“I don’t think there’s much I can tell you about it. Might even have been foreign for all I know. Or from the capital. Not of the common folk, that was for sure. And it didn’t happen for many. Alriah is tactical in where it might spend its resources. We got a patch up and sent on our way if we were lucky. You recovered or you didn’t. Made you stronger if you did. Wasn’t a bad thing for the weak to die off. Made for tougher stock.” For Ardnt, he didn’t see anything wrong with it. It was probably how he survived getting stabbed and left for dead. Not all luck because it wouldn’t have served him for that ship to find his chilled corpse. No, he had hardy Alrian breeding to thank for his resilience.<br/><br/>Luitwin went back to reading after a time, claiming the voice training wasn’t a bad thing. It occurred to him he might be one of the few on the ship willing to sit while Luitwin read his scripture, listening attentively. He imagined men like him reading it alone in their free time so this was probably a two birds one stone sort of thing. Same as Luitwin’s medical background was woven into his being, so too was it told within his book. A thing that seemed to go hand in hand.<br/><br/>“In Alriah our physicians have nothing to do with the church. They think they’re interfering with gods will, rather than becoming an extension of it. Maybe that is another reason they are not so popular.” Besides simply not having the knowledge to take it far. A bare minimum approach.<br/><br/>“Depends on the company I take, I suppose. Never been all that loud. Can be crude. To keep it up would seem a bit obtuse, don’t you think? Counterproductive, and you’ve only ignored it anyway. Less fun when there isn’t some sort of reaction.”<br/><br/>He snorted at the idea of being eager to please. That sounded too simpering for Ardnt’s tastes.<br/><br/>“I’m not as foolhardy as I used to be. Alrians pride themselves on their boldness. I don’t live in Alriah anymore. Less place for it here. Maybe you mistake me simply because I have some sense. I’m willing to listen but it doesn’t mean I agree with everything you’re on about. There’s that Alrian honesty. We haven’t put any real work in yet and I’m still not sure even your god would have me.” Some of that guilt surfacing, unsure if he was even worthy of some sort of redemption. There had to be better men. They surely couldn’t save them all.<br/><br/><br/><br/><br/>Ardnt was ready for that walk he’d been promised. That was evidenced by his lack of desire to want to sit down. He took his meal fast and standing. He thought of asking Luitwin if there was something he could do. Pointless, probably. He didn’t figure they’d be at sea for too much longer. Instead, he ought to put his restless mind to figuring out his future once they reached land.<br/><br/>“I’d imagine we’re getting close?” He could feel it from the subtle shift of atmosphere. A slight eagerness from the crew and the others aboard the ship.<br/><br/>“That doesn’t give you so much time left to change your mind about putting me to proper path.” Lightly teasing, friendly almost. Mirth enhanced the wrinkles at the corner of his eyes.