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When they finally found Caleb, he was in bad shape. He was in a tiny room, locked in the basement. There were no windows or lights in the room, and when Caduceus lit up his staff, the wizard flinched so bodily his head smacked the wall behind him.
Yasha scooped him up as gently as she could, shushing him when he cried out at the movement. “We’ve got you, Caleb. You’re okay,” she soothed.
Jester cried when they got him out into the light. The battle getting to him had been more intense than anyone had anticipated or planned for. It left her drained, which meant she couldn’t help Caleb as much as she wanted. Caduceus had a little bit left, but looking at the wizard, she knew it would barely scratch the surface.
They moved as quickly as they could through the halls and out the door. They’d dispatched all of the enemies that were already on the property, but there was no way of knowing when or if more would show up.
There were horses out front and the Nein had planned on taking them off the bandits’ hands. Beau had scouted the cleanest and most intact cart and had begun hitching horses to it. Yasha carefully placed Caleb in the back of the cart.
Caduceus climbed in the back with Caleb and Veth, hoping to provide enough healing to take some of the edge off. The cart was covered, so the light was not adequate to get a real picture of the damage. Fjord drove the cart as fast as he could without bouncing them around too much, with the rest of the group riding alongside on the stolen horses.
Every bump would cause Caleb to grunt in pain, but he was silent otherwise. They rode for just under an hour before Fjord found a wooded area to pull off the road. The trees would provide cover, and the nearby stream would be handy as well.
When the cart finally stopped, Caduceus gently shifted Caleb towards the entrance so that they’d be able to maneuver him out of the cart. Yasha again stepped forward to lift the wizard.
The sunshine, even dappled through the trees, brought Caleb’s injuries into sharp relief. Jester began crying again, and Beau stormed off, kicking a few trees as she walked towards the water.
“Look at his hands,” Jester said, kneeling next to Caleb. Yasha had sat on the ground and was cradling Caleb in her arms. “They didn’t want him to be able to do any magic, I think.”
Yasha looked down at Jester’s words and closed her eyes when she saw the state of Caleb’s hands. They were a mess of purple and black bruising, and it looked like every bone was broken. His fingers were bent at odd and unnatural angles. There was evidence of bindings that had been tied tightly around his wrists.
“Caduceus, can you do something about that? I know Jester’s tapped, but that looks really painful,” Fjord said, standing over Yasha. He looked pale as he looked down at Caleb.
“I used the last of it in the cart on the way here, unfortunately. I was trying to make him a little more comfortable. But now I’m glad I wasn’t able to do more. If I had healed him completely, his bones may have healed incorrectly. Then we would have had to break them again. I’ll be able to do more after I rest for a bit.”
“I can help too, after a little bit! I’m really, really sorry Caleb,” Jester said, looking sadly at Caleb.
“Let’s at least do what we can without magic right now. We should get something cold on those bruises,” Fjord said, gesturing to Caleb’s face. The wizard flinched when Fjord’s hand got close, a whimper escaping his lips.
Beau had wandered back over and stood next to Fjord. “His jaw’s broken,” she said bluntly. “What? I’ve seen a few broken jaws in my time.”
Caduceus looked closer at Caleb’s face. There was significant bruising along his jaw, and one side was swollen. There was blood on his lips as well.
“This won’t be very pleasant, but I need to take a closer look at your jaw, Caleb,” he said. Caleb was still conscious and turned to look at the firbolg. Caduceus, always careful to get consent from Caleb before touching, asked the question again.
After a few more repetitions, the words finally seemed to sink in and Caleb gave the slightest of nods.
Caduceus smiled at him, steeling himself for what was going to be uncomfortable for both of them. He was a cleric and was used to helping people, but causing pain, even for the purpose of healing, felt terrible.
“Okay, mister Caleb. It looks like your jaw is broken. I need to look inside your mouth and make sure your teeth are alright. There’s some blood around your mouth and it’s making me worry.”
Caleb gave no real indication that he understood any of that, but Cad persisted.
“Are you able to move your mouth? Can you open your mouth for me?”
Caleb stared, but eventually parted his lips, making a pained noise as he tried to open his jaw.
“That’s really good, Caleb. I’m just going to help you a little bit. It will hurt but if it is too much we can stop. We can always stop.”
Caduceus gave a meaningful look to Yasha who was still holding Caleb in her lap. She understood the meaning and wrapped her arms a little bit more securely around the man.
