The morning passed quickly as Aleria and Haddy spent it organising and taking stock of what supplies would be needed to get the clinic functional again. The three soldiers Bernard had sent busied themselves with cleaning the facility with military efficiency.
Aleria marvelled at their diligence. Not a single corner or surface was left untouched as they scoured away years of built-up grime and dust. Rags were wrung out repeatedly in buckets of steaming water until the liquid turned an opaque, murky grey. Still, the soldiers persisted, trading off rags and replenishing the water as needed without a word of complaint.
Whatever Bernard had said to them clearly resonated. Aleria could only imagine the tone he'd adopted - that unmistakable edge of stern authority… and threats, there were probably threats…
Aleria moved from shelf to shelf, taking meticulous inventory of the clinic's dwindling supplies with Haddy's help.
"We'll need more bandages for certain," the younger woman muttered, making a note on the parchment balanced precariously on her hip. "And antiseptic tonics."
Aleria nodded absently, already moving on to the next set of half-empty jars lining the shelves. Her fingers danced over the cracked stoneware, mentally cataloguing what would need restocking. Fortunately, Perchfoot had kept a decent supply of poultices and salves. Aleria's own magics had no need for such things, but the traditional medicines and treatments would be good to have to aid those she could not tend to herself.
"Do you think we have enough needle and thread here for stitching wounds?" Haddy's voice cut through her musings. "I'd hate for you to be caught short when some poor soul comes stumbling through those doors."
Aleria nodded, brushing an errant lock of auburn hair from her eyes as she surveyed the supplies once more. "The list should suffice for our immediate needs. We'll take stock again once the clinic is fully operational."
Though she kept her tone even, inwardly Aleria's stomach twisted into anxious knots. How exactly were they going to pay for everything they required? She had coin saved from odd jobs during her travels. She supposed that for now it would suffice, but those funds were dwindling rapidly. Certainly, it was not enough to fully restock and maintain a place like this for long.
And then there was the matter of compensating Haddy for her assistance. The younger woman's knowledge would prove invaluable, but Aleria had no means to pay her a proper wage.
She opened her mouth, intending to voice her concerns to Haddy, when the sound of footsteps in the doorway drew her attention. Bernard strode into the supply room, ducking slightly to avoid the low-hanging lintel.
"Looks like you two have been making good progress in here," he remarked, squinting around at the newly cleaned space approvingly.
Aleria inclined her head. "The soldiers you sent have been immensely helpful in restoring some order."
Bernard grunted. "Aye, they're a good lot. Hardworkin' and loyal." His gaze slid to the parchment clutched in Haddy's hands. "I trust you're taking stock of what's needed?"
"We are," Aleria confirmed with a nod. "Though I must admit, I'm uncertain how we'll manage to pay for—"
"That part's covered," Bernard said with a dismissive wave of his calloused hand. "Way I see it, this clinic is a necessity for the town. Folks need a place to get patched up when things go sideways. It'll be budgeted for, same as the garrison's supplies an' upkeep."
Aleria felt her shoulders sag with relief. "That's... very generous of you, Bernard."
The former soldier's expression softened briefly. "You did us all a great service showin' up here, 'Ria." He cleared his throat gruffly. "Way I figure it, I owe you a debt. Least I can do is make sure you're fairly compensated for your work here an' given enough to keep your staff paid as well."
Bernard reached into the folds of his worn cloak and produced a hefty leather coin purse. With a flick of his wrist, he tossed it to Haddy, who caught it deftly despite her surprised expression.
"That should hopefully cover the essentials for gettin' this place back in workin' order," Bernard said gruffly. "And if there's anythin' left over after that, just squirrel it away for when you need to restock."
Haddy bobbed her head enthusiastically, clutching the coin purse to her chest. "Thank you, m'lord! I'll see that every copper is well spent, you can count on me."
Her eyes shone with gratitude as she turned to Aleria. "I'll take the list to the market straight away and gather what we need." She tucked the parchment carefully into her apron pocket. "If you'll excuse me?"
Without waiting for a response, Haddy scurried from the room, her footsteps fading rapidly down the corridor. Aleria felt the corners of her mouth quirk upwards in a faint smile as she shook her head.
"Eager one, that girl," Bernard remarked, his own lips twitching with amusement. "You'll have your hands full keeping up with her."
Aleria arched an eyebrow at her old friend. "Are you quite certain giving her free rein with your coin is wise?" She kept her tone light, teasing. "For all you know, she could be lining a nest for herself somewhere rather than procuring necessities."
Bernard snorted loudly. "Haddy's the one who really ran this place back when Perchfoot was around, 'Ria. She's got more integrity in her little finger than most the men in my garrison."
Aleria couldn't help but laugh at Bernard's staunch defence of Haddy's character. "If the men in your garrison are anything like the louts we served with during the war, I'd wager a goat would have more integrity than the lot of them combined."
She shook her head in mock exasperation, though her eyes danced with mirth. "Still, I suppose I should give the girl the benefit of the doubt. She hasn't done anything thus far to make me question her trustworthiness."
Bernard harrumphed loudly, folding his arms across his broad chest. The motion made the faded fabric of his cloak strain against the swell of his shoulders.
Bernard held Aleria's gaze steadily, his weathered features set in an expression of earnest concern. "I meant what I said, 'Ria. If there's anythin' else you need to get this place shipshape, you've only to ask."
Aleria felt a pang of gratitude towards her old friend. After everything they had endured together during the war, she shouldn't have doubted his sincerity. Bernard had always been gruff around the edges, but his loyalty to those he deemed worthy of it was unshakable.
"You've already done more than enough by providing the funds to restock our supplies," she assured him. A teasing lilt crept into her voice as she arched an eyebrow. "And don't you have a town to attend to, Mayor Blackfist? Surely the bureaucracy is calling for your attention."
Bernard snorted loudly, waving a dismissive hand. "Last Gate can do without me sticking' my nose in official matters for a day." His expression soured briefly. "Truthfully, all the parchmentwork and form signin' can get rather tiresome after a while."
Aleria couldn't stifle the soft chuckle that bubbled up from her throat. "Is that your roundabout way of admitting you'd rather be anywhere else than cooped up in that dingy office? Come grab this crate, if you insist…"
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