Truth be told Kelski was worried about Ebon. She was glad she wasn’t alone with him because the Kelvic knew nothing about medicine and was sincerely worried that she’d hurt him more than he already was hurt. And while Aer’wyn professed he knew nothing about being a medic, the Akalak did step up and take charge in a way that Kelski appreciated. The Jeweler wasn’t sure when the Akalak decided to step up but he was there suddenly, gently moving the smaller males body around so Kelski could clean his back wound.
“I have nothing like that here, nor any wine…” She said uncomfortably, but it was the truth. Kelski hadn’t touched drugs since Darvin had stopped forcing them down her throat. Something he’d said to her as he’d caressed her lips the last day she’d seen him had been enough to deter her forever.
“I’ll hold him though… but I don’t think hes going to move much. He looks exhausted and he’s lost a lot of blood.” Kelski said, worried, but still shifting the Kelvic so she was partially cradling him in her arms.
Unasked he retrieved the needle and suture, strung them, passed them through fire and stitched the wound. Kelski wasn’t sure she could have done it, but as the Akalak worked, she kept the Kelvics clothing out of the way and advised the Akalak on what she did know. “When they stitched the gang members up after a fight in The Barracks, they left a little opening on one corner… sort of at the downward side so any sort of ooze could drain out.” She said, glad he stopped after the stitches he made.
Ebon screaming awake and Kelski struggling to hold him brought torment to her eyes. She whispered soothing words and wished she could take his pain for herself. Even the blood on Aer’wyn’s chin from him biting his own lip gave her pause. None of them should have to be doing this… the city was relentless in its thirst for all of their blood.
Ebon eventually fainted. Kelski was so grateful for that.
To her untrained eye, the work was handy. It did the trick, and even if it left Ebon with scars, at least he’d have his life. And running her hands across the Kelvic’s shoulders, she could see that whatever mark the wound left on Ebon’s flesh, it wasn’t the only one he wore. It was so typical of her kind. The Kelvic looked sad a moment, gently brushed the boy’s forehead, and looked gratefully at the Akalak.
“You did a good job…. And I don’t think you hurt him worse.” She said, shifting to rise and retrieve the jar of ointment that had been labeled for after surgery use. She figured stitching was surgery and liberally coated the wound with the pungent yet fresh smelling balm. Then she laid a bandage over the wound and rolled out lengths of her already torn cloth to secure it in place around Ebon’s torso.
When Aer’wyn leaned back against the sofa, Kelski appeared before him with a fresh cloth in her hand. She gently dabbed at the blood on his chin and then took a finger full of the ointment and ran it across the puncture his tooth had left in his flesh.
“You did a good job.” She said firmly, and began to tiredly clean up the mess. She got out a spare blanket, covered Ebon with it, leaving him laying on his side so the wound was visible and easily accessed, then looked to Aer’wyn.
“I have a spare unused room if you’d like to get a good sleep. I’ll sit with him a few bells if you want to get some rest and I can wake you to take a turn. I’ll run down to the workshop and get one of my hourglasss timers to make sure I don’t let you sleep past two or three bells. We need to get water into him and maybe a bone broth or something. I can put some on the hearth and get it to cooking so he has something when he wakes up.” She said thoughtfully.
“I’ve never met an Akalak, Aer’wyn, but I’m really glad you were there today. I could have never gotten him here without your help and I certainly don’t think I could have stitched him up. I’m a very independent person, but sometimes you just need a little help. I don’t realize that enough. I’m very thankful to Akajia that she put you in my path.” Kelski said thoughtfully, knowing she’d light a black candle to the Goddess later and say a proper prayer for Aer’wyn’s assistance and Ebon getting free. She’d pray to Rak’keli too… asking the Healer to save one of her own. For there was no doubt in Kelski’s mind that Ebon was a healer or that the mark on him was Rak’keli’s. It couldn’t be anything else.
The Kelvic stifled a yawn, got up, and began putting fresh bones, marrow still intact, into the remaining boiling water on the hearth. She added salt and pepper and then uncovered another pot that was sitting just to the side of the fire. The scent of rabbit stew filled the room. “If you are hungry there’s a bowl or two left of stew. I bought fresh bread this morning for it, but I already ate half the loaf so its growing a bit stale now… all yours though if you need it. I haven’t quite gotten used to figuring out how to cook -= even simple things – just for myself.” Kelski admitted, taking a moment to stir up the fire and add another log. She refilled Ebon’s mug with water in case he awoke and finally took a seat herself.