“Caleb, I’m going to touch your face now. I need to try to open your mouth. Just a little bit, so I can see inside.” Caduceus placed a hand on the side of Caleb’s face, cupping the less swollen side of his jaw carefully. He could immediately feel the unnatural placement. He placed his other hand on the opposite side of Caleb’s head to steady him.
Gently and slowly he started to move his hand downwards, trying to steady the joint as well as he could. Caleb kicked his feet in the dirt, arching his back slightly. Caduceus was only able to work his jaw open about an inch before it started to get to be too much.
He brought his staff closer and peered close to Caleb’s open mouth, breathing with relief when he didn’t see any fresh blood, and no obviously out of place teeth.
“It’ll be more comfortable if we can find a way to stabilize your jaw, mister Caleb,” Caduceus said, letting go of Caleb’s head and guiding his jaw back to a closed position. “Just until we can heal you properly. Jester, could you find me a bandage? As clean as you can?”
Jester jumped up, happy to have a way to help. She returned moments later with a long white strip of cloth.
“I’m going to move your jaw a little bit more, Caleb, before I wrap it up. It’s important that it’s in the right spot so it doesn’t start to heal incorrectly.” Caleb didn’t respond, but made eye contact with Caduceus, taking a deep stuttering breath. “That’s good, mister Caleb.”
Caduceus placed a hand on either side of Caleb’s jawbone, holding steady when Caleb whined. “On three, okay?”
He counted quietly, just loud enough for caleb to hear, and on three he shifted his hands, lining Caleb’s jaw up as well as he could. It was tough to tell with the swelling, but when it felt like it was in its natural spot, the firbolg took the bandage in one hand and began to wrap it around under his jaw and over the top of his head.
Caleb lifted his arms like he was going to reach for the bandage but when his hands were jostled they fell back to his side.
Caduceus, who couldn’t stand the idea of tackling his hands and causing more pain, sat back on his heels. “We’ll give you a little break before we look at those fingers, Caleb. I do want to check you over to make sure there aren’t any more serious injuries.”
He stood stiffly and went to retrieve Caleb’s pack and bedroll, laying it out near the wagon. Yasha and Caduceus worked together to move Caleb over to his bedroll, both apologizing when he vocalized his pain.
Caleb was looking more and more aware every minute, which was a relief. He shifted on the blanket trying to get comfortable, taking deep breaths through his nose.
“You can rest in just a moment, Caleb. I am just going to check real quick for any life threatening injuries. Is there anything that hurts more than the rest?”
Caleb nodded and looked down towards his hands.
“Yeah, that does look painful. We’ll take care of them soon. Anything besides your hands?”
Caleb furrowed his brow, seeming to take inventory of the rest of his body. After a moment he shook his head, wincing at the movement.
“That’s good, mister Caleb,” the cleric said. If Caleb had been struggling to breathe or wincing more frequently, he would have done a more thorough check. As it was, however, he took Caleb’s word for it. “We’ll need to tackle your hands at some point, but Jester and I are both out of healing for at least a few hours. Why don’t you try to get some sleep, and then when you're ready we can take a look. Does that sound okay?”
Caleb nodded. He didn’t close his eyes right away, instead looking up at the sky.
Caduceus smiled at him before walking away towards the creek. Everyone else seemed to take that as the sign that they should set up camp, falling into a familiar rhythm. Veth managed to help Caleb drink some water and broth through his closed jaw, which was slow-going but effective. It was clear that it had been far too long since Caleb had been given sustenance.
Jester tucked herself into the wagon under a blanket. She’d let the group know that she was going to try “really really hard” to rest fast so she could heal Caleb.
Night fell, and Fjord volunteered to take first watch. Jester peeked her head out of the wagon when she heard everyone shifting and heading to bed.
“Should I heal him now? I don’t have a lot yet, but I can do a little?” Jester loudly whispered.
“I don’t think so. He’s sound asleep and him having a few more hours of rest under his belt will make everything else easier to tackle I think. Let’s wait until we can do it properly in the morning. We’ll still need to see to his hands before healing anyways.”
Jester bit her lip. “But what if he is hurting? I don’t want him to hurt, and maybe it’s better to just get it over with?”
“He doesn’t look like he’s hurting. He’s out cold,” Beau said. “Whoever is on watch can keep an eye on him, and if he wakes up or seems to be in pain, they can let you know.” Jester hesitated but eventually nodded, going back to where she’d been sleeping before.
