Stormlands ( Book 2 of the Torrent Skies Saga)

Chapter Eleven: No Laughing Matter

Arjiah wiped the sweat from her brow and looked at the small piece of bandage she had left with a frown. "I'll be right back," she said.

She found her satchel right where she had left it, but when she opened it to dig for the bandages they were right on top, and jaggedly cut. She frowned at the roll of cloth and looked around, before remembering her task and sprinting back to the line of bruised and bleeding crew members. Part of her was worried of what might happen if she left Roahn and Fykes tending the injured too long.

Roahn was not all that gentle, and Fykes was easily distracted.

She spent the remainder of the daylight healing and tending to injuries. Focusing on the worst ones first, and working her way down to sprains and scrapes. It was taxing on her magic, and her head ached as the sun set below the horizon.

Only one dwarf had been badly hurt, and he would need quite a bit of time and attention. But Arjiah had it to spare, as the crew had refused to give her any other duties. She checked on him frequently throughout the day. All the while she wondered about her missing bandages. She had plenty, and some missing was not an issue. But she was curious as to why someone might take them. Why not come to her for healing instead, or one of the others? Maybe Roahn had grabbed them, for her own injuries. She could only assume it be an issue of pride, and Roahn had plenty of that.

As she sat eating her evening meal and watching the moon rise, someone laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I know you're exhausted, but Magrum wants to see us in the cabin," Katerin said.

"Is he alright?"

"He looked fine to me. Said he wanted to talk to all of us."

Arjiah pulled her cloak around her and stood, stretching her back. "Did you take some bandages from my bag?"

"No. Why?" Katerin asked. "Did you run out?"

"I've got plenty. Stocked up before we left. But, some are missing and I can't for the life of me puzzle out who might've taken them."

Katerin gave her a puzzled look, biting her lip. "Well whoever took them couldn't have been hurt badly. Someone would've noticed."

One of Arjiah's slender fangs poked out from her lips in her skepticism. "I suppose. It's just odd."

They made their way to Magrum's cabin, and stuffed themselves inside. Everyone fit, but it was not what anyone could call roomy. Fykes, Brazen, Jon, Roahn, and Trunk were already inside.

Magrum grinned as Arjiah and Katerin arrived and cleared his throat before speaking. "I needed to thank you all." He held up his mug before anyone could interrupt him. "You not only helped us fight, but you patched up my men, and my ship. So the drink will flow heavy tonight!"

Roahn grinned at his words, and downed the contents of her cup.

Fykes smiled, passing a pipe back to Jon as smoke curled up the ceiling near Trunk's head, though he did not seem to mind. "Did you really expect us to just sit back or hide below decks and watch?"

Magrum nodded and gave Fykes a deadpan expression. "Most would've done exactly that."

"They never stay out of trouble," Jon said, reclining in his chair. "They can't sit still."

Katerin chuckled. "He does have a point... but we never would've left you to your own devices. We're the reason you're sailing this way."

"You have the thanks of me and my crew, in any case," Magrum said, then his expression shifted to a grin. "So drink your fill because tomorrow it's back to rations."