Essek nodded, fetching what he believed was the kit in the room: there were bandages, but small soft packets and tubes with names he didn’t know. Salves perhaps? He hoped so as he brought the whole thing and headed back to the bathroom when he caught the warning.

It…was going to be bad. Caleb would not give a cautionary word like that if it wasn’t. He almost said that it couldn’t be worse than watching Caleb go down in front of him while fighting Trent or a watching a building fall on him, but he kept his mouth shut against both of those.

“I assure you, I have a stronger stomach than you think.”

Which was true, but it was always different when it was someone you cared for. And that anger was still roiling in his stomach.

Following to the bathroom, he set down the kit on the counter, then turned back to him, eyeing the bloody shirt. “Shall we begin?”