A Doctor Without Borders [Healer | Slow-Burn | Medical Fantasy]

Just a note: the title of this chapter is a bit of a retcon. I changed the title of this character to better align with some of the other titles among the Volki. Nothing about his role has changed—he is still the right hand of the Alfa.

Separately, not related to this chapter, I also downgraded the degree of Daniel's life-debt. It is now a substantial debt, but with a less permanent feel. I had been going back and forth on this for a long time. The loss of agency caused quite a bit of consternation among some readers. I had only been using it as a plot mechanism to keep him at the mine, and it was always going to be wiped away by the Sæmdarskati's actions. This felt like a reasonable change that, in practice, has no impact on the story.

Also, the change doesn't remove life-debts or indentured servitude from the world; this type of debt simply doesn't apply to Daniel.

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The Tenevozh looked over the last of the reports. He resisted the urge to toss the parchment to the floor. He understood the importance of information. It meant life or death, whether on fields of battle or the shadowy contests of the Pack Lords. It didn't make the facts any easier to swallow.

He lifted his head from the parchment and examined the three men standing at attention before him. They ranged in size and skill, but he never doubted their loyalty. He had fought by their sides as lowly Molodvolk, then as battle-hardened Boyevolk, and finally among the ranks of the elite of the Krovozub. Together, they had carved their way through man and monster in countless battles, all in the name of their Alfa. All had proven themselves worthy of a second wife, and if this expedition went well, they would find a few more bodies sharing their furs. Of course, the expedition had to succeed, and those odds were diminishing with each passing week.

"Our Aether production has declined again."

"Yes, sir," replied his subordinate in charge of overseeing the mining crews.

The Tenevozh stared at the giant of a Volk long enough for things to become awkward. His subordinate didn't back down. If anything, he bristled at the provocation. Good. He didn't need a head of mining ready to abase himself, even with how poorly things were going. It proved he had the spine to keep the fights for dominance in check. Still, attitude only took you so far.

"More fights?"

"No, sir." The Tenevozh motioned for his subordinate to continue. "I've been keeping the fights to a minimum. The problem is illness. It's on the rise."

"Is it just our group?"

"No, sir. The Ættir also have shown signs of illness. Only the Oresiani are spared."

The Tenevozh ground his teeth. The Oresiani had warned them of the risks for those without the proper skills. Their Pack had some with the necessary professions, but Volki had always prized battle and its spoils over all else. An expedition of this magnitude required more skilled craftsmen than they could muster, but they couldn't risk sharing the rewards with other packs. They made do with the men at hand. Fighting in the depths of a mine instead of the forests and farmland was a sacrifice for the good of the pack, especially with the riches at stake. And the riches had come.

The first strike had exceeded all expectations, and the second one topped even that. The Tenevozh had reviewed the ledgers. They had already brought in enough Aether to buy a small army. By all accounts, the expedition had been a success, but the Alfa had never played it safe. He had grand dreams, ones that the Tenevozh supported, and he would help make them a reality. However, nothing in life came without blood and sweat.

The mining would continue, despite delving deeper into cave structures to find veins and fighting ever-deadlier monsters. Continuing operations required shunting more of their hard-earned Aether and harvested resources into potions and equipment. It had been manageable until his [Miners] started getting sick at an increasing rate. Potions did little, leaving his already taxed [Healers] to carry an increasing burden. It was times like this when he almost wished more female Volki had Potentials that made them capable of more than being a bed warmer—almost.

His instinct pushed him to suspect sabotage. In the right situation, the Oresiani could be as ruthless as any Volk, but they had no incentive to hamper the expedition. They benefited from it more than anyone except the Alfa himself. They wouldn't jeopardize the third of the riches they would bring home. Besides, the green bastards had sworn an oath to serve the expedition, and their honor wouldn't allow open subversion. Still, he didn't maintain this position without double-checking his assumptions. "And it is just the [Miners]?"

His subordinates in charge of the guard and the hunt both nodded. Then, his head of the guard added, "All the guards have reported for duty. I have heard more complaints than usual, but we have also put down far more threats recently. With our [Healers] strained, more of the guards are fighting with lingering injuries. I expect more complaints. However, what I haven't seen is persistent coughing. Some occurs after the Fel Wind, but it never stops them from doing their job."

"So, it seems to be something related to the mine. Have the [Healers] come up with a reason?"

His head of mining answered, "They blame unnatural Aether in the mines, but I think they're baffled."

The Tenevozh growled. "Unacceptable. Pass along my displeasure to the [Healers]."

"As you wish, sir. I will emphasize the urgency of figuring this out."

"Good." The Tenevozh then addressed the only man who hadn't yet spoken. "And the Oresiani seem unaffected?"

The Pack's Tenkogot shook his head. "No, sir. My men still struggle to infiltrate their worksite, but they've heard and seen enough. They, too, succumb to this illness, though at much lower numbers and severity."

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The Tenevozh eyed the Tenkogot. Of all the men here, he was the one he had to watch the closest. He had proven himself quite adept at uncovering the secrets of other Packs, and he had the skills and the Potentials for more. The Tenevozh had fought beside each of these men, and if he had to choose just one man in this room to be by his side to hold back a monster wave, it would be the Pack's Tenkogot. The man moved with a grace and speed that rivaled his own, and he had seen those ebony fingernails project blades sharp enough to decapitate a Volk in a single swipe. However, life was rarely so simple.

Their current situation was not a last stand. Their fates weren't tied. The Alfa commanded his Tenkogot's loyalty, but loyalty to an Alfa did not always extend to whoever issued direct orders, especially when that Volk coveted his superior's position. In the right situation, a few misleading statements could leave the Tenevozh facing dangerous questions. And the Alfa did not forgive. He extracted his due in flesh and blood.