***
Caleb managed to sleep through the night, hardly stirring. Shortly before dawn, though, he woke with a start, gasping in pain or fear as his body jolted.
Fjord immediately knelt next to Caleb, gently taking his arms to keep him from moving too much. Caleb was hissing through his teeth. “Hey, hey, you’re alright. You’re okay, Caleb,” he soothed. “Your jaw is broken, that’s why you can’t open your mouth. You’re okay.”
Caleb calmed down quickly, going back to measured breaths through his nose rather than gasping through his teeth.
Caduceus wandered over, kneeling on Caleb’s other side, leaning back so as not to crowd him. “Good morning, mister Caleb,” he said.
Caleb turned his head to look at Caduceus but winced.
“I’ve got good news and bad news for you. Do you think you could blink once for the bad news and twice for the good news?” Caduceus asked.
Caleb immediately blinked once before trying to get eye contact with the firbolg again. Caduceus smiled, pleased that they’d been able to devise a method of communication.
“Understood. Well, the bad news is that in order to make sure your hands heal the right way, we need to set some of the more badly broken bones. Healing can only do so much, and with your bones as badly broken as they are, I don’t think we should risk leaving it all to the spell.”
Caleb blinked again, twice this time. Caduceus smiled at him. “Yep. The good news is that both Jester and I are well rested and will be able to heal you up quite nicely. As soon as things are in the right spot, you’ll be good as new.”
Caleb moved his head to look for Jester. She ran over and sat next to Caduceus.
“Hi, Cay-leb! You’ll be feeling so much better soon! I’m really sorry I couldn’t heal you yesterday,” she said, looking down sadly.
Caleb’s eyes crinkled slightly, which was the closest he could get to a smile without hurting himself.
“Are you ready to start, mister Caleb?” Caduceus asked. Caleb looked unsure but nodded carefully. “That’s good. Let’s get you sitting up a little bit. Is that okay?” Another nod.
He helped Caleb sit up with one hand and moved the wizards pack behind him with the other. Caleb leaned back, able to see more from this new angle. Caleb’s eyes traced around the camp before focusing on Caduceus again.
The movement had jostled his broken bones, and the awakened pain was evident on his face.
Yasha sat next to Caleb. “Would it be better if you sat against me? Like yesterday?” she asked softly. Caleb nodded, looking anxious. He sat up as best he could without using his arms to brace himself.
Yasha put an arm behind his back and helped him sit all the way up, scooting herself so that Caleb could lean back against her. Once he was settled, Caduceus approached again. Everyone else started puttering around the area, not wanting to get in the way and also not really wanting to witness.
Jester perched on the edge of the cart, swinging her legs nervously.
“Alright, mister Caleb. Are you okay to start now? Are you comfortable?” Caleb nodded too fast for caduceus to really believe him. He proceeded anyway, however.
“Yasha, if you could keep him steady, that would be great. We’ll start with his right arm, so maybe keep his left braced against his side.”
Yasha shifted Caleb so she could wrap one arm tightly around Caleb’s upper arm, pinning it to his side. Her other hand wrapped around under his armpit and around his chest.
“That’s nice. You’re doing great, Caleb. You don’t need to do anything right now. Just keep breathing nice and slow and kick your feet if you need us to stop. Okay?”
The anxiety was evident in Caleb’s face and the way he was holding his body. He was tense but it was apparent he was trying to relax, albeit unsuccessfully.
“Caleb, I’m going to touch your hand now. I’ll start with your thumb and then work my way to your little finger. As soon as the bones are aligned, Jester will heal you good as new.”
Caleb started violently when Caduceus touched his hand. “Easy, Caleb. I’m not setting it yet. I’ll give you a countdown, I promise.”
Caleb whined through his teeth, building to a pitiful keening as Caduceus’ fingers braced the joint. The thumb didn’t look broken, but rather out of the socket. “On three, Caleb. Deep breath,” Caduceus said softly while making sure he had a good hold on the wizard’s thumb.
“One, two, three,” he said, tugging on the thumb when he said three, guiding it back into the right spot. Caleb bucked against Yasha, but fell into a practiced rhythm of breathing deeply and evenly through his nose.
“Well done, Caleb. That’s one over with,” the firbolg soothed, placing a hand on Caleb’s upper arm. “Do you want a moment or are you ready for the next finger?” Caleb blinked twice. “You’re ready?” Caduceus confirmed, and Caleb nodded in return.
