The war was over, or so they said, his country lost, his homeland no more, brought into the fold of the Empire. Bathed the Light of the Azure, so the invaders preached. Yet Sabastain Tanner, follower of the Sun, did was he always did adapt and survive.

Midwife, battle Cleric, Red Tempus Elite, now pirate, with one missing eye to add to the part he now played.  So little lost compared to so many.  So many turns he thought his life would never end up taking and yet he was still alive when so many others were not.

He stood on the deck of the Golden Gull feeling the cold sea breeze hit his face. He’d been with the crew of scoundrels about a month now as ships doctor moving up and down the coast, turning his one good eye away from all the shady dealings. He knew people who did far worse than this lot and it was one of the safer places for him to hide. The Empire was rounding up Oswillian military personal and the giant red wave tattooed on his arm made him a prime target.

These people didn’t care, they saw his value and didn’t ask questions. That was perfectly fine with Sebastian, this whole crew seemed to have this somber cloud over them and few personal conversation had been had beyond small talk but that was it. He at least was doing “honest” work, Healing knife wounds and minor afflictions, keeping the crew in fighting shape. He[KR1]  even had a expectant mother to attend to in the ships navigator, work he missed as was more than happy to return to. This would do until The Sun lay a better path in front of him.

The crew came to trust him quickly, but Sab had always been the non-threatening likeable sort.  They’d take to calling him Cy or Cyclops on account of the missing eye.  Better that name then his own making the rounds of the Empire. It meant they liked him it seemed, most had such handles attached to them, some raising more questions than others. Darius the swashbuckling first mate was Blade, Camillia the promiscuous navigator was affectionally referred to as Rabbit, as so on. The only one that made little sense to Sab was the name they gave the strange scarred woman who slunk about the ship, for some reason they called her the Beast.

The Beast walked about the ship with this frightful presence about her. Even the Capitan, a hulking man shrunk back when she passed. She has long almost matted brown hair and and scar across her face cutting between two bring blue eyes. She spoke little and when she did her voice had a strange broken accent, he did not know. 

“She’s not crew Cy,” Darius told him, one day while they two of them practiced some sword play. Sab wasn’t the best swordsmen but, the skills he had needed to stay sharp.

“Arms still bothering you isn’t it?” Sab asks as he blocked the pirate’s strike.

“Little stiff but getting there.”

“Don’t push it to hard then, or you’ll end up worse off in the long run,” Sab pushed him back with his sword.

“Good thing we have a doctor again then.” Darius laughed swinging back. “Once Camilla has that baby don’t think your getting off.”

“You have no idea how long a newborn should see a doctor for do you?”

“Not a clue, don’t even know that the other half of that baby is gonna come out looking like.”

“I don’t care Darius, I’m a man of God but not a judge one.”

The two of them sparred back and forth for a bit neither of them really trying to out do the other just a simple back and forth to keep their skills sharp. Sab was not nearly as quick as Darius but the pirate took it easy on him for now.

When they stopped he notice her watching them from the side of the ship studying their moves, the Beasts intently following them with those haunting eyes.

“Don’t bother her Cyclops, she’s an ill wind,”

“Then whys she here?”

“Captain’s orders and stuff you don’t need to know about mate.” Darius clapped him on the shoulder. “Stick to keeping us in fighting shape.”

“That should include her.” Sab sheathed his sword. “I can see from here she not in ideal health.”

“Drop it mate.” Darius warned him again.

“I can handle it trust me.” Sab assured him. He’d seen his share of horrors, one crass woman wasn’t going to make him turn and run.

He made his was across the deck to where she stood watching. Her icy blue eyes, staring him down as she straightened and squared up her shoulders. Aside from the state of her hair, her clothes were dirty and ripped, and the rest of her looked like it got very little attention, except for the two swords at her waist, curved simitars. Sab knew he was dealing with a warrior who was far too proud.

“Leve me Elf.” she spoke in a strange pointed cadence. “I do not wish to join in the trivial games you and the first mate play.”

“Half-elf actually,” he stood there, arms crossed. “Ships doctor, Sebastien. You look like you could use a little medical attention.”

“I have no wounds.” She glared at him.

