NEVER SPLIT THE PARTY: The Adventures of the Creeping Bam (BOOK 4: The Hunt)

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE: THELGAEWYNN

I'm glad that after they were able to get the temple's attendants to fetch the rest of their gear from their hotel, Kesla got 'em to head over to our place as well to pick up the rest of ours. Given we're going into a serious situation this time I'm a lot happier getting into my best armour, and having a choice of extra weaponry to bring along too. I'll still be bringing my battleaxe, it's served me well for years, but after going over the rest o' my selection for a little while I decided on my shortswords, figuring these'll be best if we gotta get up close an' dirty. I'm still gonna take my usual half dozen knives along too, but 'least if I find myself needing something with a little more reach these'll serve.

When I draw the one strapped to my left hip it's almost an afterthought, I know well enough it'll be in good nick, this is just for my peace o' mind. So I slide it free from its scabbard and look over the broad, two-foot blade with its diamond-shaped tip, taking a moment to test both edges as I turn it over. Keen an' clean, just like I expected. I give it an absent-minded flourish, then slide it home, and almost sit back on the couch I'm perched on the edge of before I decide what the hell. I draw the one on the right anyway and give it a once-over. Same, of course. I didn't need to bother.

Sheathing this one again, I let a light sigh go as I settle back after all, leaning onto my arms now as I plant my hands splayed wide behind me on the cushions. Giving my back a little stretch, definitely pleased with the way it don't set the ache loose in my core, front and back, like it did right after they just started working on me when I got back from the Heath. I'm already feeling so much better than I did even this morning, when Kesla took us to the Playhouse. I got the strength back in my limbs again, the stiffness largely gone, and what tiredness there was is pretty much washed away. I know I'll prob'ly pay for it when I finally hit my new bed when we get back from the coming battle, but that's then. Since we don't even know if we're actually gonna get back in the first place ...

Honestly, it's been a sobering thing, suddenly having thoughts like that in the first place. I mean I never used to think about how I actually could have died so many times before in the battles I been in, even after the ones I got tore up some from. This is new, actually feeling my mortality, knowing there's a real chance I might not make it outta tonight alive. It almost feels good, in a weird way. Like it makes everything else feel so much more vital, as we wait to go.

I proper stuffed my face in the canteen after I got out the infirmary that last time, not so much from hunger but just cuz that food tasted so damn good to me. And I talked Brung's ears off the whole time we were there, too, since Du weren't anywhere to be seen, prob'ly off looking after Yeslee. Not that the goblin seemed to mind, he mostly just sat there, picking over his own more modest platter with focused deliberation, but he nodded along and even spoke up every once in a while, which he don't usually do. Reckon he might've been humouring me. I wonder if he picked up on my thinly veiled reticence after all.

'Least Du had come out to join us when we made our way back into the lounge so we could start arming up, so he was able to help me strap my armour on. It's interesting, he was unusually particular about every little piece of lacing, buckling and cinching, telling me everything about his mood without saying a word. He's nervous having me along, even though I'm essentially healthy as he is now. Like my nearly dying a few days ago took all the wind out his sails.

When I reciprocated with his armour I weren't quite so compulsive about the whole process, but I still found myself double checking laces here and there when I wasn't immediately satisfied with 'em. I don't doubt he picked up on that too, and when we were finally done he just sat with me for a little while, ponderous and clearly distracted, like he wanted to say something but didn't have the nous to find the words.