Captain of the Signet Ship "Seraph"
Captain's Log: Official Log, the Tenth
Date: Taleus 1, 1806, Year of the Drake
I briefly regained consciousness on the 28th, just after dawn. My head was pounding from dull pain. A crowd of people was gathered in the infirmary; several men armed and standing directly beside the unconscious body of Dr. Dayafter. He was under a white sheet, bound by rope and chain to a metal surgical table. His eyelids flickered, and then opened, focusing on me. Within seconds his awakened mind registered what I assume was my hastily bandaged form lying on a surgical table beside him. I can only assume from his aghast expression that I looked as dapper and hardy as I felt.
His throat dry, he silently mouthed, "Mael...I'm so sorry..." Then the room slowly faded to black, and I was unconscious once more.
Upon my second waking, I arose at 10 of the morning on the 29th, groaning with incredible soreness as I attempted to sit up in the thin infirmary bed, tossing the white sheets away from me. My chest and stomach were heavily bandaged, as was my left arm. Suddenly but with a gentle pressure, Augustus' hand appeared and pushed me back to the bed.
"Not yet, oh fearless leader. It took far too much effort stitching you up to have you destroying all of my work in one brash sitting," the doctor chided with a friendly - if forced - smirk. I focused on his face; a thin, pale scar ran a short, vertical line down the bridge of his nose. Another identical scar resided under his chin.
"I thank you for besting my feral alter ego, Captain. I am..." his eyes dropped, and he coughed roughly - a sound etched with growling, whining undertones - into a white handkerchief, visibly out of sorts.
"I vowed to you that I would see the wolf stopped if ever we met again," I interrupted, painfully lifting my hand to his shoulder. "Never was your fault what that blasted beast sets his mind to do...won't hear of you blaming yourself for it. We've been through this before. Just need to get more ingredients so you can make that preventative potion before another month passes. Have to be more prepared next time is all," I whispered hoarsely through gritted teeth. Even speaking was painful.
"Of course, Captain," Augustus replied, still looking down. "...but Mr. Deckwalkre..."
"...is dead. I shut his eyes and prayed him onward," I offered. "T'weren't your curse that killed Deckwalkre...t'was my own."
"Surely you don't still believe in that silly old `Death of All First Mates' curse, Mael?" We stared at each other.
"How many of my first mates have died since Diabolique dropped that jealous hoodoo on my head, Doctor?"
Augustus sighed, "All of them, Captain."
"See no reason I shouldn't believe in it, then."
"Captain, the men. I can't transform again in front of these men. They already seem terrified of me...""I said we'll take care of it, Doctor. So far, the men are adjusting. We're finding and taking on an alchemist next civilized port we find after that gods cursed island, so either you or Aul need to start making a place for him." Again we both stared stubbornly at each other. Finally, he nodded and cleared his throat. I nodded and lowered my head to the pillow again, exhaling in relief.
"So, Doctor, will I live?"
"Sadly, yes. I should tell you 'No' after this ghastly scar you've given me...however, I must insist that you remain in bed until tomorrow. After that..."
I opened my mouth to protest, but he seemed adamant on this point, so I nodded agreement. I reckoned that winning two of three verbal bouts with the good doctor was a fine track record for one sitting.
"...after that, I want you resting in your cabin for a full two days unless you are called on deck for an emergency. Until then, Mr. Thorne, Mr. Hungan and Mr. DuBreens will run the ship for you."
"How's Morrigan?"
"As well as can be expected. She left a note for you in your chambers." With that, the doctor was upon me with a tray full of potives to administer. Within a few minutes, I was higher than the Seraph herself, all of my cares vanishing to the salty sea winds...and once again, I gave in to the spreading darkness, and flew on waves of chemically induced ecstasy.
"I am glad that I entrusted you with the dagger, Mael," said the doctor's voice through the swirling darkness.
Here ends of the "Chaos in The Skies" Tales (at least the account by my pen).
- Mael
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