A rolling sensation surrounded him; he felt himself swaying from side to side. He took a breath and found himself assaulted by the scent of salt and fish. He heard creaking timbers and far-off singing. He felt rope pressing against his bare back, a heavy cloth over his chest, and reluctantly opened his eyes. Above him was a wooden ceiling, rays of sunlight running across it, and beneath him was a sailor's hammock with a weighted covering over his body. He went to sit up, and his hand went through the hammock. He struggled for a few minutes, feeling a weakness from his very core, a weariness that went beyond the physical. He pushed through it, planted his feet on the wooden floor, stood up, and immediately was overcome with dizziness and lack of energy.
“None of that now, I knew it was too early for you to be moving.”
A thickly accented voice said, as a strong grip moved him to a nearby stool.
“Sit and try not to move. The captain will have my hide if something happens to you, and let’s not mention that psychotic elf of yours; by the Law itself, I’ve not met a more amoral being.”
The fast-talking person was revealed to be a cyclops. His skin was tanned, his head was bald, he had a bushy red beard, and of course, a large, singular, emerald green eye. With which he was currently scanning Jaeger up and down.
“Just mana exhaustion? It’s surprising enough you're up and about, but for your internal injuries to have healed up already?” Jaeger’s face locked down, and the ship's doctor waved a hand. “Bah, keep your secrets; I’m old enough that I don’t anymore.” The cyclops held out a mug of water. “Don’t use any strong magics, you’ll burn yourself out if you do, and eat some mana infused food; Cookie’s got a pot of skilly 'n' duff bubbling in the kitchens. You’ll be right as rain in a few days.”
“How long…” His throat dry, Jaeger readily accepted the offered water, taking a few sips, and he continued. “How long have I been out?”
“Bout three days, made a real entrance you did. Not even the captain expected a horse to appear from the horizon right on deck.” He shook his head in wonder.
“The others?”
“The elf is somewhere around, she checks on you multiple times a day; word of advice, I’d watch myself with her, she eyes you like a person caught in the throes of a siren’s call.. The man has made himself scarce; those other ones you brought weren’t exactly pleased to see him. And your horse is in the hold, probably. She’s got a way about coming and going as she pleases.”
Jaeger nodded at that, finished the water, and stood up.
“I need to go speak with the captain. Am I well enough to leave?”
The cyclops waved a hand.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
“Aye, he’s liable to be up at the wheel this time of day. Watch your steps, though, your stats will be a bit out of whack until your exhaustion clears.” The doctor scratched his chin and narrowed his eye. “As a doctor, I’m obliged to tell you not to push your mana to exhaustion like that again. Do it too many times and it ain’t coming back.”
“I’ll watch myself.”
“Aye, I bet. By the way, your clothes are in the chest. While I imagine the elf won’t mind you in nothing but your shorts, the rest of the crew might get jealous.”
Rolling his eyes, Jaeger opened the chest and got dressed. After struggling to pull on his shirt, he considered donning the Curiass of the Greenwood Avenger, but in his state couldn’t muster up the effort. As though sensing his thoughts, the armor responded with swiftness. It opened itself like a mouth, launched a series of vines that latched onto him, and then pounced onto him. In a matter of moments, it was sealed and seated across him, perfectly fit beneath his jacket. The doctor met his eyes with a single wide-eyed stare, to which Jaeger had no words and instead resumed dressing.
Unlike his armor, getting the rest on was a process that sapped even more of his low energy, something that felt emphasized by the watching eyes of the doctor. Once he was dressed, he moved out of the cabin, stumbling slightly with heavy feet; a feat that earned a snort from the doctor.
Moving through the ship was easy, the tight corridors offering many walls to lean into for support forward. His legs and arms were weak with disuse, and he took the chance to warm them up as he moved. His body started to warm up, feeling more and more able, but no matter what he did, he still felt an exhaustion in the core of who he was. By the time he reached the stairs to the wheel, he felt better than when he’d awoken; not great, but certainly a few grains closer to a full powder keg.
“Ho down there! Is the stalwart Bounty Hunter up and about? Make your way up here, mate, and let's converse.” The boisterous voice of Captain Tiber called to him.
Making his way up the stairs, Jaeger found the captain resting against the wheel. The captain turned with a smile and grabbed him by the shoulders.
“Ah, but it's good to see you up and about so soon. Ole One Eye said it was a simple case of mana exhaustion, but you can never be sure.” He patted Jaeger’s back.
“I’ve never experienced the like, so I’ll have to take his word.” Jaeger leaned against the railing. “How close are we to Danse Macre?”
Tiber shook his head and turned back to the wheel.
“Straight to business, then. We’re anywhere from 3 weeks to 3 days from Danse Macre. We didn’t hustle, what with you being unconscious. But say the word, and I can get the crew ready.”
Jaeger stretched his arms, felt the strain, and considered his answer carefully.
“The doc said in a few days I should be better, but better doesn’t mean ready.” He tapped against the railing in thought. “ Do you have any mana-infused foods?”
“Aye, the ocean’s full of easy-to-get mana-filled food. The crew practically lives off it when we’re at sea. Cook’s got a pot of sea chow going now.”
“Alright then, I’m thinking…”
“Thinking of taking it easy and not frustrating your partner again?” Interrupted a sibilant whisper in his ear.
“I don’t take it easy on the job.” He felt the tip of something sharp and metal against the skin of his arm. “That being said, I do need to rest, recover, and work myself back up to form.”
The tip disappeared.
“That is satisfactory. I shall watch over you then.” Kaeleth said as she appeared beside him, seated on the railing. He side-eyed her but didn’t comment. Tiber had yet to look back, but from the shaking of his shoulders, the darkling clearly found something funny.
“Five days. Tiber, can you get us there in five days?”
“Unless the weather turns apocalyptic, or pirates attack? Yes, I can.”
“Then do it. In the meantime, I’m off to rest and recover.”
