Sebastian left Falcon and sought Father Mattias again. It wasn’t difficult to find him; he was arguing with a small, balding man in rich clothes and an arrogant posture. Sebastian recognized the man as one of the governor’s agents, one who had given them grief over hospital operations in the past. That did not bode well for their attempts to convince the governor to warn the populace.

  “For the last time, Father, Sacarosa is perfectly safe. The general has assured the governor that the walls are holding and the ogres will be driven away tonight.” The governor’s agent looked at Father Mattias with disdain. “Are you certain your boy wasn’t sampling too much of the monastery’s wine?”

  “I am certain. He was quite sober, and his vision clear. Only those inside the hospital walls tonight can be guaranteed safety.” Father Mattias frowned at Sebastian’s approach and shook his head with an eye roll. They would get no help there.

  “Besides, how would a hospital of wounded and sick be a better defense than the city itself, fortified by the best knights and soldiers in the region?” The governor’s man rose in pitch. “Do you take the governor and I for fools?”

  “Of course not, Demas.” Father Mattias soothed as he laid a hand on the man’s back and led him away. “But one cannot argue with the harbingers of God.”

  “Fantasies and fairy tales is all.” The man grumbled as he allowed himself to be led away. “To suggest a few ascetic priests could scare off an army of ogres.”

  Sebastian changed directions before the governor’s agent could spot him. He was on his own to persuade as many as he could to seek refuge in the hospital, just as Falcon had predicted.

  ?§?§?§?§?

  In contrast to the anxious activity of the hospital, the streets of the city seemed much as they did for the last twenty odd days. People cautiously went about their business, to buy, sell, and get news before the strictly imposed curfew drove them back into their homes. To this point, the civilian casualties had been low, and Sebastian had been blessed to keep that number lower still by healing the ones who had been brought to the hospital.

  Sebastian stopped for a moment outside the doors of the hospital, watching the people pass. He would need to warn as many as possible, as quickly as possible. For that he would need help. One did not live their life in a city this size without learning who the most trusted, or simply loudest, voices were.

  He made his way to the market square, greeting and casually healing familiar townsfolk as he went. By the time he reached the stall he sought, he was already feeling the tug of weariness using his gift caused. The tantalizing smell of grilled meat, onions, and spices made his stomach growl in anticipation.

  “Father Alexander!” Idris el Salaam grabbed him enthusiastically by both shoulders and kissed the air on either side of Sebastian’s face. He released Sebastian abruptly, turned to retrieve two skewers of meat and vegetables from the grill, and offered them to the young priest. “For healing my Sophie.”

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  “Idris. You have thanked me enough. It was my privilege to heal your daughter.” Sebastian smiled at the man even as he took the offered kebabs. They had this same conversation every time Sebastian visited the market. “God has blessed me with this gift to share it with others.”

  “And did you ‘share it with others’ on your way over here, Father?” Idris grinned as he tended his grill again.

  “You know I did.” Sebastian laughed as another kebab was thrust at him. He sobered quickly as he spoke around a mouthful of herbed lamb. “I need you to do something for me. God gave me a vision. The ogres will take the city tonight and many will be killed. God has promised safety to any that take refuge in the hospital. Can you spread the word?”

  “You’re sure?” Idris looked at Sebastian only long enough to see he was very serious, then he looked past him at the walls rising above the edges of the city. “I thought we’d be able to hold out longer.”

  “Father Mattias spoke to one of the governor’s men. He’s convinced the city walls will stand, and they’re not doing anything.” Sebastian slid the last piece of meat into his mouth and disposed of the sticks. “We have to spread the news by word of mouth. The only guarantee of safety after dark is in the hospital.”

  “I’ll spread the news. If they won’t come at your word, they’ll come at mine.” Idris nodded resolutely.

  “I know. That’s what I’m counting on.” Sebastian grinned as he left for his next visit.

  By the time Sebastian had similar conversations with the town gossip, hostler, blacksmith, and taverner, the sun was creeping low over the horizon and the streets were buzzing with the same urgency the hospital had been. Sebastian started back toward the hospital. Once the battle began, he would be needed there to heal the defenders and to provide whatever support Falcon would need in the final moments of the battle.

  “You there, priest.” An unfamiliar voice roared at him.

  Sebastian turned to face a weathered old man with elaborate armor decorated with the seal of the city. A rather angry weathered old man.

  “Are you the one prophesying the fall of the city?” The man was close enough to Sebastian’s face to wet it with his spittle. “Your ‘prophesy’ has discouraged my men. They speak of abandoning the walls to defend the hospital alone. If the city falls, it falls on your shoulders and I could have you executed for treason.”

  “I’m not responsible for the vision God gave me, only for making sure those who need to be warned are.” Sebastian spoke softly and resisted the urge to wipe his face. “It might not be a bad idea for your men to fall back to the hospital. It will be the only defensible position in the city tonight.”

  The soldier grabbed Sebastian by the front of his cassock and lifted him to the tips of his toes. “They say you’re a healer as well as a mouthy seer.”

  Sebastian missed the question somewhere as he wondered why he was about to be assaulted for the second time today by an angry man with no respect for the cloth. This one he hadn’t even insulted. “I… yes?”

  “Well then, you can stand with my men to make sure they face the ogres without fear.” The angry soldier dragged Sebastian around and shoved him toward the walls.

  “I’ll heal who I can until the walls fall.” Sebastian straightened his robe and shrugged. “If you allow any who survive to fall back to the hospital when defense is futile.”

  “Worry about bolstering the confidence of my men, or you won’t be surviving to returning to the hospital.” The soldier shoved him again as the first cries of battle sounded outside the walls.

  Sebastian nodded grimly, deeply assured both that he had succeeded in assuring the hospital received reinforcements from the front lines and that the man behind him was less likely to survive the assault than he was.