Second chapter of my first ever manuscript. If you haven’t seen chapter one go read that first.

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Chapter 2

The next day we set off toward the city, Lauren decided it wasn’t worth the risk to stay in the forest. So, we all piled back onto the carts anyone who could walk was armed and told to walk alongside. Despite my protests I was forced to sit in the cart with the others I wanted to be out there to help if we got attacked but I wasn’t allowed.

It was a cold day the wind whipped against my body a searing pain seeping through my joints. My lungs stung as I sucked in the cool air, I clutched the blanket I’d been given around my body tight. The gashes on my arm had started to scab over through the night deep red cutting through my runes.

The cart was filled with people in various conditions wrapped in blankets and laid on makeshift beds all huddled together to keep warm. I had been assigned to the doctors cart so he could make sure I didn’t do anything dumb. He had left me alone to change my bandages while he went to help with the more injured of the group.

“Ripley, I told you to bandage that almost an hour ago.” Doctor Allen limped toward me hid satchel hanging to his side. His hair was a mess and he looked exhausted he shoved his hands in his pockets as he walked.

“I know, but it’s stopped bleeding, and it’ll heal on its own,” I whined, I didn’t see the point in wasting a bandage we were limited, and we didn’t know whether we would get more in Ilamont.

“Just because it’s stopped bleeding doesn’t mean you won’t get an infection,” He responded grabbing the bandages next to me he grabbed my arm and began to securely wrap them hiding all the cuts and bruises from battle. “You need to take care of yourself Ripley.”

“Thanks, I will,” I said as he got up to leave.

I leant back against the wall of the cart pulling my blanket back around me tightly. I closed my eyes taking a deep breath. My ribs ached as I stretched small fuzzy dots appeared in my vision.

Laurens started to speak directly behind me, “It might be a good idea to send someone out ahead to let them know we’ve got injured people.”

“Yeah, I’ll see if anyone will volunteer,” someone responded his voice deep and rough.

I turned around to look at them my shoulder pushing against the splintered wood. Lauren marched alongside a few other members of the guard she gripped the walking stick she had carved as she limped along. I didn’t know why she didn’t ride along with everyone else. She kept wincing as she walked her leg buckling at one point the man next to her catching her.

Laurens head was just below me, so I reached my arm out to poke her. She looked at me annoyed then shook her head, “What do you want Ripley?” She asked exasperatedly.

“Let me go, please,” I said leaning further over the cart to poke her again.

She shook her head, “I should have known that’s what you wanted.” She grabbed the guy who had just caught her by the shoulder, “What do you think Jace?”

The guy looked stressed and very tired. A sword swung from his hip mostly hidden by a long cloak as he marched alongside the caravan, “I would send Kat with them just in case.”

Lauren nodded waving Kat over and letting her know to get horses ready.

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A few hours later I was ahead of the carts, reins in my hand as hoofs beat the ground in a steady pattern. The wind swept through my hair forcing it out of my face. The cold bit at my skin and sent shivers up my spine.

 I tightly gripped the saddle with one hand looking over to Kat her pink hair blowing back behind her. I used my other hand to steady myself tapping my leg on the horse’s side.

We sped up into a full gallop, trees flew by the smell of grass and dirt filling my nose. Birds flew through the sky above us some swooping down near the horses. They grunted and huffed loudly at the birds as they ran.

We passed into a large open area of grass hills. Thousands of different colour flowers decorated the grassy expanse surrounding the city walls. A river wound its way between the hills and beneath the walls into the city the sun reflecting off the deep blue water.  

I slowed down as the city gate came into view people could be seen milling through the cobbled streets. The walls glistened in the sun every deep-rooted crack and hole on display from centuries of being battered by the elements. Guards wandered across the top of the walls weapons at their sides prepared for if an attack were to happen.

Two guards stood by the gate wearing light blue armour with steel plating. They had a large crest sewn into the front chest piece of the armour. The gold and silver threading crafting the image of a lion surrounded by thorns.

One of the guards stood speaking to a small woman who carried a basket of flowers. His conversation didn’t seem formal as they stood laughing like old friends. The woman handed him a flower as she left heading back into the city.