“Yes but your face is sallow, your eyes heavy, and you look as though you haven’t slept in days.” he pointed out. “It would be bad practice if I didn’t insist on checking on your well being.”

“You should now trouble yourself with my well being, son of the Morning Lord,” she pointed to the holy symbol around his neck. “The Moonmaiden keeps me.”

“I’m sure you have the blessing of The Moonmaiden,” he pressed on, “However not helping you would be against my God and domain, and I'm sure your god wouldn’t be opposed to a check up and maybe a bath?”

Her eyes darted over him, sizing him up. A look Sabastion was used to getting and he let her take him in. The soft looking exterior he presented, hiding the killer he’d become. She could tell and he knew it.

“You can check me but you will not touch me.” she said bluntly.

“I can work with that.” Sebastion motioned for her to follow him.

“You will do it here or not at all.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

 “Most people would rather have their doctor look them over in private.”

“You are not my doctor, you are a doctor, and we said you would not touch me.” she barked, “If you have any skill you can assess me with just a look from that eye of yours. Touch me and you will not see the next sunrise.”

“Alright,” Sab nodded and stepped in carefully. Looking her up and down. Bruises and scarring more evident this close up. Her skin slightly grey, she wasn’t eating well and hadn't for a long time.

“What have you been eating?”

“Food.”

“That’s not really an answer, what sort of food,”

“Meat.”

“And?”

“Bread when I can get it.”

“You need vegetables, fruits, the ship is well stocked eating three meals a day will do a lot of good.”

“I do not eat the food here.”

“So its been rations then, and not good ones at that.” Sab sighed. “Quit being so proud and get yourself a good meal.”

“You dare speak to me like that?” her face almost twisted into a snarl.

“I do.” Sebastian clapped back. “I don’t know what you did to make everyone on this ship terrified of you but your not going to bare your teeth at me and have me give you a wide birth. You are sick, I’m a doctor and have seen stuff that would break through even your crass exterior. Take my advice or not, but I’m not the sort to let up, and it doesn’t seem like either of are getting off this boat anytime soon,”

The Beast stared at him silently, Sab could sense the tension in her and he walked about her. She was trying to figure out how she’d kill him. Sab had been on the receiving end of those sort of stares, they didn’t scare him anymore.

 Checking over the bits of her he could see, noticing the dirty bandage on her left arm.

“How old is the injury?”

“It will heal.”

“I’m sure it will, but if its infected that could cause your discolouration.”

“I know how to tend a wound,”

“But sometimes things happen.” Sab extended his hand.

She slowly  reached out her am and Sab undid the dirty bandages to see the red, hot cut marring her flesh and many more similar cuts long healed and scared over.

“You have an infection, I need to clean it before I try and do any magic on it.” Sab said quietly. “You can come to my quarters now and have it cleaned or you can be carried there in a few days and I’ll have to waste a high level spell to keep you from dying of septic shock.”

Pulling her arm away she snorted and began to walk below deck,  Sab fallowed unsure if she was going to give in to reason or shun him on to the women’s quarters. Keeping a distance he watched he descend below deck pausing to look down the row of doors.

“Third one on the left.” He said heading to his door, “come in and make yourself comfortable,”

She hesitated but entered, Sab motioned to the bed and he began to prep and heat some water and cleansing herbs.

“What are those?” she asked as he sat the bowl of water on the floor and kneeled down in front of her.

“Wild garlic and oregano.” He took a cloth out of the water and wrung it out. “It will help with the inflammation.. May I?”

She extended her arm and let Sebastian clean the wound , not even flinching as he worked away. He cleaned the cut then pressed the herbs to her skin before wrapping a new clean bandage around it.

“Thank you.” She said quietly as he washed his hands.

“Your welcome, you’ll have to come let me check that once a day for the next week,” He explained. “Now I want you to lay down on that bed there and rest.  Its quieter here than in the bunks. I’ll get you some food and clean clothes alright?”

“You need not do this.” She said. “I can take care of things myself.”

“No I need not, but speaking as someone who had to go it alone for a long time, take the help.” He stood up. “Your about the same size as Camilla. Ill try and find something modest in her trunk. I can’t see you being the sort that goes for the plunging neckline.”

