Salvage by R J Theodore

Author:R J Theodore [Theodore, R J]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781733811927
Publisher: Parvus Press LLC
Published: 2019-08-30T02:46:07+00:00

Chapter 30

Amos turned away from where Dug lay among blood-soiled linens, leaving Kirna to clean up and secure a bandage around the drain they’d installed. A pleased expression creased the softer portions of his face.

“We have extracted the foreign objects,” he reported to Talis. She’d seen for herself, but she nodded anyway. It was good news, and she’d listen to it over and over again. “The infection was the effect of the alchemical interference, and now that the curses have been removed, he will mend as quickly as a Bone body ought to. We will supplement the healing with life alchemy, and he can begin physical therapy after a day or so of bedrest.”

“Thank you, Professor.” Despite her misgivings about the man’s career choice, she meant it. She knew alchemists were unorthodox, to say the least, but it took one to reverse the effects of another. There might yet be worse secrets tucked away around the piles of books and intimidating machinery, any number of which would mean a heap of trouble if the wrong person knew about them. Unorthodox. Illegal. Heretical. Talis hardly cared. The pair had saved Dug’s life.

And it was what she wanted, anyway: to find Dug a proper doctor. Bless Sophie five times for her relationship with Kirna. And bless Kirna five times for her enthusiasm.

Amos washed up again, then stripped off the blood-stained lab coat and dropped it into the same hamper where his earlier coat and apron were discarded.

“Did Sophie or Kirna tell you about the solution we found on the Yu’Nyun ships?”

“Kirna mentioned it. I will prepare tests to determine the makeup.” The blood on his sleeve was dry, and he probed the arm beneath with a thoughtful look. After a moment, he turned back to Talis, adjusting his spectacles. “Tell me, what you claimed earlier—your involvement in the events that took place at Nexus—is this true? You were there?”

“We were.” Of course Amos would want to know about that. The Divine Alchemists. Talis and her crew had witnessed their powers up close, in a way that most Peridot citizens would never see. Full out battle, putting everything they had up against the Yu’Nyun starships. It had done them no good.

“Silus Cutter. Is this also true? You seem to have suffered no ill effects.”

Talis hated to admit it, but Hankirk had been right. Though the Cutter god was dead, flotsam spun on as if nothing happened. She nodded. “The aliens killed him before we ever knew they were here.”

“What about Onaya Bone?”

“She lives,” Talis said. She noticed he didn’t ask about Arthel Rak, his own god. “But she’s lost her powers, and she’s stuck in the body of a raven. Saw her the other day, in fact. Still acts self-righteous, even if she’s all but mortal.”

“Our greatest deterring factor is now mortal?” Amos chortled lightly and turned to Kirna who was finishing with the clean-up. “It appears our discretion is no longer required.”

Kirna grinned at him as she finished tucking new sheets around Dug, and said, “That’s going to increase competition.

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