Andrew listened to Revna and Brother Osric debate the need for healing wounds. Wounds were opening for the demonic influences to get into your blood and to your heart and mind. That was one of the things he had learned in the healing class he attended. Tying knots in bandages was the other thing. He placed bowls near them and tried not to interrupt the casting. 
  
Andrew smiled in appreciation to Sage. She was right. He was tired. He had spent to much time thinking and the demonic influences whispered in the back of his mind. The only defense he knew was to maintain his discipline and perform the rituals that he had come to know.   
"There are prayers to be offered, dishes to be washed, and a ward yet to be set for the night, Mother willing," he added as he replied to Sage. 

Katrina was still on edge. She did not seem to want to eat. Andrew would eat a second bowl, wasting food out here would be almost criminal. His magic would take some energy to cast. 

Alone his ward would keep the food from spoiling and the water from going foul. It should also keep the horses near them. 

As he started to cleanup, Andrew watched some ants scurrying to scraps that had fallen to the earth. Ants, spiders, flies, and beetles seemed to thrive in this barren waste. 

"At least they were not hornets," Andrew thought as started to wipe the pot and bowls with a cloth. There was a ritual he could have used to clean up. But the ants deserved to eat too. 

In the corner of his eye, he thought he saw a slight reflection. Quick then disappearing.