"Does Veyrhold send patrols along this route?" he asked.
"Yes," Liora said. "But not constantly. The ash tide shifted last night. They may not come until evening."
"Evening is not helpful."
The scraping grew louder.
Rohan moved quickly. He tore loose two long strips of cloth from the spilled bundles, then wrapped one tightly around Bryan's side to slow the bleeding. The man groaned but did not wake. Rohan used the second strip to bind his broken arm against his chest as best he could.
It was ugly work.
He was not a doctor. His understanding of first aid came mostly from school, common sense, and the unpleasant amount of injuries he had already seen since awakening. But bleeding less was better than bleeding more, and immobilised was better than flopping around while being dragged.
"Liora," he said. "Can these things track blood?"
"Yes."
"Scent?"
"Yes."
"Vibration?"
"In ash, yes."
Rohan stared at the ground.
The basin was full of ash.
"Naturally."
