The boy still looked very wary. "Wotcher want me for?"

By the time Juniper had came back into sight she had lost a lot of blood.  Still holding on to both horses as she got closer and spotted Wulfsen. She waved weakly and tried to force a smile.

"Hey handsome! Long time no see!"

Her voice was beginning to fade and it was clear that the wounds were not stopping. She slowed the horse down as it got to her rescuer and she began to slump over in her saddle.

In reply to Pickpocket Oscar (msg # 374):

"Because I know what it's like to live on the streets. Because...because I want to be...because I want a little one of my own to love." Sileas closed her eyes for a moment. "Because I want to make your life better."

Oscar gaped at the redhaired woman.

"Wotcher want a wee one for, then? And I'm not wee." Oscar drew himself as tall as a malnourished ten-year-old could be. "I'm bloody well big."

Then someone Oscar thought he'd never see again showed up, the tall elf. Hadn't she given him some warning about stealing? "Oh hell fire -" Oscar started to curse, but the elf slumped over, and Oscar could see blood on her. "Wot 'appened ter yer, then?"

Sileas was about to reply when Juniper showed up and then slumped over. "Juniper?!" Still holding the boy's hand, she hurried over to Juniper. "Someone attacked her! Papa!" Then she realized her father was no where near. Where was Wulfsen?  She rolled Juniper over on to her back.

_{"got attacked in the woods... killed some raiders...hurt bad..."}

Juniper was even paler that usual and fading out of consciousness. She slowly and meekly raised her hand to hold that of Sileas. The wound had stopped bleeding but was still red and raw

In reply to Wulfsen Thornblade (msg # 355):

Wulfsen lost track of his horse, and what was worse he could not find Yehudit either. He hoped Sileas would know where to find her. Wulfsen sighed and headed back.

In reply to Juniper Alva Sparks (msg # 379):

Questa looked at the wound. "Stuck 'er good. Too bad we didn't brin' the bloody healer instead of yor millstone."

"Difyr had enough to do without coming along. Surely they have a healer here, right? Could you go find them, Questa?" She tore off a sleeve and pressed it against the wound.

Questa knew there were healers and physicians in Portside but she always thought of them as for rich people and had never actually seen one.

"There's a barber not far from 'ere." Questa said, pointing at the pole.

Sileas paled. "A barber? No. Go find a healer. Tell them we need them in the name of the King." She hoped Wulfsen wouldn't mind a bit of name dropping.

Questa scoffed. "Yer've gotten spoiled gonna the healer for evry scrotch and splinter. A barber is just as right good. Besides, I don't know where an 'ealer is."

To Sileas, it looked like there was no time to waste. "Fine. Go get the barber then."

Questa took off, then returned a few minutes later with a clean shaven man wearing a blood stained apron. He had a razor and a jar of leeches.

Sileas paled and got to her feet, pulling the boy close against her. "Someone stabbed Juniper, I don't know who."

"I better get that bad blood out." The barber opened the jar and pulled out one of the leeches.

Sileas turned the boy so his face was against her and she held him close. She couldn't help but shudder, very grateful that Difyr only used the leeches in the worst of circumstances.

Oscar was finding what was going on fascinating and was actually staring, until the woman turned him away.

"Oi! Blimey! Wotcher doin', isit? I want ter see!" He pushed away from her.

Sileas wrinkled her nose but let him turn. "My apologies, I am used to sisters who don't like to see such things."

"I'm not a girl!" Oscar exclaimed.

"I know that, little one. I have to remember that boys like...yucky stuff."

"I do not! Right!" Oscar stepped away from the redhead.

"of course you don't think it's yucky, you like it," Sileas stated calmly. "Just make certain you don't get in the barber's way."

"I don't want ter get anywhere near that bleeder." Oscar said.

"Good. Our village healer only does bleeding as the absolute last resort. So that's another thing you won't have to worry about."