"Find out more about how the Oresiani fare, and make sure there isn't more than their classes' skills that provide their resistance."

"Yes, sir. But the Quartermaster—"

"I'll deal with the woman. She knows the stakes and…whose furs she's warmed to get her seat." That earned a few smirks. Let them savor the rumors. True or not, it suited him perfectly if the men saw the Oresian leader as just another of the Alfa's indulgences. "Just make sure there are no 'accidents.'"

"There won't be, sir."

The Tenevozh's eyes bore into the man. He would watch him, but so far, nothing he said went against expectations. "Is there anything else before we adjourn?"

This time, when his guard captain spoke, his subordinate showed an unexpected level of deference. He put his notes aside.

Just what problem am I going to have to deal with now?

He waved the man to continue.

"Sir, there was one oddity. I wouldn't normally bring it up, but with the Alfa returning soon, I wanted to make you aware of any possible political ramifications."

The Tenevozh quelled a frown. "Speak."

"While the fights for dominance have diminished from their peak after the Alfa's departure, they have not stopped."

"As expected. There will always be reordering. The young need to prove themselves." The Tenevozh's eyes narrowed. "Just make sure it doesn't interfere with our goal."

"Of course, sir. I have made that clear," his captain cracked his knuckles, "in a variety of different ways. However," he hesitated, "when talking with our [Healers], I found out one of our molodvolk with injuries not typical of a fight for dominance."

"What makes you say that?"

"It was the type of injuries, sir. They were extreme, far more than a typical fight for dominance, but more importantly, he had not a single slash on his body. One of our own would have left marks with wounds that severe. I questioned the [Healer], and he too found it strange. He could only speculate because a potion had healed much of his injuries. Still, even he agreed the wounds looked like those from a club or a fist."

The Tenevozh's carefully maintained mask slipped. "Are you implying that one of the molodvolki strayed into one of the other camps and tried to make a claim?"

The pressure in the room multiplied. The Volk swallowed, but he didn't let his gaze shift toward the floor. "No, sir. I found no evidence of that, and I checked thoroughly."

"You had assured that this was resolved. To hear otherwise…"

"It has been dealt with. There will be no more incidents like the one with the young Oresiani [Server]." The Tenevozh's eyes took on a dangerous glint, and his subordinate hurried to add, "No incidents at all, sir."

The Tenevozh allowed some of the tension in his body and the room to dissipate. He may now have one more thing to check on, but the odds of a brewing mess were low.

They had too many molodvolki on this expedition. They had not learned to temper their desires. However, forced to suppress their urges for some time, even the more hardened boyevolki could act like young bloods with females around. He couldn't afford an even worse working relationship with the Oresiani. If one of the Volki was found trying to claim an Oresian again… Well, a beating to the edge of death would be the best outcome. Thankfully, none had been stupid enough to go after the only female Ættar in camp worthy of attention. He didn't need the disaster that idiocy would cause. Half-breed or not, the Ættir wouldn't stand for any harm to their [Healers]—not that she needed any help to turn a low-level Volk into a mass of rotting, necrotic flesh.

"Good." Still, he held his subordinate's skill in some regard and wouldn't dismiss his concerns. "Do you have any theories?"

The captain's nostrils flared. "I have no explanations that satisfy me. An Ættar or Oresian could have caused it, but I've confirmed none of ours wandered where they shouldn't. Without a provocation, neither faction would take this action."

"What did the grunt say?"

"Little." He growled. "He was tight-lipped even when I applied some pressure."

"Then not a monster."

"Exactly, sir. He wouldn't be so reluctant to talk if it were a monster attack. Also, we haven't had any breaches of monsters that could inflict his kind of injuries."

The Tenevozh steepled his clawed fingers. There was one other possibility. A Human once again resided in the camp—or at least, he had. "How long ago was it?"

"A bit, sir."

"A Human had unexpectedly joined our camp. I know for a fact that he was Tier I and tasked to the mine. He should be dead, but he may have managed to survive."

"That could work, sir. The fool's weak, but even at his tier, most Humans would be below his power. He likely saw a perfect opportunity. While I can't see a Human defeating a Volk, he may have found an ally. An Oresian would be my guess. No Volk would, and an Ættar…"

The entire group chuckled. The idea of an Ættar lowering himself to ally with a Human was laughable—even offensive to many greenskins.

The Tenevozh gave his subordinate an appraising look. "I don't see a fault in your logic. I did leave the Human with the Quartermaster. She is ruthless, but not cruel. She would have placed the Human with one of her own. How bad were his injuries?"

"They were severe, sir. The [Healer] said he'd make a full recovery, but only because someone used an entire healing potion."

"And yet, I didn't hear anything from the Oresian contingent. Whoever did this was clearly sending a message to the grunt. Do you think the fool acted on his own?"

"It's hard to tell. He may have had followers. I could dig into this more..."

The Alfa's presence had quelled the worst of his people's instincts, but the longer he remained away, the more those instincts returned. His captain, aided by the Tenkogot, had reminded those who succumbed to their desires of the price of weakness, but the tendency remained.

"Will it affect his work?"

"No, sir. The [Healer] expected him to return to work in around the same time frame as those injured in clashes over dominance."

"Unless an escalation occurs, I consider this matter closed. One way or another, a point was made. However, make it crystal clear about keeping their fight internal. The Alfa does not need another incident."

"Yes, sir."

"And, use this to crack the whip on all of the [Miners]. If they have enough energy left to fight, they should be working harder for the pack."

"Word will get out why, and that grunt will be despised."

"I do not care what happens to a lowly grunt. Production must be up before the Alfa returns."