The Waters of Dawn Cove
~Story 7~

Zenoar motioned to Arne to stop the wagon. Just down the road a cart was parked beside the road, the people around it in a somewhat frantic state. Arne motioned to Mulass to stay at some distance. Maybe the docter was right and they were in need of his aid but Arne had to worry about the docter first and a number of dangerous scenarios ran in his mind. This could be a trap. Thieves and robbers sometimes staged plays like this to rob or kidnap people. This could also be a pain. If the people were scampering because of a broken axis, Zenoar would still help them and that would probably come down to a lot of heavy lifting and the docter wasn't all that strong.
They approached one of the men.
"Are you in trouble?" Zenoar asked.
"In need of medical attention." Arne added to make certain the people knew what to expect.
Zenoar gave his bodyguard an annoyed sideglance but technically Arne had not said anything wrong. Zenoar was no fool and he'd noticed Mulass hanging back. They'd been travelling long enough for Zenoar to have picked up on a few mindprocesses of his companions. Arne was cautious. Maybe a bit too much, maybe rightly so since he had been paid to ensure his saftey.
"Thank the gods!" the man exclaimed, "One of our drivers fell of the cart and there's so much blood and..."
"Lead me to him." Zenoar interrupted as he jumped off the cart.
Mulass knew the moment Arne relaxed his shoulders that she could join them. On one hand she was relieved but on the other she was worried about what she'd find. She'd taken on this job thinking it would be a great way to prove herself and see a lot of Gremyne. In reality she had seen far too much of life outside the big cities. Most villages didn't have a hospital nearby. They made due with a nurse or midwife and a priest for prayer.  Some even turned to shadier deals with those that still worshipped the old gods or demons.
She rounded the corner of the wagon, the braid on her back bouncing from speed and the uneven terrain. Arne was keeping watch on the road and she gave him a small wave to indicate that she would guard the docter. They could not always help and the grief of those present sometimes turned to the one who had not been able to help. Mulass understood their pain and never hesitated to share her thoughts. Her honest audacity usually calmed the mob where Arne's bulk usually only enflamed their anger. Or maybe the fact that she was a woman helped. Country men still held some backwards ideas and she was often mistaken for being a nurse.
Zenoar noticed Mulass joining them and immediately started with a few commands.
"Go fetch my kit. We'll need a tarp, guass, bandages and disinfectant. The bottle of brandy too."
The driver had had a nasty fall. He'd banged his head and was drowsy. His pupils were dilating normally and he could give basic information albeit slow. Time would tell whether or not he had an internal hemmorage but for now Zenoar wasn't oo worried about the man's brain. He was however worried about the bad break in his ankle. The driver might have gotten it caught in a wheel or lead when he fell. His foot was turning blue, the ankle swollen and very tender. The flesh of his leg tugged in an unnatural way. The break wasn't open but if they couldn't set it straight the driver would lose his leg, if not his life.
Zenoar would have preferred to do this procedure in a clean room but life on the road meant he had to compromise. When Mulass returned with the necessary items. Zenoar spread the tarp, and directed some of the people to carry the driver on it as steadily as possible. Afterwards he disinfected the man's leg and gave him a few swigs of the brandy to take the edge off.
Mulass took her place, both knees at either side of his head, her hands on his shoulders. She would hold the driver steady while Zenoar operated. The brandy was laced with a sedative but it would still hurt. Other people were asked to hold the patient's arms and legs. Zenoar attempted to set the bone outwardly first. Twisting and pulling the foot in a way that caused some of the bystanders to swoon. Luckily nobody fainted.
Zenoar observed and was relieved to see the foot regaining a healthier colour. He probably wouldn't need to operate. But the man wasn't out of the woods yet.
"Are you local?" he asked, "Do you know of a doctor in the vicinity?"
The people shook their heads at both questions. Zenoar had hoped to be able to hand the man over to a colleague and be on his way. But he could not leave them be when he wasn't certain everything was right. he'd need to observe the man through the night for signs of concussion and internal bleeding.
At that moment another cart pulled over. A travelling merchant by the looks of it, dealing in furs and cloth.
"What happened?" the man asked.
"A bad fall. Are you local?" Zenoar asked.
"Yeah, just returning home to Dawn Cove. About a mile left to go."
"That could work. Is there a docter at Dawn Cove?"
"A nurse. But no docter."
"We'll have to come with you then." Zenoar decided.
Mulass and Arne, used to this, were already packing up, transferring the driver, now drowsy, to their wagon where they could immobilise his body so he wouldn't be jostled too much during the trip. The folks from the cart luckily had a young girl who could drive the horses and soon they were on the road, slowly making their way to Dawn Cove.

A few days later Mulass, Arne and Zenoar watched the cart pull out again, heading to their destination. The driver was going to recover but he wouldn't be able to walk for some time. It was likely he'd retain a limp but without their help his fate would have been far worse.
Their stay in Dawn Cove had been pleasant despite Zenoar's worries about the patient, Arne's worries about safety and Mulass' doubts about what a little village could offer. But all three had been surprised by the decent lodgings and the warm welcome they'd received. They'd stayed at the 'clinic', named thus because it was where the nurse lived. The building had a few extra rooms so she could watch over patients that were too ill to remain at home.
"Lief has been hinting that we could stay." Mulass told Zenoar.
"I've picked up on that." Zenoar replied.
In truth the docter was conflicted. There was a lot he could do on the road. On the other hand, from what he'd heard, there was no docter in the vicinity and they really needed one. There was an official opening here but so far no docter had taken the position.
"It could be a good base of operations." Arne added his opinion.
Zenoar could still take trips to visit nearby villages. He could still patrol and then return to Dawn Cove. The village was well placed. It's leaders were sensible people who encouraged growth but who didn't let the growth go unchecked. There was a clear plan visible in everything. They could use another guard or two though.
"What do you think?" Zenoar asked Mulass.
"I quite like it here." Mulass said plainly.
"Let's stay here for a month and then make a final decision."
the two guards nodded. There was also something else to consider. The villagers had not been too open about it but there was a lot of coming and going from the beach and back. People appeared seemingly out of nowhere. Dark shapes sometimes shot through the water. Lief had let something slip about a creaure called "nekrat". Many people in Dawn Cove apparently had formed a bond with one of them. Staying on to clear up the mystery was something Mulass and Arne had discussed. A month might not be long but it was probably enough to get to the bottom of this.

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[INTRO] ° [ZENOAR] [ARNE] [MULASS]

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All images found with google
Lantessama Isle