Hell at the Gates by K.J. Coble

Author:K.J. Coble
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: K.J. Coble
Published: 2022-01-26T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Six

Regrouping

Ydath rolled a cask of wine out from beneath the quarterdeck of the Witch of Vendar to the growled, rollicking approval of the crew. Grinning, Hamner put a boot on top of it and raised a hand for silence.

“I was surprised to find an unopened barrel, with this pack of dogs about,” he said. Laughter answered him and his lop-sided grin spread. “In recognition of your good behavior, this one belongs to you all!”

The crew roared and pressed in on the cask. Hamner got it tapped and filled the first mug, lifting it to cheers.

Jon, seated on the gunwale beside the boarding ramp, grinned. From what he could see, similar celebrations were beginning on most of the other galleys and converted civilian ships now docked again in the morning-lit Military Harbor of the Jeweled Bay.

Pain stole the grin, though, at Hark’s ministrations to his shoulder.

“That’s going to hurt like hell in a few hours,” the Brother-at-arms said, probing at the knife cut in Jon’s shoulder. “And it’s going to need stitches.”

“It hurts like hell now,” Jon growled.

Edisten, puffing at his pipe, stepped up to Jon with a damp bundle of clean rags. He held it out to Hark. “Put this on it.”

Hark glanced at Jon, who nodded. The big man accepted the bundle with an untrusting expression and pressed it to the wound. Jon hissed as pain sizzled in his shoulder. Hark jerked the bundle away and speared Edisten with a glare.

“It’s a poultice, one of my own,” the gnome snapped at the man. “It hurts now, but it’ll keep the wound clean, cleaner than anything you’ve got.”

Hark looked at Jon again, who nodded. It’s just a little pain. He grimaced as the rags pressed against the cut and the burning began anew. Edisten moved close to Jon, shooing Hark back with a wave of his hand and putting his own pressure on the poultice. His pipe smoke smelled of spices and a kind of woody redolence, brought relaxation to Jon’s rigid frame and a sense of well-being to his nerves.

“How were our losses?” Jon asked Hark as the pain subsided.

“Three killed,” Hark replied, glaring petulantly at Edisten. “Four wounded. One of them, Daggarty, is pretty bad. I’ve already had him sent up to the Skaeda Bastion.”

“Good.” Jon looked at the celebrating crew and said, “Make certain our people get some of that wine. They earned it.”

“Very good, Sir.” Hark smiled and turned to see to the happy task.

“Seven more,” Jon sighed as he watched the Brother-at-arms go. “Seven more who trusted me.”

“Don’t start with that,” Edisten growled. “I’m not going to have that poison go to work on you, too. You did your best, young man, and you did well.” The gnome nodded out into the bay. “Do you see any Feyan ships out there?”

Jon managed a grin at the gnome’s words. He saw Hamner approaching and straightened his back.

“How’s that scratch?” Hamner asked.

Jon chuckled. “I’ll live.”

“Well, that’s a good thing.” Hamner held out his mug of wine. “I drew a little for you.

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