******************
To her credit she did listen to him. Came like clock work every day for the next week for him to tend to her would. Each time he cleaned it he noticed new shallower cuts along her arms, but he said nothing on the matter, Just making sure they were clean and healing properly.
She spoke little, but always thanked him, and Sebastian couldn’t really ask much more could he? She was doing exactly what he told her to do, following orders. So why did he keep looking for her everywhere he went on this bloody ship? A break from the monotony of his floating prison? Some who seemed to be going through just as much shit as he was on the inside. The other outsider among these swashbucklers and cutthroats? Who was to say.
“She helped me with some charting the other night.” Camilla told him during one of her checkups, as Sab examined the beginnings of her baby bump.
“Who?” he replied innocently.
“The Beast, she knows her stuff I’ll give her that Cy.”
“She’s got a name,”
“Yes I know but, she’s jut always been the Beast and up until recently, didn’t really give any of us cause to learn it,” Camilla pointed out as she sad up. “Defensive aren’t you Cy?”
“Her name is Maria, I suspect she’d not too keen on such a name being said behind her back. I don’t mind when you call me Cy, gods know its better than getting caught.”
“You really should let Liam cover that up for you love.” She pointed to the red wave tattoo on his forearm. “Would go a long way to hid you better than a name change.”
“We’ll see.” He sighed. “Things look good. Everything looks healthy.”
“Thanks doc,” she gave him a quick peck on the cheek. “What would I have done if we hadn’t found you in Murkwell?”
“Found a doctor who wasn’t a wanted man.” He smiled.
“Enjoy the life Sab, get the tattoo covered, hey maybe talk to the girl and enjoy the open sea.”
“Alright Camilla.” He smiled, this was at least better than where he used to be.
*********
The smell of rose and orange blossom announced the arrival of that bright eyed navigator Maria rolled over in her bunk and pretended she was asleep. The cheeriness of the pregnant woman unnerved her.
“I know a secret.” She almost sang as she leaned into Maria’s bunk. “Doctor fancies you.”
Maria huffed. Foolish woman.
*****************
Glowing blue eyes pursued them through the rain and brambles. The spot when Sebastian’s eye had been throbbing and stung as he carried Kirra on his back. The hefty dwarf woman slowing his escape but he couldn’t leave hers. Not to that sort of fate.
He lost track of time and direction his remaining vison stained read as that horrible clanking persisted behind them. Finally he found a spot to hide them, laying her friend down on behind a half collapsed wall, his hands moving over her Spare the Dying all he had left in him.
“Stay with me Kirra.” He begged as her eyes opened glazed over and distant. “If we can make it until morning…. If I can rest, you’ll be just fine.”
“This… is why civilians shouldn’t be fighting this war…” she laughed darkly. “Red Tempest or not Midwife your out of your depth… I’m done for.”
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“No… we’ll rest…” he cried. “Find the others…. Regroup….”
“They got Jack and probably killed the rest.” She said taking his hand, and using the last on her strength to push her dagger into his grasp “You’re the last of us Sab. The remains of the Strom.”
“No…”
Sebastian woke in a cold sweat, heart racing. There was the dream again the final moment right before….
He shook his head trying to shake the memories from his mind, but it was hard having the constant reminder every time he looked in the mirror. He pulled on his cloths and headed up to the deck, he needed air.
The cool fall air chilled him instantly sending a shiver down his spine, At least here he could breath. They were anchored somewhere off the coast, the waters were still and a bright harvest moon hung in the sky giving off a slight orange hue. One of the crew members lay dozing in the crow nest. It was, quite and beautiful.
The glint of something shiny caught his eye and he turned to face the ships boy. A figure bathed in the moon light seemed to dance slowly with two thin curved blades. Slow and practiced movements, spinning in the moon light. He watched for a bit, the dance without music before he took notice of who the figure was. Maria, going through the motions effortlessly, so loose and relaxed, a far departure from her usual, ridged self. Sebastian couldn’t help but draw closer.
He watched for a few more moments before her took notice, and the hard blue eyes of hers stared him down. The sword went to her sides almost defensively. Her shoulders once again squared and tense. She wore a white tabard over her clothes embordered with sliver stars as an set of bright female eyes, The symbol of, the Moonmaiden.
“I didn’t know you were praying.” Sab held up his hands defensively.
“No one is awake when I come here… I do this alone.” She sheathed the swords. “Why are you hear now?”
