[Deorlin]

Deorlin realized that Izrenna intended to stay awake all night. She had no trust in his ability to keep a watch, and he couldn't blame her. He had managed to sit up for a while and when she had changed the dressings on his wounds he had seen the extent of the havoc the wargs had wreaked. he willed himself to endure the pain, but he could do nothing to force the bleeding to stop on the deepest gash in his thigh. If he was to move in the morning, something needed to be done.

"Izrenna" he called out softly.

She looked up from where she sat, staring out into the darkness beyond the fire. She made no answer, but he could see that she knew he was about to propose something she wasn't going to like.

"Izrenna, whether we head west or south tomorrow, I can't ride for long if this gash in my leg continues to bleed. By noon I'd be dead."

She simply nodded her head in grim agreement.

"We must stop the bleeding somehow . . . we must cauterize the wound."

He caught the momentary shudder of revulsion that swept across her face, but again she merely nodded her agreement to the grisly task ahead. This woman was made of much sterner stuff than he would ever have guessed, Deorlin mused to himself. Regardless of her size, for now he was quite thankful that she had come on this hunt.

"Take my knife from my belt. I think the blade should be long enough. Stick it in the fire . . ."

"I know what to do." Izrenna said quietly, already at his side and reaching for the knife. She laid it on a stone, pushing it blade end into the hottest part of the flame it would reach. She then felt around and found a stout piece of kindling the width of a man's finger. "Here, you'll want this." She offered the stick to Deorlin, who let a puzzled look crease his features.

"To hold between your teeth." Izrenna explained.

"Oh, hmmm . . . yes." Deorlin muttered. "Thanks."

They waited with no further conversation ubtil the blade glowed in the heat. Izrenna bent forward and blew at the flames to increase the heat as much as possible. Finally, she turned to Deorlin and said, "I think that's the best we can get it. I hope it's enough. Are you ready?"

"Whenever you are, " he managed to get out through. He gripped the stick between his teeth and clenched his fists. Swiftly, She pulled the knife from the fire, the handle so hot it was burning into the flesh of her hand. But stoically she held it to his thigh, the flat reaching just from end to end of the ugly wound. Deorlin heard the sizzle of his own flesh and smelled the pungent odor, and then quickly passed out.

Izrenna turned her face away, but held steadliy to the knife until she could feel the heat finally give way to mere warmth. She lifted the blade clear of the wound nad placed it back in the fire to cleanse it. Not wanting to, but knowing she must, she examined the wound closely. The edges seemed to have sealed themselves, the exposed flesh now blackened with the cauterization. It looked very clean, and for now, there was no seeping or bleeding. Morning would tell better if the trick had really worked.