The next finger was bent in several odd directions, and caduceus steeled himself, knowing it would be a harder fix.
“Was the countdown helpful?” Caduceus asked. Another nod. He smiled at the wizard before feeling along the finger for the worst breaks as gently as he could. “Okay, one, two, three,” he counted down once again and started shifting the bones, as quickly and carefully as he could.
This time, Caleb threw himself back against Yasha harder and kicked out with his feet. He had to strain to keep hold of his arm, nearly dropping it. “You’re okay, mister Caleb. That was a bad one. I’m so sorry,” Caduceus said softly.
Caduceus gestured for Jester to come closer. “It looks like we need a little more help keeping Caleb steady. I’m worried that if he moves too much, this will take longer and nobody wants that. Caleb, would it be okay if Jester here holds onto your arm?” Another too-fast nod.
The second that Jester reached forward and held his arm between her hands, however, Caleb’s breathing picked up exponentially. The measured, careful breathing became shallow and panicked.
Caduceus furrowed his brow. “Let’s pause for a minute. He took his hands off of where he was holding Caleb’s hand and motioned for Jester to do the same. Immediately, Caleb’s breathing evened out again. “It’s a lot, isn’t it? A lot of people, a lot of touching.”
“Sorry,” Caleb managed to grit out with his jaw still stabilized. It was the first thing he’d said since being rescued and his voice sounded rough and painful.
“There is nothing to apologize for. We just need to rethink this,” Caduceus said.
“I have an idea,” Yasha said quietly. When Jester and Caduceus looked towards her, she continued. “If Caleb turns around I can give him a hug and you will easily be able to reach his hands behind my back? A hug might feel less restraining?”
Caleb looked at Caduceus, eyebrows up in an almost hopeful look. “I think that is a great idea. Is that okay, Caleb?” Caleb nodded and started to sit up.
They were able to get Caleb situated against Yasha again, ensuring his head was turned in a way that put the least pressure on his injured jaw. She was able to brace one of Caleb’s arms under her arm, leaving her other hand available to rest comfortingly on his back.
“How’s that. Everyone comfy?” Caduceus asked. Caleb nodded, which was really all that mattered. Jester went to perch on the cart again, giving them some space but ready to jump in with her healing spell.
Caduceus moved so he was sitting behind Yasha where Caleb’s hands were hanging limply behind her back. “Alright, I’m going to keep working on that finger, Caleb. The first finger on your right hand. Deep breath again.”
This next break was obvious and he didn’t need to feel around to locate it. He deftly maneuvered the bones, feeling them slide into place against one another. Caleb was silent this time, pressing his temple against Yasha’s sternum. She took her free hand and carded through his hair.
With Caleb in a less anxiety-provoking position, the process of setting the bones in his hands went much smoother. It was still agony at times, but Yasha kept him secure and comforted when he cried out, whispering encouragement that only she and Caleb could hear.
Caduceus offered, and tried to encourage, a break after finishing with Caleb’s right hand. Caleb refused, and it was clear in his posture that he was desperate to get it over with. The firbolg honored Caleb’s answer and carried on, eventually setting each broken bone as best he could.
Once he finished, Jester jumped down and ran over. She started to reach for Caleb but paused, remembering that she should check in with him first. “Hi, Cayleb. Is it okay if I heal you now?”
Caleb nodded against Yasha’s chest and Jester immediately began healing the wizard. While it wasn’t painful, Caleb grunted a few times, wincing at the odd feeling of his bones starting to knit themselves back together.
Any strength he had dissolved as the healing spell faded and he collapsed further into Yasha’s arms.
“There! Do you feel better?” Jester asked.
Caleb nodded, flexing his repaired fingers and hands cautiously. He pulled back from Yasha and rearranged himself so he was sitting against her side.
“Ja, much. Thank you,” Caleb said, rubbing his hand against his jaw, moving it experimentally side to side. It was still tender and Caleb winced.
“You’ll want to take it easy for a few days. Don’t put too much stress on those newly mended bones. We’ll make sure we’ve got some good, soft food ready for you that’ll be easy on your mouth,” Caduceus said.
Caleb just nodded, taking a deep, stuttering breath as the tension he’d been holding slowly melted away. Caduceus gave him a warm smile before walking away, back towards the campfire.
“Yasha,” Caleb said, his voice still rough.
“Yes?”
“Thank you.”
Yasha smiled, leaning against the wizard so their shoulders touched. “You’re welcome, Caleb.”