42 "Sir," one of the fighting people explained, "we were sent to look for you. We feared you were dead. Gray Boar has taken charge and wishes your counsel, as soon as you are able."
43 Bold Fox saw some Giants nearby, and called them over. They quickly lifted the burden from his lap, and one of the men helped Bold Fox up. Seeing the bandage on his hand and the blood on his face he got clean water and rags and washed them. "Your hand is very bad," he announced, rewrapping it gently with clean bandages, "and you're losing blood. We'd better get you a Healer."
44 The two men picked him up and carried him to where the Healers had sat up their tents. There, a young Healer was sorting out the wounded as they came in, sending the less injured to one side to wait, and the serious ones into the Healer's tents, as quickly as they could. He examined Bold Fox's hand, then sent him to the serious side, where a young Healer tended him, until he was carried into a Surgeon's tent.
45 The older Healer looked in the note that the younger man had written, then unwrapped the hand. "He's right," he said, "the fingers are already black. Sir, I'm sorry, I can't save your hand. To save your life I will have to remove it."
46 "I think I knew," Bold Fox told him. The Healer put a vial to his lips.
47 "You're going to sleep now," he explained, "when you wake up you'll feel alot better." Bold Fox closed his eyes and drifted off. When he awoke, Gray Boar was sitting by his bed. A young woman in battle dress was on the other side.
48 "Well, it's about time!" cried Gray Boar. "I thought you were going to sleep forever! I need some help with this army! Winning a victory isn't half as easy as dealing with what comes after!"
49 "What are our casualties?" asked Bold Fox.
50 "About nine-hundred-and-twenty," Gray Boar told him. "But it will probably rise. We have some very serious wounded. But I don't think it will go over one-thousand. That counts the Giants, too."
51 "You're going to have to keep command," ordered Bold Fox. "I'm in no condition to carry on., and I have a promise to keep." He explained his mission for Strong Wall.
52 "Well, of course I can't keep you," Gray Boar told him, "not from something like that. The Giants are already preparing their dead, and I have given them leave to depart. We have again taken The Valley of Shadows, but the enemy holds us at his earthworks on the far side. I await word from The Old Fox now, on what we are to do; fight, or merely ransom back their prisoners.
53 As soon as the Healers say you're well enough to depart, you may go. But in the meantime, will you assist me with these things that must be done? We must choose who will get promotions to replace those wo are lost, we must decide who will get rewards, and there is the awarding of Rings."
54 "Of course," Bold Fox told him, "there is also the writing of Letters. Each group leader is usually responsible for this, but we will have to do it for those who were lost."
55 "The most unpleasant part of our duties," complained Gray Boar, "but for the honor of those that we fight with, it must be done. And there is another problem. During the battle, one of our men ran away. They are searching for him now. If we find him, he will have to be dealt with."
56 "We are fortunate," said Bold Fox, "that there was only one! Our people did well!"
57 "Well, indeed!" Gray Boar told him.
58 So the days passed quickly and Bold Fox was kept too busy to think about his pain. With the young woman's help who was left to tend him, he must have written over two-hundred letters! When he was strong enough to stand, he presented nearly one-thousand Red Rings. And to those who were the bravest in battle they decided to award a Gold Fringe to wear around the collars of their tunics. To the rest who had fought in the battle, they gave a Silver Fringe.
59 The deserter was found trying to steal food from a caravan coming north with supplies, and was brouht back to the camp. Gray Boar detested the trial, so out of sympathy Bold Fox took the burden from him. He chose ten other Warlocks to hear the case, and they drew lots to see who would be presenter. One of the other Warlocks won, so Bold Fox became head Judge, and they listened to the testimony. It was not good. Many had seen the man bolt from his ranks and run soon after the Giants had joined the battle. He had been in the rear ranks and had not yet even touched the fighting before he ran!
60 The man was asked to speak in his defense, but would only answer, "Sirs, what can I say? The verdict was decided against me before I ever entered this tent. What can I say that would change that verdict? What can I do that would undo what I have done? There is nothing, Lord, but for you to pronounce sentence."
61 "In that case," said Bold Fox, "let us withdraw and make our decision."
62 It did not take them long to decide. The Warlocks returned. Gray Boar took his place and opened the Book of The Law to the Military section. The Warlocks on either side of him rose, put a black cloak over him, and covered his head with its hood.
63 "In fair hearing, with good witness," Bold Fox read, "you have been found guilty of desertion before the enemy. That you did willfully and without good cause, flee and leave your brethren while they were under enemy attack. Therefore, according to The Law, with the coming of light tomorrow, you will be taken from the camp to a place of execution, and before the assembled troops, your head shall be severed from your body, your body burned, and your ashes scattered to the wind.
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