[b]Loenn[/b]
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The doctor was more than a little unnerved to hear an answer so in-line with his suspicions about the wound. Well, at the very least the man had to be pretty solid to be breathing where he was right now. Substantially more solid than his capacity to operate on a wounded man on such short notice. He wrapped the other cuts across Crom's body, feeding out spools of wrapping dabbed with antiseptic along the way. He stopped to consider Crom's chest for a moment, it was certainly a bad bruise and while there was little he could do about that other than tell the man to go lie in some snow, it did herald complications within. "Not much a man can do about cracked ribs, other than go easy on them. If you can breathe it ain't that bad, but I'm going to wrap your chest as well to keep pressure on them." He did as he said he would, and pulled a roll of bandaging around the wounded man's chest to fasten it tight, perhaps enough to cause discomfort for the first few minutes of wear until the pain dulled. "Maybe we shouldn't have hired a bunch of banged up wanderers but you look like you can take it. I prescribe a liberal application of alcohol." The man chuckled and closed his bag. "But really, go easy on yourself. Maybe take a walk to get your bearings; with any luck all we're doing is moving a single crate tonight."

[b]Lieda[/b]
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The man's smile unsettled him. The gold fangs were simply a step too far. What kind of man had he been told to cooperate with? At any rate, he'd be out of his office and doing whatever his vile trade entailed on the outskirts of the country soon. Then it was someone else who would have to sit and contemplate what they were doing. He rose to his feet with Alec, after finishing his glass of water, and walked over towards the door as he spoke. "Your orders are effective immediately, although obviously a preparatory phase of up to a week here in Lieda was expected, however, it is a generosity and you will find that your men have been made ready to leave as soon as you have concluded organizing them."

"It's serious." Maria said, no more okay with the turn of events than her lieutenant but not as shaken up. His quick recovery was admirable, but that was a guise any officer saw in their men day to day. She stood away from the wall, her soaked jacket leaving a wet spot where her shoulders had been which she casually brushed away. The effect she was seeing in one of her own officers now was the final word on her opinion of Alec Cross. Now, she dearly hoped the doors would soon open to a beaten Marshal Boyd. She realized where her thoughts were going, and stopped with an unsolicited and deep sigh. Here she was getting worked up about a warmonger and she couldn't even keep that in check. "Yeah," she said, eyes low. "Nobody likes it, but for right now it's got to be that way. Orders are orders, right?" Not a moment after she finished speaking, the door was flung open from within and Boyd stepped out, motioning for Cross to follow.

"Your company has been wonderful mister Cross, but for now I must leave you again in the care of lieutenant Ranier. He will see to it that you find suitable lodging tonight." Boyd smiled deeply, and gestured to the lieutenant, ignoring Trinan for the time being as he was happy simply to have a chance to be alone for a while. The scouts were the best suited to handle something like this, of course, that was why they'd been chosen as escorts.