Muffled Drum by Erastes Read Free Book Online Page A

the street, the noise of horses and gun carriages could be clearly heard.
    “I’m no longer under your command, von Ratzlaff, if you’ll pardon the lack of respect.” Mathias reached for the sponge, dipped it into the spirit-diluted water and applied it to his arm, wincing as he did so. “I’m in no hurry, and there’s no need at all for you to delay your journey if you think I’ll slow you down.”
    Rudolph chuckled, making Mathias look up at the familiar sound. Rudolph was looking down at him with a glance of faint amusement, his moustaches twitching in a delightful way. “Just as well you aren’t, you cheeky bugger,” he said. “For I’d thrash you myself for taking such risks to yourself.” He sat beside Mathias and took the sponge away, after a brief tussle which ended when Rudolph gave Mathias the full weight of his steely glare, the one Mathias always obeyed, no matter what.
    I wish emotions could be turned on and off like a pump, he thought helplessly, closing his eyes as Rudolph, with surprising gentleness, swabbed at his wounds. I wish I could fall from my horse and forget him the way he’s forgotten me. The pain to his side was considerable, and the water was red before Rudolph was halfway finished.
    Goertz arrived just as Rudolph was asking for the third pot of water.
    “What did you find?” Rudolph asked.
    “He had some catgut hidden away,” Goertz grumbled. “Parted with it eventually, although it cost as much as several of your wife’s cats, I’m sure.”
    “What do you need?”
    “Nothing, just some room to work and a flame for the needle. Herr Hofmann, sir, this is going to hurt like buggery, so if you want something in your mouth, then say now.”
    Mathias shook his head. “Just schnaps. ”
    “Good man,” Rudolph said encouragingly.
    “You’ll need to hold his arm still, sir,” Goertz said to Rudolph. “It’s a nasty one, and deep. I want to get it right the first time.”
    Mathias took as large a draft of the schnaps as he could, then gritted his teeth. He nodded to Rudolph, who took hold of his hand and wrist and held them down with all his weight. For a few blissful seconds, Mathias enjoyed the feel of Rudolph’s hands on his bare flesh, then all the pleasure was razed in a white-hot fire of pain as Goertz’s needle sliced into the flesh of his upper arm and dragged the edges of the cut together. Mathias hissed through his teeth, saliva spitting from his mouth as he fought against his reaction to the pain.
    He looked up and caught Rudolph’s eyes and found them bright and every bit as full of life as ever he’d seen them, concern etched on every line of his handsome face. By the time Goertz finished with his arm, all three of them were sweating, and Mathias felt as if he’d been in an hour’s duel with a deadly opponent.
    “I think your side will do as it is, sir,” Goertz said, after he’d bandaged Mathias’s arm and examined the cut on his torso. “It’s nowhere near as deep and it’s not bleeding much now. We can keep an eye on it. Happen both of them will need maggoting before the week is out.”
    Rudolph gave a hollow chuckle. “Well, at least that’s one commodity we won’t have difficulty finding. Bandage him up, Goertz. Well done, Hofmann. I think you can finish that bottle, you’ve earned it. Although I doubt we’ll see more of it here.” He walked to the door and Mathias tried to struggle to his feet, only to be forcibly pushed back into his seat by Goertz.
    “You stay put. You’ve done enough damage,” the batman said in an undertone, quiet enough to make sure Rudolph didn’t hear.
    Mathias was so shocked by Goertz’s words that he only managed to call out, as Rudolph pulled the door open. “You shouldn’t go out alone.”
    “You do as you’re told,” Rudolph said, and left without saying anything further, leaving Mathias to stew and worry as Goertz finished with the bandaging.
     
    Rudolph leaned against a rickety fence and let