Kevin watched the golden light fade from Ethan's eyes, rubbed his own in confusion, and asked,
"Teacher… what was that just now?"
Ethan shook his head.
"I don't know how long I was unconscious."
Seeing that Ethan did not want to elaborate, Kevin cooperated and changed the subject.
"About the time it takes to eat a meal.
I saw a pillar of light rise over here, so I rushed over.
Then I found Eddie and his scouts, along with Lord Robb's guards, surrounding you."
Ethan recalled for a moment, then asked,
"Before I fainted I seemed to be treating someone with a severed arm.
Has he recovered?"
Kevin nodded.
"Yes, he has.
Not only him—everyone injured within several dozen meters has recovered, including the Lannisters.
But Lord Robb's guards later killed them all again."
Ethan looked around and saw only Kevin's squad, so he asked,
"Then why don't I see them?"
Kevin explained,
"They told me to stay here with some men to watch over you while they continued hunting down the remaining enemies.
Lord Robb also said to let you rest well and that he would invite you to see him after this busy period."
At that moment the distant sound of bugles signaling the return to camp drifted through the trees.
Ethan listened for a while, then said,
"Then let's head back too."
He tried to stand, using the tree trunk for support, but his legs gave way and he nearly dropped to his knees.
"Teacher!"
Kevin rushed forward and caught him.
"Are you all right?
Perhaps we should make a stretcher?"
Ethan shook his head.
"No need.
Help me onto the horse.
I can ride."
At Ethan's insistence Kevin brought Lightning over and carefully helped his teacher into the saddle.
The small party then set off toward the main camp.
In truth the so-called "great battle" had lasted only a few dozen minutes from start to finish.
The Lannister cavalry lured into the trap numbered little more than twelve hundred.
The northern host had brought over six thousand horse, and the ambush took place on ground they had chosen themselves.
The outcome had been almost inevitable.
Because the enemy had seized the initiative the Lannisters were crushed from the very first clash.
This was Robb Stark's first true victory under his own command.
Back at camp the soldiers who had taken part in the fighting raised their wineskins high, drinking and singing in celebration of victory.
But as Ethan and his party approached the joyful noise gradually died away.
Once they had passed, the whispers began.
"Hey—is that the captain of the Silver Hand?"
"Yeah, that's him—the one who can heal with magic."
"He really glowed," another added.
"I heard he set himself on fire—no, he turned into a pillar of fire—to bring Lord Torren of Karstark back from the dead—"
"Bullshit!
If he set himself on fire, how could he still ride here?
I heard he prayed to the Seven and the Maiden herself descended from heaven to save Lord Torren."
"You're the one talking nonsense!
He's a warrior of the North—how could he believe in any Seven?
He clearly set the branches of the heart tree ablaze and used the power of the Old Gods to save Lord Torren!"
"You northern bumpkin—what do you know!"
"You riverlands oaf!"
As they argued the two men actually began to scuffle.
Ethan glanced back at the commotion and sighed.
"After fighting all night you still have energy to fight?
Youth truly is wonderful."
"Teacher—you're not that old either," Kevin said from the side.
"You talk too much."
Ethan flicked a light "One-Finger Divine Skill" at Kevin, who neatly blocked it with his shield.
To ensure the raid's success the camp had been hidden in a narrow ravine.
The Silver Hand had been placed at the edge.
When Ethan returned the warriors rose from their campfires and saluted him.
Little Bell the snow-bear—who had been fighting Ghost for a horse's foreleg—saw his master and immediately bounded over, tackling Ethan to the ground and licking him enthusiastically.
Ethan smiled, pushed the bear away, then asked Juan—who had followed—
"You didn't run into any danger, did you?"
Juan replied,
"No.
Only one wounded Westerman came close, but Ghost and Bell finished him quickly."
Ethan pulled his now-wet hand out of Bell's mouth, then vigorously rubbed the bear's head.
"Not bad, lad.
Keep it up.
When I have my own lands I'll make you the mountain guardian."
He then called out,
"Martha!
Martha—where are you?"
Martha raised her hand.
"Here, Captain!"
Ethan asked,
"How many of our own were wounded in this battle?
Have you treated them?"
Martha answered,
"Almost none of our men were hurt, but we rescued several northern soldiers along the way."
Hearing that, Ethan said at once,
"Take me to see them."
Because Ethan had previously ordered that the wounded must not be mixed with the healthy the few northern soldiers brought back by the medical team lay by a separate campfire, waiting for further care.
When Ethan walked over he examined them carefully.
All were still alive and conscious.
Apart from a few who were pale from blood loss their overall condition was good.
These northern warriors who had marched south from Winterfell were already familiar with Ethan's rules.
Almost every man carried a few gold dragons for emergencies; those without tried to borrow from comrades.
This time the coins proved useful.
According to their injuries Ethan treated each one, then let them leave amid grateful thanks.
Martha—as captain of the medical team—watched her own bandaged wounds heal in mere breaths under Ethan's hands, the linen removed, the men walking away.
She couldn't help asking,
"Captain… can I learn that ability?"
Ethan turned.
"Why do you want to learn?"
Martha bit her lip.
"If I could learn it I wouldn't have to wait for you to return before treating the wounded.
There were several men on the battlefield I couldn't save."
Ethan thought for a moment, then said,
"You can.
But the prerequisite is that you willingly offer your faith to the Sun God."
Martha fell silent.
For her, reciting prayers along with the crowd was one thing.
Truly abandoning the old gods of her ancestors and sincerely believing in this unknown Sun God was quite another.
Ethan did not press.
