I heard mutters go through the tent, did I ask something wrong?
‘No, dearly, those are the rules here,’ Another man answered with a friendly expression on his face. I nodded and Azriel directed me to take a seat away from the table.
The men discussed for a long, they were talking about strategy and the reason why the dark wolves’ attack was massive this time. They were caught off guard. I was bored and I silently went outside, sympathy welled in me again as I walked around the camp. I followed a path down until I saw a huge tent that had a red plus sign, that must be where they take the sick on this part of camp. It was open so I entered, injured men were sleeping on tiny beds, and others were on the floor as they didn’t have enough space.
‘Can I help?’ I asked two doctors who were attending to the soldiers.
‘Yes, we could use an extra set of hands. I’m Chad and that’s Cain,’
He handed me a large box with supplies in it.
I went to one of the soldiers on the floor and crouched down, his wound looked deep.
‘Where are the other doctors?’ I asked as I helped clean a man’s wounds. The two men frowned and shook their heads.
‘Honestly lady, this part is for the forsaken soldiers, the generals would rather support those with a fighting chance,’ he said. I noticed most of them here were severely injured, others looked to have a bad fever only. My heart felt heavy. These people are monsters! Discarding their men like that.
I helped out as much as I could, and I went to check out where they slept. The dorms were dirty with bunkbeds and little medications.
‘These living conditions are terrible,’ I said.
‘This side is, the other camps are so much better, some generals pocket the money the palace send,’ Chad said, frowning. He was a tall nerdy cute young man in his late twenties and looked knowledgeable.
‘But why?’ I asked, sitting next to him.
‘Because they think these soldiers have no hope, most of them can’t properly fight because of their diseases, infections, or injuries,’ Cain said. He gave me a bowl of soup but I shook my head, I wasn’t too hungry yet so someone else could have it.
‘What is a young woman like you doing in camps?’ Cain asked.
‘I’m here with a friend of mine,’ They shared a glance before looking at me.
‘Then that friend of yours must have power because no woman is allowed to step foot in camps,’
‘And why is that?’
‘That’s how it has always been,’
‘But they can train, right?’ I asked.
‘It’s a choice, nothing major,’ What century were they living in? Despite their latest brands of technology, their mind is still in the 20th century.
‘Well, I think it’s paramount for women to train, and if I were king, I’d make it law that every woman should train and is allowed to join the forces,’ I said confidently and they smiled at me. The campsite was quiet at night, and it was getting colder. A few blankets were distributed around and the men were going back to the large room they slept in leaving me with Cain and Chad.
‘have you been working here for long?’ I asked.
‘Our shifts here started three years ago,’ Chad said.
‘So, doctors come when you are away?’
‘yes, I can’t imagine not seeing my family,’ Cain said.
An hour later, a man came to escort me back to the main camp where Azriel was.
‘Alright, I’ll see you next time,’ I waved at the men in the tent. They were doing better than before. They thanked me for my hard work today. I smiled at Cain and Chad,
‘I should go, I hope to see you again,’ I said. They nodded and thanked me too. I left, following the man back to Azriel. He was just concluding with some generals outside. I stood at a distance from them. A man who smiled at me earlier appd me;
‘Good evening, young lady, have you looked around the camp?’ he asked gently. I nodded.
‘Yes, but I think area E is lacking in supplies,’ I told him, pointing. The old man only frowned and shook his head,
‘We shall do something about it soon,’ he said but I didn’t believe him, however, I nodded. He excused himself and went away just as Azriel came to me.
‘Let’s go,’ he said.
We went to the car with him leading me. I entered the car and checked my phone. I found missed calls from Wyatt, he has been busy with the seminar but remembered to call. I felt terrible for missing his calls. I immediately called him back,
‘Adira, where are you?’ Wyatt didn’t sound happy at all. I frowned and bit my lower lips, I didn’t know what to say to him.
‘um, I’m with Azriel at one of the borders,’ I said quietly. Silence. I could hear his heartbeat.
‘Wyatt, I was just home and I wanted-‘
‘I told you to not associate with my brother, Adira,’ he growled. ‘ Couldn’t you just listen to me? I know that bastard, he’ll start-‘ He didn’t finish his sentence when he growled loudly, making me flinch. He ended the call before I can say a word.
Azriel was leaning against the car door, smoking a cigarette. I’m sure he heard my conversation with Wyatt and was waiting for me to finish. He threw away his cigar and entered the car.
