Handy-Man

Gorranach sized up Sophi and her clothing. Between looking for threats and navigating, he hadn’t spared a look to see how the new equipment suited people. Had he been slacking? Was this something he was supposed to do as well? Even used to trauma duty, this week was starting to feel like a lot, and he found himself wishing he could still ask Gallas for advice — then quickly suppressed the feeling that tried to sneak up next.

Gorranach sighed. “They do seem more like Marza’s size. Too tall, that one. It’s a mystery how elves balance so well considering their center of gravity. Hand em over at camp tonight, I’ll see what I can do with the tools I have with me. Don’t expect pretty.”

He was about to turn away again when he noticed Sophi looking flushed. Was there something more he was supposed to tell her? Gallas would’ve known what to say. Gorranach tried anyway. “It’s important to maintain and size one’s equipment so it holds up when it’s most important. Better to ask now than trip and break something later.”

Gorranach furrowed his brows. “Good question… I suppose someone like my father could replace a medic with these just fine in combat. For uncomplicated wounds. You get it wrong on the ‘on demand’ part though. If ya tried to buy enough for an army, they’d have no money leftover for armor. Or weapons. Or rations. Or pay. Probably still be in debt after that.”

“There’s also other things—” The smile that was building up on Gorranach’s face as he rattled off his little list suddenly vanishes. “Defects a potion can’t fix.”

“But, what you asked me was if I could make them.” Gorranach says, quickly steering the subject in a slightly different direction. “I was on the path to learn, actually. I practiced the Gnomish language whenever I had an hour — they’re famous for their alchemy. But healing potions are magical, and anything magical requires a true expert. Probably why they’re so expensive.”

“If someone were inclined to treat everyone no matter their worth, they’d learn medicine.”

“I’ll be honest, I’ve also been wondering if the right decision would be to seek help closer by.” Gorranach thinks for a moment. “Getting this wrong would be very costly. Those men burned had the resources and the disregard to burn an entire town to the ground. That makes it reasonable that they would attack even in a city, and we’d be found quicker there. I don’t like it, but unless Marza is lying to us after all, this is the path most likely to see the nine of us survive.”

“We may still wish to risk sending word to the cities. With a warning of this blight. A burned village isn’t going to be overlooked, but that blight may not have left a trace.”

“Ay, if you wish. I’d call the city of Kalduhr my hometown. There are other towns closer to my father’s keep, but I was born there, and it’s where I spent about half my time till adulthood.”

“Kalduhr’s a proper city, good dwarven architecture cradled by mountains. Mind you, the city isn’t nearly all dwarven. There’s plenty of others from humans to even Dracovians. It’s also where I trained to be a surgeon. Perfect place to learn the anatomy of many different ancestries.”

Gorranach furrows his brows in thought. “I think my parents were alright with me studying there so young because all the noble balls were held there. Basically every family from the surrounding areas, mine included, has a house there with a space for formal parties.”

“Everyone was big on them. Parties.” His face goes a little sour. “Blegh. I mean sure, they taught me a lot about different cultures.” He pauses to take a deep breath. “I’m just not the charmer Gallas was.”

“Woah, that’s a lot o’ questions.” Gorranach counts them with his fingers, raising all five of them. “Let’s see if I can get through them all.”

“Dracovians. Like Nix, their scales require a different approach when treating or cutting the skin. Lots of different colors too. They’re like… the jewelry of people. I’m particularly fond of a specific black-scaled one.” He smiles. “She saved my life once.” Gorranach lowers one finger.

“Parties… I was forced to attend my fair share of formal gatherings. My family’s well-respected but no one was ever interested in talking with me about flanking strategies or differences in species anatomy. The oh-so-heroic embellished stories of my brothers were much more welcome.” Another finger down.

“Wealthy?” He grimaces. “Certainly not currently. Even had to downgrade my armor — I almost feel naked. I—” His grimace turns to a sheepish smile. “I never did learn my mentor’s final lesson to being a successful surgeon.” Another finger.

“Lumina tucked away? Well, my youngest brother calls him ‘dad’. But I’ve been earning my own wages since I was eleven. Besides, until I return home with a relic, I’m not allowed to ask for that kind of help. Part of the quest.” Though he answered only one question, Gorranach lowers the final two fingers at once. “You know, I’m actually starting to enjoy this conversation. Why don’t you tell me one of these stories your father told you? Of the brave adventurers.”

“Ay, sounds good.” Gorranach looks back and shouts at the group. “We’re in luck. We get to bathe today. I see a lake up ahead.”