Huge Ajax's Arc

Chapter 119 of 619

At sunrise the broken-nosed man came down from watch with a hand pressed to his face. Blood ran between his fingers. He said he had walked into the low beam by the door in the dark. The nose sat crooked. He tried to breathe through it and coughed. Ajax called Chalam over. The wizard set his staff against the wall and looked at the man's face without touching it. "Sit," Chalam said. "Hands on your knees." The man sat on a stone. Chalam pulled a small vial from his satchel, wet his thumb, and pressed the crooked bone straight in one movement. The man jerked but did not cry out. Chalam held the bridge for a slow count, then let go. The bleeding stopped. "Two days sore," Chalam said. "Breathe through your mouth tonight. What should we call you?” “Cody” the man replied. “Congratulations. A new nose and a new job. Do it well. Send word with any news.” The broken-nosed man worked his jaw. He nodded at Ajax and went back up the stair to the wall. Tucker came around the shelf with another man behind him. The new one carried a canvas roll of tools on his shoulder. He was thick through the arms and quiet. “Go to the brothel at the port. Tell them I sent you. Add the two new rooms and hidden vault onto the back on the brothel house beyond the bar” he told the hirelings. “How long will this take to complete? “One week” the Mason said. Tucker nodded. “When you’re done, find me and I’ll reward you handsomely for the completion of this addition to the brothel.” The hirelings took their equipment to the brothel and did as told, smiling as they went.