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Orual · 03-01-2003, 12:13 AM

Jem's face burned with shame as he left Yr Saldan. How could he have been so foolish? At least Saldan didn't seem too upset with him. He didn't know if he could've handled that.

He jogged to where Jalal was, cleaning up the cuts and scrapes of the other corsairs. The healer was an older man, his face weatherbeaten and tanned from many years of work on the seas, but it was a kind face, one that was easily trusted. Jem would trust Jelal to perform surgery on him on a rickety table, at sea, in the middle of a hurricane, and not make a mistake. The old healer's hands were as steady as his wit was sharp, and that was considerable.

"Well, Jemmy my lad, what've you done to yourself this time?" the old man asked, looking up from one of his patients, a middle-aged man with a small nick on his cheek. Jem knew him only vaguely. He went up to Jelal.

"Pretty deep gash on my arm," Jem muttered, pulling off the bandage and wincing. "My attention wavered and a guard came up behind me and gave me this to remember him by."

Jelal inspected it gravely, and shook his head, making clicking noises with his tongue. Jem breathed in relief; if Jelal made that sort of scolding sound, all was well. His arm would recover. "Quite a lapse for a full-fledged corsair," Jelal intoned, pulling out his cleansing equipment and began the slightly painful processes of cleaning the wound.

"Well, I was just preoccupied."

"Indeed. Preoccupation can lead to deaths, Jemmy. You know that."

"I know, I know, but I was basically alone, not watching anybody's back." Jem felt crushed by Jelal's comment, softened as it was by the use of Jem's nickname. "It was an accident."

"It's all accidents," Jelal muttered through the swabs held between his teeth. Jem looked anxiously at the old man, worried that he was indeed upset with him. But the old corsair's eyes were sparkling.

"Oh, fix it up quick, Jelal. I need to get back to Yr Saldan this evening." Jem frowned, then gritted his teeth as the Jelal re-wrapped his arm.

Jelal finally finished and Jem started his walk back to Yr Saldan, half-fearing what he would say. What would he be asked to do?

There was nothing to do but ask Yr Saldan to find out.

[ March 01, 2003: Message edited by: Orual ]

03-01-2003, 12:13 AM	#98
Orual Speaker of the Dead Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Superbia Posts: 868	Jem's face burned with shame as he left Yr Saldan. How could he have been so foolish? At least Saldan didn't seem too upset with him. He didn't know if he could've handled that. He jogged to where Jalal was, cleaning up the cuts and scrapes of the other corsairs. The healer was an older man, his face weatherbeaten and tanned from many years of work on the seas, but it was a kind face, one that was easily trusted. Jem would trust Jelal to perform surgery on him on a rickety table, at sea, in the middle of a hurricane, and not make a mistake. The old healer's hands were as steady as his wit was sharp, and that was considerable. "Well, Jemmy my lad, what've you done to yourself this time?" the old man asked, looking up from one of his patients, a middle-aged man with a small nick on his cheek. Jem knew him only vaguely. He went up to Jelal. "Pretty deep gash on my arm," Jem muttered, pulling off the bandage and wincing. "My attention wavered and a guard came up behind me and gave me this to remember him by." Jelal inspected it gravely, and shook his head, making clicking noises with his tongue. Jem breathed in relief; if Jelal made that sort of scolding sound, all was well. His arm would recover. "Quite a lapse for a full-fledged corsair," Jelal intoned, pulling out his cleansing equipment and began the slightly painful processes of cleaning the wound. "Well, I was just preoccupied." "Indeed. Preoccupation can lead to deaths, Jemmy. You know that." "I know, I know, but I was basically alone, not watching anybody's back." Jem felt crushed by Jelal's comment, softened as it was by the use of Jem's nickname. "It was an accident." "It's all accidents," Jelal muttered through the swabs held between his teeth. Jem looked anxiously at the old man, worried that he was indeed upset with him. But the old corsair's eyes were sparkling. "Oh, fix it up quick, Jelal. I need to get back to Yr Saldan this evening." Jem frowned, then gritted his teeth as the Jelal re-wrapped his arm. Jelal finally finished and Jem started his walk back to Yr Saldan, half-fearing what he would say. What would he be asked to do? There was nothing to do but ask Yr Saldan to find out. [ March 01, 2003: Message edited by: Orual ] __________________ "Oh, my god! I care so little, I almost passed out!" --Dr. Cox, "Scrubs"