 The other guard a young blonde man came up to meet us as we approached. He held a spear in his right hand and his helmet in his left as he stopped in front of us. He smiled brightly to us small dimples appearing in his cheeks.

“How many of you are there just two?” He asked the other guard coming over to join him.

Kat shook her head, “unfortunately not our caravan was attacked we are hoping to seek refuge many of us were injured.”

“Bandits I assume?” The other guard butted in his voice deep and gruff. Kat just nodded silently, “I’m sorry to hear, let us know if there’s anything we can do.”

While they were talking, I sat watching the streets through the gate people ran around in the market the sun shining down on them. Workers sat around in the large, paved area eating and talking. Wind swept through the city rocking shop awnings and slamming windows. The merchant booths that line the streets swayed and groaned their owners rushing to secure their stock.

Dozens of loose papers glided out of the gate guided by the wind as they flew past the guards. A young girl followed not far behind gasping for breath as she tried to gather the papers that narrowly escaped her. I grabbed what I could using my horse to help me catch up to the papers that had flew away.

I returned the stack of crumpled papers to the girl jumping down off my horse to hand them to her. She thanked me quietly holding the pile to her chest the paper creasing where her fingers gripped it tightly. Then without another word she ran back into the gates back to wherever she came from.

Hooves pounded the ground behind me as the caravan appeared over the hill. The sight was intimidating nearly a hundred people spread across carts and on horseback coming down the hill. The few people who walked didn’t make it feel any more friendly as they marched fully armed toward the city.

Raine stood on the front cart waving down at me shouting something I couldn’t make out. I climbed up onto my horse riding up to the caravan to figure out what he was saying. It didn’t take long to realise he was just yelling for the sake of it. No one around him looked impressed as Raine made his best bird impression at the top of his lungs.

I waved to him as I made my way over to Lauren walking beside her as we approached the gate. I explained what I knew of the situation, but that Kat had been dealing with it. She thanked me for letting her know with a smile wincing as she took each step her knuckles going white as she gripped her walking stick. She was in a lot of pain and wasn’t planning on letting anyone know.

The horse slowed to a stop as I dismounted telling Lauren to get on. Despite her protests I wouldn’t take no for an answer since I knew she was in pain, and I used good first impressions as an excuse. She struggled having to use my shoulder to push herself up. I held the reins as we continued the walk now nearer the back of the caravan.

 We made our way into the city centre where many stalls were set up by merchants trying to shift their goods to anyone who may pass. They were selling everything from toys to weaponry to food and drink at the side of the road. The streets were filled with people with barely any room to get past, but they made room when they saw us. Many people looked on confused, children stood atop crates watching in awe as we made our way through the crowd, no one wanting to ask the question on everyone’s mind. 

 We stopped at the back of the marketplace shielded from the wind by the large concrete steps that lead into the higher areas of the city. A group set off to go grab supplies and find some more doctors leaving us to set up camp. 

Our carts were quickly unloaded as we threw down blankets and tarps, some locals even offering us a hand helping to put up tents. The horses were allowed to wander at will as we knew they wouldn’t run off and the guards seemed to be fine with it. We got as many of our injured as we could into the tents to rest as the other group joined us bringing doctors and supplies. 

When we had finished setting up tents I went and got food for the animals getting them out of the way for the doctors. I sat with the horses for the next hour or so brushing out their manes while the medics got to work helping our wounded. I watched as Kat and Raine ran across the camp helping to move supplies and changing people’s bandages.

As soon as things began to calm down Raine dipped sprinting towards me with a grin. He hid behind the horses laughing as we sat watching everyone else work the streets slowly becoming less crowded as people went home for the night. Kat didn’t stop running around until the last-minute throwing bundles of bandages to people as she made rounds of the camp.

Eventually the doctors left after checking over most of the caravan admitting the worst of them into their care. Mostly older warriors who had taken more life-threatening injuries as they tried to protect people.

 Raine and I went to find Kat who had collapsed against one of the carts gulping down water. She panted heavily her face red as she looked up at us, “Where were you two?” She asked.

I scratched the back of my neck nervously and Raine started to make excuses, “well you see the horses needed feeding and Ripley needed help.”

She just shook her head at us laughing, “I wish I’d thought of that I’m exhausted.”