From his regular sermons he knew many attended only for the extra rations; only a handful had genuinely converted.
He understood that changing hearts was a slow process that could not be forced.
"Captain Ethan—Captain Ethan—is he here?" a voice called.
Ethan recognized it as Frank Miller, another garrison officer from the same battalion.
He went to greet him and saw two soldiers carrying a man on a stretcher behind Frank.
"Frank—are your men hurt?" Ethan asked with concern.
"No, my brothers are all alive and well," Frank replied.
"Then what is this?" Ethan looked at the stretcher, puzzled.
"This is Ser Gerald of House Morland—my prisoner," Frank explained.
"It's said his father is a favorite of Lord Tywin Lannister and can pay a large ransom.
But I stabbed him in the waist during the fight.
I'm worried he won't live long enough to collect the ransom, so I brought him to you."
Ethan nodded.
"Bring him over."
Frank waved.
"You heard him—bring him to Captain Ethan!"
The two soldiers quickly set the stretcher before Ethan.
In the flickering firelight Ethan saw a huge gash across the Westerlands knight's right side.
He said calmly,
"No problem.
As long as the man is still breathing he can be treated.
Frank—you know my rules—"
"Of course."
Frank quickly pulled ten gold dragons from his belt.
"To whom?"
Ethan accepted the coins, slipped them into his pouch, then knelt beside Gerald Morland.
"All right, Frank—bring your men and pray with me."
As a fellow officer in the same battalion Frank had witnessed Ethan's healing process several times.
He knew that whoever brought the wounded had to join the prayer.
Afterward he had secretly asked the soldiers who had prayed whether they felt any loss of life-force or other ill effects.
Everyone said they felt nothing unusual, which had reassured him enough to come asking for help.
So he led his two men to Ethan's side, knelt like Ethan, and said,
"Begin, Captain."
Ethan began to pray:
"Great and revered Seven Gods, I pray to you with all my heart.
You are like brilliant stars illuminating our path, guiding us toward light and hope.
Seven Gods—hear my prayer.
Grant me strength and wisdom so I may continue forward on the road of life, seeking ever higher realms.
Thank you for your existence.
May you forever protect us."
As Ethan recited golden light bloomed in his hands.
After a tremor Gerald's abdominal wound closed.
Frank paid the fee and left.
John grabbed Ethan's sleeve and dragged him into the shadows beyond the firelight.
Eyes blazing he demanded,
"Ethan—you said the Seven Gods and the Sun God were one.
Were you only saying that to deceive him?"
Ethan admitted frankly,
"Of course I was deceiving him.
The Seven Gods are the Seven Gods; the Sun God is the Sun God.
They have nothing to do with each other.
And John—does it really matter whether the Seven Gods and the Sun God are the same?
Ser Gerald Morland lives.
Frank receives his ransom.
I get ten gold dragons.
Everyone wins."
"No!"
John's eyes were filled with doubt and indignation.
"You must make it clear: if you are praying for the grace of the Seven Gods then you must tell every patient you treat that it was the Seven who saved them—not the so-called Sun God!
But if it is the grace of your Sun God—then why did the Sun God grant you power when you used prayers addressed to the Seven?"
Ethan knew better than anyone that the Sun God was also a false god—yet the Light magic he wielded was real.
As for the Seven Gods, in Ethan's view they too were false—mere cultural and ideological symbols of the Andals with no true divine power or form.
The Father stood for judgment, the Mother for nurturing love, the Warrior for martial strength, the Maiden for purity, the Smith for craftsmanship, the Crone for wisdom, the Stranger for death and the unknown.
All were human concepts.
How could man-made ideas be elevated above their creators and worshipped as gods?
Faced with John's persistent questioning Ethan realized the clash between the Sun God and the Seven was inevitable.
Rather than let the two faiths fight he decided to try merging them.
That would be the best outcome for both the followers of the Seven and the followers of the Sun.
John in particular was the Seven's adherent with whom Ethan most wanted to share the power of Light.
Kevin? He had already converted.
So Ethan nodded and said,
"John—you need not pursue this matter further.
Whether the Seven Gods or the Sun God, as long as they bring happiness and well-being to the people they are good gods.
But if you insist on an answer I will give you proof after sunrise tomorrow."
According to Robb's plan, after destroying Jaime Lannister's cavalry the next step was to raid the Lannister camp outside Riverrun.
Therefore the following day, as soon as the sun rose, the sound of urgent hoofbeats echoed through the camp.
Ethan was still half-asleep when John—who had not slept all night and now had dark circles under his eyes—hurriedly pulled open the tent flap.
"Ethan—hurry!
You said you would show me proof—where is it?!"
Ethan covered his face with both hands, still sleepy, and mumbled,
"John—wait until I get dressed—"
"Hurry, hurry!"
John urged, picking up Ethan's clothes and helping him dress.
Ethan had never expected that at twenty-seven years old he would still enjoy such pampering.
When he was dressed and stepped outside the morning sun was already high.
Golden beams filtered through the leaves scattering bright patches on the ground.
Ethan had Kevin fetch a wineskin filled with water.
He then covered the mouth with his fingers, gripped the skin with his other hand, and spoke to the resolute yet anxious John:
"John—I will cast a Holy Light spell in the name of the Seven Gods.
You think that cannot prove the Seven are the Sun God's manifestation on earth?
What about this?"
With that Ethan squeezed the wineskin hard.
The pressure forced the water out through the tiny gap in a fine mist.
When sunlight passed through the mist it scattered into seven brilliant colors—creating a small, perfect rainbow.
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