“Maria…. That is my name.”

“Again, mine is Sebastian. Sleep and I’ll sort some things out for you.”

******************

Sleep found Maria quickly, despite her instincts. He had been kind and generous, the smell of ill intent missing from his actions. The Doctor could be trusted for now.

Falling into a deep sleep Maria found herself back in Telbar, flat, dead farmland barren of food, life, watching as the Sadness stalked the earth. Her bother running out to distract one so she could run back to the safety of their home.  The Blackfur who killed him for getting in the way.

The dream shifted to her walk across the wastes, fields of dead metal men rusting on barren earth, the ghost that danced amongst them.

A smell pricked at her nose, breaking the dreams hold on her. Beef, with carrots and onions. Maria opened her eyes slightly as the doctor quietly came back in holding a large bowl of stew. He placed it on the bedside table, lingering for a moment before setting himself at the small desk in the corner to eat his own meal.

“Morning Lord bless this meal I and about to receive.” She listed to his hushed prayer. “So I may have the strength to carry out you will.” He continued. “Moonmaiden, watch over Maria, grant her rest and health.”

            He set into his food quietly, as Maria watched, pretending she was still sleeping. Facing the wall and looking at the blankness of it all. Sabastion let of a small sigh and removed the wrap that covered his left eye and leaned back in the chair. Maria caught a glint of something, a glass eye perhaps? But why bother hiding it? Maria stirred, sitting up, she watched him quicky move to cover the eye again before turning to her.

            “Looking better already.” He smiled. “Now eat before it gets cold.”

            “Why did you pray for me?” she asked studying his face, for any hints about wat he seemed to be hiding. She could see nothing,

            “Because that’s what you are supposed to do for people who are sick.”

            “Im not sick.” She frowned.

            “Infected, sleep deprived and malnourished is sick to me, now eat.” He pointed to her bowl. “And if you finish that you can have mine. I hate stew.”

            Maria took the bowl and sniffed it again. It did smell good. But the ruled were she was supposed to sustain herself,  Not taking the aid of others, so was their ways. But she had let others buy her  dinner,  so she’d already broken that rule.  She took a bite, it was amazing. Despite this countries dependency on magical rocks their food had taste and flavour and she began to devour it.

            “Here.” Sabastian passed her the remains of his bowl. Maria grabbed it without a second thought and scarfed that down too. “That should help you feel better and you can stop pretending your fine.”

            “I would have endured.” She set the bowl down.

            “Frankly I’m of the opinion you shouldn’t suffer unnecessarily,”

            “I was taught not to rely on others.”

            “And I was taught charity, and what filled your stomach?”

            “I do no take charity, You will be repaid.”

            “Just get better,” He said, “That’s all I need.”

            They fell into silence, neither of them know how to proceed from here. Maria wasn’t used to this sort of situation, people caring like this. Even her order wanted something in exchange for aid. Someone so selfless did not often survived long in Telbar. But Sebastian had that look to him of a battle hardened solider, that same darkness behind his eyes… eye, she knew from those around her.  Yet he still did this. Why? Teachings of his god maybe? No one was this kind.

            “I found you some clothes.” He said after the long silence pointing to the bundle on the side of the bed. “Your cloak looks like it could still be of use, its good and warn but the rest are pretty much spent. There’s a shirt, pants and vest.”

            Maria looked but didn’t say anything,  she did need clothes and this did stop her from having to steal them. She took the bundle and started undressing, Sebastian quickly turning his head and averting his gaze as she changed. They fit, a little loosely but she could manage.

            “You may turn back around,” she said when she was done, straightening herself on the bed. “I should go soon, it is late and these are not my quarters.”

            “I said you could stay as long as you needed. I’ve slept worse places than a chair.” He turned back around, smiling a bit as he looked at her. “You look better already.”

            “May the Moonmaiden bless your kindness,” she stood up and affixed her weapons. “But I must go now.”

            “You should rest more when you go back to the women’s bunks.” He rose form his set. “I had Camilla find you an extra blanket. You’ll have to come back every day until that wound heals so I have change the wrapping.”

            She nodded and stepped past him to the door, without another word. She owed him now, regardless of what he said, a debt to be related