead.
Cold sweat covered his skin. Rahan’s body gave silent groans.
“…Sister came, Rahan.”
Rahan answered in a choked voice.
“Asmur.”
“Yes. Sister is here.”
Rahan narrowed his eyes and reached out. Asmur took his hand and threaded their fingers together.
“I’m sorry.”
“……”
It was not Rahan’s fault. Even if it had been, Asmur would have taken responsibility.
“It’s not your fault.”
Asmur hesitated.
Should she scold him for not listening?
Should she say it wasn’t his fault?
“I’m sorry to Vesta too. To Arin-nim.”
“Rahan.”
“I’m a little scared.”
“Rahan.”
“Yes, Asmur.”
“Don’t worry. Nothing bad will happen.”
Rahan was shaking. He was afraid Vesta and Arin had been hurt badly, afraid they would hate him, and afraid for his own wounds.
“No matter what happens, Sister will be beside you.”
“I wanted to be as strong as Vesta.”
“Yes. You can be.”
Asmur pulled Rahan into her arms.
Rahan had felt his sister’s heartbeat every day. It was the same familiar rhythm.
He could finally relax, trusting in the comfort it gave him.
*—I’m finally home.*
Rahan’s tear-soaked eyelids closed.
Asmur held him to her chest. She stayed awake, watching him.
Asmur felt pain with every choked breath from Rahan’s lips.
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**END OF CHAPTER**