The following day Penelope spent most of her time with Mia and Tomas. The three walked around the camp this time rather than staying in a tent as they discussed different topics. Penelope didn't say much as Tomas and Mia spoke about the last two battles and how the camp was doing in managing their supplies. Though they had retrieved most of what they had lost, the baroness clearly didn't want the knights to abuse it before they were able to get more from the king.
"Penelope, that meeting you spoke of between some herbalist and one of our physicians, they're still occuring right?" Mia asked suddenly, looking over her shoulder at her.
She nodded her head. "Yes. They're not too often though.. The next meeting is actually taking place tomorrow and that'll only be the second one."
"I see.." Mia mused thoughtfully. "While I'm glad this will keep us prepared and help the villagers of Myrefall, I do have one concern." The baroness stopped and turned to face her two lieutenants. "Jane spoke of giving this herbalist some herbs to use.. I worry that when they do find the cure, the herbalist might expect us to supply her with enough of said herbs to cure the villagers."
Penelope blinked at Mia's words and shook her head. "I doubt that. The herbalist is an independent person who I'm sure will do just fine on her own once they've discovered the cure." The knight doubted Hazel would openly ask for more of their herb supply from Jane once the cure was discovered. If anything, the herbalist would likely recruit the thieves to steal it from the camp if she couldn't already find the herbs on her own. However, Penelope couldn't help but wish the physician would just give her the herbs at the end of it all. She was certain the knights could spare a majority of them since most of their issues dealt with battle wounds rather than actual illness. Besides, they could always request for additional medicine from the king. Unfortunately, she doubted neither Jane nor Mia would see any reason in that.
"I hope you're right." Mia said after a small pause. "I don't mind helping but we can't afford to simply give away our supplies."
"It'll likely take them a while to even figure the cure out completely." Tomas pointed out with a reassuring smile. "And Jane is a smart woman who I'm sure wouldn't put us at any disadvantage when it comes to her medicine."
Mia looked over at him and nodded her head in agreement before turning and beginning to walk on. Penelope followed a couple steps behind the other two as Mia continued to lead them around the camp, quietly looking around at the activity that was going on inside it. They eventually slowed as they heard a thump and crash ahead of them. The three exchanged worried looks and picked up their pace to see what had happened. Rounding the corner, their gazes fell upon Bran, who was now on the ground with a rack of weapons now on the ground besides him. A couple of other knights stood by, exchanging looks of uncertainty.
"Bran?" Tomas blinked and moved over to lift the rack back up while Mia and Penelope moved to help up the captain.
"What happened?" Penelope asked.
"The s'upid hing got n 'm way!" Slurred the drunk noble.
Mia wrinkled her nose up. "Gods how much have you drank?"
"Jus' one."
"One whole barrel maybe." Mia snorted disapprovingly as she slung one of his arms around her shoulder. She eyed Bran for a moment and then let out a small sigh. "I was hoping you would manage yourself a little better than this Bran.."
Bran looked over at Mia for a moment, seeming to process her words. He curled his lip up in an angry snarl then suddenly hung his head tiredly. "'crew you." He breathed wearily. "I 'as tryin' to write to my wife so she d'know 'r boy's dead.. Though a ouple drinks would ake the edge off."
Mia shifted her gaze away from him and motioned to Tomas to take her spot. The older lieutenant nodded his head and quickly moved over to replace her at Bran's side. "You better go rest now. Tomas, help him back to his tent please." Mia said before motioning for Penelope to come with her. Penelope hesitated, feeling bad for leaving the grieving man alone even if Tomas would be helping him. For a moment, she considered getting Gavin, knowing that he was a family friend who'd likely be able to help Bran better than her or the others. However, as Tomas waved her off, she obeyed and gave a small nod before stepping away to follow Mia.
"I was afraid he'd end up like that." Mia sighed once they were out of earshot of the two.
"He lost his son. It's going to take more than just a week or two to get over." Penelope told her with a small frown at her baroness.
"It's war. We all lose people out here.. But we have to keep focused otherwise we'll lose this war and those deaths will mean nothing." Mia shook her head.
"There's nothing wrong with grieving.. Could you honestly say that you'd be fine if you lost your sister? Or even Tomas?" Penelope challenged, a bit surprised by Mia's cold nature.
"I wouldn't be fine but I wouldn't let it interrupt my duties." Mia said sternly as she looked over at Penelope. Seeming to realize they wouldn't see eye to eye, the baroness gave a dismissive wave of her hand. "Anyways, it might be time to have someone take over his duties for a while. At least until he can manage himself again.. I'd like you to come up with at least three candidates and hopefully we'll find someone out of those three that the barons will agree on."
"Yes ma'am."
---
The two eventually parted ways and before long night had fallen. Penelope headed to her tent, feeling a bit nervous about the coming day. The meeting with Hazel was tomorrow, which meant it would be time to find out if the herbs Jane had given her were working for Crow. The knight held onto hope that the herbalist would meet them with good news. If the herbs had done nothing to help him, Penelope wasn't sure what would come next between their meetings. She let out a troubled sigh at the thought and closed her eyes tightly, eventually drifting off into a light sleep.
