Elfborn

Hard Questions

It was a wan and haggard-looking Eje that finally came to see Jase, Kira and Heather as they sat in the mess some time later, Nerun's surgeon, an oddly efficient-looking man with a neatly trimmed beard and supple hands, working on their wounds. He had a gash on his shoulder himself, garnered in the battle to retake the Cignet, but chose to ignore it while he treated his fellow crewmen and the surviving Elfborn. Instead, he carefully stitched close a wicked tear in Jase's right biceps, one that had penetrated deep past the skin and into the muscle. It would take several stitches to close and several weeks to heal.

Sagging into the chair across from the young Debussy, she accepted a mug of hot broth from the cook with a nod of thanks before sipping on it slowly. The cost of holding such a powerful spell was great. Not a big woman to begin with, Eje's strength had been nearly completely taken by the effort. It would be several days before she could hope to cast such a powerful spell again. Hopefully, the orcs would stay away long enough for her to recover!

"We've resumed our course, good Sister," Nerun said tiredly from the door to the mess. The blood that had flowed from the cut on his head had dried and crusted on his clothing and face. He too had refused to be tended to until his crew and his vessel were both safe. So he ignored both the dried blood and the pain his wound still caused him to bow slightly.

"The orcs did cut nearly fifteen men from my command, leaving us severely undermanned. But, if they are willing, your guests can lend a hand and that will get us to Caminor."

Eje's dark eyes came up to scan Jase's face, who looked as tired as she felt.

"Would you and your comrades be willing to give Nerun your assistance in sailing the Cignet to Caminor?" she asked softly.

Jase regarded her for a moment before turning to look at his tired comrades. Heather and Kira slumped with exhaustion, waiting their turn to have their wounds taken care of by the surgeon. But they still gave him a nod of agreement when Jase's eyes passed over them. They had heard.

As did Brice and Gillian, who were giving the surgeon and the cook assistance since they hadn't taken part directly in the battle. They too quickly nodded, Gillian looking frankly apologetic as her eyes caught Jase's. Indeed it had been the strong arms of the men that crewed the Cignet, along with Jase, Kira, and Heather that had saved her life this time, a fact she couldn't deny.

Jase turned to look back into Eje's tired face.

"Aye, we'll give Captain Nerun whatever assistance he requires," he answered, grimacing as the surgeon tugged a stitch tight before going to the next. "This way we will pay for the loss of his crewmen as well as any damages inflicted on the Cignet during the fighting."

Eje nodded in satisfaction as Nerun bowed.

"Thank you, Master Jase," the lean captain said, his tone thankful through the fatigue. "Your assistance tonight as well as your future assistance has saved the Cignet and my crew." With another bow to Jase, then one to Eje, Nerun turned and disappeared back into the passageway, intent on reaching the decks to see how the repairs were coming on. The orcs, in their brief assault on the barge, had done considerable damage to the Cignet's rigging and decking.

Jase watched Nerun disappear with narrowed eyes before he looked at Eje. The Jebusin had sagged in her seat, looking as if she would pass out at any moment. He frowned. 'This might be the perfect time to ask her some of these questions that seem to be burning in our minds,' he thought.

But, oddly enough, Jase hesitated. It just didn't feel right, to ask his questions so quickly after the battle's end. Considering he had learned recently how well those odd feelings protected him, Jase decided to listen to them this time and fell silent. His eyes, however, were not. Dark and full of emotion they gazed unceasingly at the weary Jebusin, almost shouting their silent accusations. She knew something and soon enough Jase would have his answers from her, Jebusin or not!