“Bowls and spoons are in the cupboard. Help yourself.” She added, yawning again. Kelski could stay awake a bit longer – several hours if necessary – but she would need sleep before the night was over. She was still recovering from Darvin’s attempt to murder her the day she was released. And it had taken a toll on her.
“I have nothing like that here, nor any wine…” She said uncomfortably, but it was the truth. Kelski hadn’t touched drugs since Darvin had stopped forcing them down her throat. Something he’d said to her as he’d caressed her lips the last day she’d seen him had been enough to deter her forever.
“I’ll hold him though… but I don’t think hes going to move much. He looks exhausted and he’s lost a lot of blood.” Kelski said, worried, but still shifting the Kelvic so she was partially cradling him in her arms.
Unasked he retrieved the needle and suture, strung them, passed them through fire and stitched the wound. Kelski wasn’t sure she could have done it, but as the Akalak worked, she kept the Kelvics clothing out of the way and advised the Akalak on what she did know. “When they stitched the gang members up after a fight in The Barracks, they left a little opening on one corner… sort of at the downward side so any sort of ooze could drain out.” She said, glad he stopped after the stitches he made.
Ebon screaming awake and Kelski struggling to hold him brought torment to her eyes. She whispered soothing words and wished she could take his pain for herself. Even the blood on Aer’wyn’s chin from him biting his own lip gave her pause. None of them should have to be doing this… the city was relentless in its thirst for all of their blood.
Ebon eventually fainted. Kelski was so grateful for that.
To her untrained eye, the work was handy. It did the trick, and even if it left Ebon with scars, at least he’d have his life. And running her hands across the Kelvic’s shoulders, she could see that whatever mark the wound left on Ebon’s flesh, it wasn’t the only one he wore. It was so typical of her kind. The Kelvic looked sad a moment, gently brushed the boy’s forehead, and looked gratefully at the Akalak.
“You did a good job…. And I don’t think you hurt him worse.” She said, shifting to rise and retrieve the jar of ointment that had been labeled for after surgery use. She figured stitching was surgery and liberally coated the wound with the pungent yet fresh smelling balm. Then she laid a bandage over the wound and rolled out lengths of her already torn cloth to secure it in place around Ebon’s torso.
When Aer’wyn leaned back against the sofa, Kelski appeared before him with a fresh cloth in her hand. She gently dabbed at the blood on his chin and then took a finger full of the ointment and ran it across the puncture his tooth had left in his flesh.
“You did a good job.” She said firmly, and began to tiredly clean up the mess. She got out a spare blanket, covered Ebon with it, leaving him laying on his side so the wound was visible and easily accessed, then looked to Aer’wyn.
“I have a spare unused room if you’d like to get a good sleep. I’ll sit with him a few bells if you want to get some rest and I can wake you to take a turn. I’ll run down to the workshop and get one of my hourglasss timers to make sure I don’t let you sleep past two or three bells. We need to get water into him and maybe a bone broth or something. I can put some on the hearth and get it to cooking so he has something when he wakes up.” She said thoughtfully.
“I’ve never met an Akalak, Aer’wyn, but I’m really glad you were there today. I could have never gotten him here without your help and I certainly don’t think I could have stitched him up. I’m a very independent person, but sometimes you just need a little help. I don’t realize that enough. I’m very thankful to Akajia that she put you in my path.” Kelski said thoughtfully, knowing she’d light a black candle to the Goddess later and say a proper prayer for Aer’wyn’s assistance and Ebon getting free. She’d pray to Rak’keli too… asking the Healer to save one of her own. For there was no doubt in Kelski’s mind that Ebon was a healer or that the mark on him was Rak’keli’s. It couldn’t be anything else.
The Kelvic stifled a yawn, got up, and began putting fresh bones, marrow still intact, into the remaining boiling water on the hearth. She added salt and pepper and then uncovered another pot that was sitting just to the side of the fire. The scent of rabbit stew filled the room. “If you are hungry there’s a bowl or two left of stew. I bought fresh bread this morning for it, but I already ate half the loaf so its growing a bit stale now… all yours though if you need it. I haven’t quite gotten used to figuring out how to cook -= even simple things – just for myself.” Kelski admitted, taking a moment to stir up the fire and add another log. She refilled Ebon’s mug with water in case he awoke and finally took a seat herself.
“Bowls and spoons are in the cupboard. Help yourself.” She added, yawning again. Kelski could stay awake a bit longer – several hours if necessary – but she would need sleep before the night was over. She was still recovering from Darvin’s attempt to murder her the day she was released. And it had taken a toll on her.