“Bad dreams.” He put his hands down. “Needed the air.”
She looked at him coldly the same way she had that first meet, the look of judging intentions. Sab slowly made his way over to the side on the ship and looked over the side at the calm waters. He knew he shouldn’t turn his back on someone like her he knew better but somehow he doubted those swords would end up in his back.
“Old memories that wont let me rest sometime.” He continued running his hands along the wooden railing.
“Thinking on those thing will bring you pain.” She replied. “We should not suffer the past.”
“Not so easy though…” he sighed turning back around. She’d moved within striking distance with him even hearing her.
“It is already hurt us once why allow it to do so again.”
“Its not that simple, I’ve killed people.”
“So have I. A great many have fell by my hand and they do not cause me nightmares. Would you like to know why doctor?” she is setting on to the railing beside him. “Because the past carries no blade.”
“The past carries no blade?”
“All that can harm you in here in the moment, what is in the past has already hurt you and cannot again and the future has not taken its swing yet.”
“I’d not sure how that applies to my dreams?”
“Would you tell me of them?”
“I was a soldier, a medic… I lost a lot of friends, a lot died in my arms.”
“Come sit with me,” Maria nodded and hesitantly reached for his hand opting instead to reach for his sleeve and pulled him way from the side of the ship. “I shall repay you for the healing.”
Sab let her sit him down on the deck, cross legged across from her. Setting aside the tabard and laying her two swords between the to of them and extending her hands to him motioning for him to take them. He reached out and took his, flattening his palms so they rested on top of here.
“This is how we would sit for hours in my order, sometimes all day.” She continued, he hands were strong and rough against is smooth healers finger “Reflecting on what caused us pain and suffering. Drawing in the darkness and the beasts. Do you understand me.”
“What was your order?”
“In time, lesson now. Do you understand?”
“Yes you want me to think of what’s causing me the nightmares and suffering.”
“Yes Sebastian.” She nodded, closing her eyes. “now close your else and allow those nightmares in.”
“Okay…” Sebastian breathed deeply and closed his eyes, she didn’t look like a monk, but what did he know, most of the people he’d met since leaving Oswil were not what he expected. He’d give it a shot at least.
“Stay with me Kirra.” He begged as her eyes opened glazed over and distant. “If we can make it until morning…. If I can rest, you’ll be just fine.”
The memory came to him again almost too easy, the swear beginning to bead on his head at the thought of it.
“This… is why civilians shouldn’t be fighting this war…” she laughed darkly. “Red Tempest or not Midwife your out of your depth… I’m done for.”
“No… we’ll rest…” he cried. “Find the others…. Regroup….”
Sabastian’s heart began to race
“They got Jack and probably killed the rest.” She said taking his hand, and using the last on her strength to push her dagger into his grasp “You’re the last of us Sab. The remains of the Strom.”
“No…”
WACK!
Something smacked down on his hands suddenly and the vision faded, replaced by a stinging pain going up his arms. Reflexes kicking in he made a grab as he opened his eyes, he’s grabbed Maria about the writs and held tight his hands shaking.
“Good.” he almost saw a smile cross her face.
“What?”
“Release my hands Sebastian.” She said softly.
He let go his hand still stung and trembled as he set them down on his knees. His heart slowing back to normal.
“What was that?”
“The Pain of the Moment.” She said. “The only pain we need be concerned about.”
“What?”
“The past hurts. The things that happened stay with us eating away at our soul.” She continued. “but its already delt its blow, and cannot do so again. You were lost in the past until I slapped you then that pain was all that mattered right?”
“Yeah…” he was at a loss for words, but she was right he’s forgotten it instantly.
“This is something we practice, our emotions ebb and flow like the tides pulled in and out by the moon, the past, the present and future, like her cycle in the sky. But what matters right now is what we can see, and feel.” She explained grasping his hands in his for a moment. “The past has dealt its blows and you have survived, and the future has yet to swing its sword, the best thing to do is fight the battle in front of you, not the one you’ve already won.”
“You’d sit like that for hours?” Sab replied.
“Sometimes the walk must be long, other times it is short.” She took her hands back and rose from her place, gathering her swords. “Practice it doctor and it will help.”
“How do I slap myself though?”
“Figure it out.” She smirked, turning to leave him. “my debt has been repayed.”
Moring Lord Save him what had he gotten himself into.