She looked away. “Look, just stay here, alright? I am going to go help where it is needed. McConnell said that barring no more incidents, we should be in port by this time tomorrow.” He started towards the door. “We are low on supplies, so try not to rip yourself open again, would you?”
Alex grumbled something that he couldn’t make out, but it sounded a lot like “go fuck yourself.” Davin smiled back at her,snagging his swordbelt from where it rested, as he stepped into the hall, quickly closing the door behind him.
A sudden commotion up ahead drew his attention. He sped down the short hall, skidding to a stop as he entered the main infirmary. The boy from the M.M.S. Iris was sprinting across the room to the cot where his father lay, the curtain pulled back from him, Hannah close behind. Both David and his son were crying as the little boy launched himself into his father’s arms.
Davin watched them for a few more moments. What he wouldn’t give to be able to know that feeling. A wave of sadness washed over him. He was glad that he was able to bring some happiness back to them both, but it left him feeling raw to see their love up close. Turning away, he made his exit. He needed to find the galley to scrounge up something to eat. It would be another long night, and he knew they happened to have coffee. He would need every drop he could get.
Davin woke with a start. He must have dozed off after his last rotation. McConnell hadn’t been happy when he had found Davin patrolling the upper deck, but hadn’t fought him too hard. A whistle blew from the crow’s nest, followed by the port call. They had been sailing for almost thirty-two hours since the attack. There had been no more sightings of the beast. Thank Kiel for that.
Supplies had run out about midday. Luckily, the cooler weather was one of the few hidden blessings from this disastrous trip. The shortage of water would have posed a hugethreat had it been hot. The lights of Gleann lit up the skyline. He couldn’t wait to be back on dry land.
He had only been back to check on Alex once since their last argument. She had finally decided to give poor Janice a break and do as she was told for a change. Alex was still upset about his use of his last name. There was tension between them whenever they were alone, that set him on edge. He’d been too tired to engage in another pissing match with her though, so he had hidden up here with the rescued passengers.
Stretching, Davin set off to see where he could be of use. Pulling into port was going to bring chaos. He had no idea how McConnell was going to explain the extra passengers or what had happened with the beast. They were going to think he had gone mad. Shaking his head, Davin could only hope that the citizens on board corroborated his story. He couldn’t bear to see McConnell lose his position. Besides his son, his ship was his life’s blood.
Once they were moored at the dock, healers from the Med Center hurried on board, helping to unload the passengers with the most life threatening injuries first. Those passengers with non life threatening injuries were to stay put for the remainder of the night. Alex would be one of those passengers as she had recovered much faster than anticipated, though she would still be seen by the Surgical Healer.
Davin sat back, slightly in the shadows, watching them scurrying around bringing supplies to those still on board. He watched as David was carried past, his son happily skipping alongside him, holding onto Hannah’s hand. A smile tugged at his lips. “Bye, little one. May the might of Maura protect you.”
“Son, what are ye doing hiding back here whisperin’ to yerself?”
Davin jumped, his hand flying to his sword at his side at the sound of McConnell’s boomingvoice.
“Damn it, McConnell! Don’t you know it’s dangerous to sneak up on a man like that?’
McConnell just laughed, lifting his hands in mock surrender.
“Aw, well now, I didn’t mean to give ye a fright. I just wanted to see ye off before I have to go deal with the officials.”
Davin grinned, stretching his hand out. “Of course, old man. It’s been an adventure.”
McConnell grasped his forearm. “That it has, son. Until next time, yeah?”
“Until next time, my friend.” Davin watched as he disembarked the ship. Time to find somewhere to sleep for the next few hours, so that he was ready for whatever tomorrow brought. Something told him that this ride was far from over.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Morrows
Althea
Ilove my province. I love my job. I love my people.” Althea repeated these words again and again as she made her way to the Med Center. She should have just stayed there and grabbed a few hours in an empty room, but she knew herself well enough that if she had stayed, she would have been pulled into another emergency or issue, and sleep wouldn’t have happened. Besides, there were no more empty beds. With the M.M.S. Maura in port and the attack on the M.M.S. Iris, every healer and every room available had been taken. So, she had dragged herself home to sleep, only being able to pull about four hours together before her body woke of its own accord.
She had dressed in the dark, pulling a clean uniform from her bottom drawer, grateful that she had cleaned up at the Med Center before heading home the night before. The top had been no problem, but she had stumbled a little getting into herpants, still groggy with sleep. She’d made quick work of her long chestnut brown hair, pulling it up into her usual messy bun atop her head, but there wasn’t much to do for her bloodshot eyes, except splash some cold water on her face. One good thing about waking so early though, was coffee. It was the only dependable relationship in her life as of late, besides work. She was aware that most women her age were mothers and some grandmothers even, but she would forever be married to the job. Just because she was content in her life didn’t mean that her bed didn’t get lonely, even if she spent so little time there herself.
Breathing in deep, Althea entered the market. The morning light danced across the cobblestone roads where vendors were just beginning to set up their wares for the day. The trees dotting the square were a blaze of colors, their blooms adding a heady scent to the early spring air. Making a beeline to a small bakery cart, she ordered a muffin and a cup of coffee. The aroma assaulted her nose, the cup warm in her chilled hands, as she took a long pull of the hot liquid.
She had taken this path to work at the Med Center for decades, and still, the sunbeams streaming across the skyline worked well to shake off her fatigue. Well, that and the glorious coffee in her hand. It wasn’t a long walk, through the market and then past the port. The Morrows people were good hearted citizens for the most part. You sort of had to be, if you grew up in any of its cities, Gleann included. Children learned at a young age the importance of caring for others, and the strength it takes to do what needs to be done. Not all stayed and became healers, but most did. As if their very blood called for it.
The sky was lit up over the water where the M.M.S. Maura was moored to the dock. Althea quickened her pace at the sight; so many more patients needed care, and there she was dawdling with her muffin. She’d stitched up wound after wound andbandaged more cuts and scrapes than she could count. That didn’t include the more significant injuries, head gashes, punctured lungs, internal bleeding, just to start.
Three shallow steps led to the front doors of the Med Center. An access ramp was off to the left, near the primary care entrance for severely injured patients to receive immediate care. Tension swirled around her as she stepped inside and hung her coat on an available rung. The chaos of the night before had not ebbed in the least, and novices surged past her, arms filled with bandages, charts, salves, and the like. It seemed as if every bed was taken; the overflow patients sat in the halls and in the lobby areas. She had been hoping that the overnight crew had been able to clear out more but by the looks of it, the number of patients had only increased. She headed towards her office first to gather her charts for the day, and to see if any of her patients from last night needed further care.
Althea hadn’t made it five steps down the first hall before colliding with a solid wall of flesh that let out a high pitched squeal. Looking down at the papers and limbs sprawled out in front of her, she pursed her lips to keep from laughing.
“Good gracious. Diana, how many times must we warn you that speed is not as important as safety?” Althea admonished the novice healer and reached to snatch the files that had flown into the air and scattered to the floor as Diana fell.
“I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s just…” she stopped speaking as recognition stole her words. Sheepishly, Diana continued, “Oh, thank Anva, it’s you. I’m so glad I ran into you. I mean, I’m not glad I ran into you directly, but…” she stopped, taking a minute before apparently giving up on the apology. “These are your cases for this morning."
