Louisa's POV
I frowned.
"Violent ecstasy? That's exactly what happened last night!" I exclaimed in a low voice.
It seemed Josephine's maid took this potion and created chaos in the camp last night.
But how did she do it and why? I thought to myself.
"Good morning, Miss."
"Shall we prepare some breakfast for you?"
I turned back and saw Mana and Mta standing behind me.
They looked so cute in their cloaks.
I lowered down and hugged them.
"Are you feeling better now?" I asked.
"Yes. We took a bath and we'll wash the linen for you," Mana said.
"You don't have to. But maybe you can make some toast and brew some tea. It's going to be a busy morning because lots of wounded soldiers will come here for treatment," I said.
"OK," they said. Then they quickly started to prepare breakfast.
I saw a very disoriented man wandering outside my tent.
"Biri, is that you?" I asked.
Biri was one of my seven personal guards. He was wearing a torn shirt and had some bruises on his face. His hair was a mess with straws.
It seemed that someone was going through a hangover.
"Ah, Miss Louisa! Great! I found you! Mick and Lynel sent me here. But I forgot which tent is yours. These tents all look the same," he said.
"Are you feeling alright? Can I bring you something to drink?"
"Drink? Oh, no, Miss Louisa. I get completely useless after a couple of drinks. That's why I only drink after midnight."
I picked up some straws from his hair.
"Were you in the stable last night, by any chance?" I asked.
"Yeah. I was supposed to keep an eye on that girl... You know, Josephine's maid. But then, Josephine came and we started to drink... and then I blanked out... And when Mick woke me up this morning, the girl was gone. Mick was angry at me and that's why he punched me in my face..."
"Josephine? But... Why did you drink with Josephine...?" I frowned.
Biri lowered his head and sighed, "I don't know, Miss Louisa. I was confused. I've always had a secret crush on Josephine. I know I shouldn't have agreed to drink with her, but she was wearing a tight skirt and I was like..."
"OK, OK. I understand. Can you help me to set up a table outside? Some soldiers will come for treatment. I also need two caldrons to brew more yarrow plants and sterilize bandages. Can you go to the canteen and get them for me?"
He nodded immediately and said, "Sure, Miss Louisa. I know where the canteen is. Again, I'm really sorry for what happened last night. I shouldn't have been such a dick... Urg, I mean... I'm a loser and I'm good at nothing... I have wanted to quit at least three times a day and I've been sober for a while, but last night, I still picked up that damn bottle... I really hate myself now!"
He covered his face and started to weep.
"Biri, it's not your fault," I held his hands and said. "It's a tough world and we all have our own battles to fight. A lot of people have drinking problems, but you've got brothers and friends. Talk to us when you're ready. Take your time. We'll be there for you."
Biri wiped off his tears and said in a trembling voice, "Thank you, Miss Louisa! I swear I'll do everything to change! I'm going to make myself useful now. I'll be back in a minute!"
He said and ran to the canteen.
Luring a guard with alcohol and sex? How desperate and manipulative you are, Josephine? Don't you know that you're ruining a poor man's life for your unspeakable evil agenda? I thought to myself.
At the same time, I was worried.
Somehow, I didn't think that I would ever see that maid again.
With one vital witness gone, I had to collect more evidence to prove Josephine was behind all this.
Then, I saw some soldiers trying to approach my tent.
"I'm sorry, Miss... Alex told us to come here for treatment..."
"Is this the right place? Because we're not supposed to get anywhere near Luna Tent..."
"Yes, this is the right place!" I said. "I'll set up a table and some chairs. Hold on for a second."
I turned back and saw Will dragging a table out.
"Will, when did you come back? I didn't see you," I looked at him in surprise.
"I flew over your head and you didn't see me!" Will hugged me and said.
Mana and Mata were walking behind him, holding chairs in their hands.
Some soldiers saw their faces and were shocked.
Some of them withdrew a few steps back and fell to the floor.
"Ahhhh! Monsters!"
"Walking tuna heads with legs!"
Mana and Mata pulled up the hoods of their cloaks and covered their heads with embarrassment.
They hid behind my legs with trembling legs.
"Are they going to throw stones at us, Miss?"
"We don't want to be made into tuna sandwiches."
"No, nobody is going to hurt you. They're just afraid," I lowered my head to comfort them.
Then, I looked up at the soldiers and said, "Guys, don't be afraid. These are Mana and Mata. They are fishermen druids and they're my friends. Please come forward and sit on the chairs. I will attend to your wounds one after another."
The soldiers looked at one another and eventually one of them slowly moved forward.
He was walking with a limp because there was an open wound on his left leg. The cut was deep and it was bleeding very badly.
Mana approached him and stretched out his arms towards him.
The soldier hesitated for a brief moment and took his webbed hands.
With Mana's support, he moved next to the table. Mata put a chair in front of him and he took his seat.
"Thank you, Mr. Fishheads." The soldier said and smiled at Mana and Mata.
He was in pain, but he was smiling.
Mana and Mata look flattered. They took a bow at the soldier nervously and looked up at me.
"He said thanks to us. And he called us misters."
"Does that mean that he doesn't want to eat us anymore?"
"We might need more chairs, guys," I smiled and said to them, pointing at more soldiers walking towards us.