Livvy spoke as Algy placed a cool cloth over her neck, covering the burns there and soothing them. He looked at her face, eyes searching for hers, and hopeful that she was coming to, for just a moment. After that split second, he spoke.
“Sent packing, love. Don't you worry,” he reassured, glancing at the doctor and catching the curious look. He did not elaborate, but that was not out of any sense of secrecy. It was simply a distraction in the moment, but he thought the doctor was due an explanation once Livvy was in the mend.
Moving on, the dragon continued placing the cool cloths over the burns the doctor had indicated, diligent and careful. As he worked, he listened to the doctor's humming, unable to place the tune until he caught the familiar Marian hymn. It was one he'd heard in church, when he'd attended as a boy. O Virgin Pure, he knew it as.
Algy was not a religious man, but it had been a communal element in his youth, and on and off as an adult. Church did not change much as eras passed, not if it took itself and its rituals seriously. To a dragon past a century, it was a familiar comfort, even if he did not count himself among the flock.
As the tune progressed, and Algy resisted the temptation to join in, he felt the sudden rush of energy. He felt rejuvenated, and he could feel the tightness of the bruise on his face fading. His aches and pains disappeared, and he was left with the satisfied conclusion that the rumours he'd heard of the doctor were correct.
When Brooke spoke, the dragon looked up and offered her a smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he nodded in acknowledgement. If Algy had felt it, and Livvy was the presumed target, he could only surmise she was also feeling better.
“Sent packing, love. Don't you worry,” he reassured, glancing at the doctor and catching the curious look. He did not elaborate, but that was not out of any sense of secrecy. It was simply a distraction in the moment, but he thought the doctor was due an explanation once Livvy was in the mend.
Moving on, the dragon continued placing the cool cloths over the burns the doctor had indicated, diligent and careful. As he worked, he listened to the doctor's humming, unable to place the tune until he caught the familiar Marian hymn. It was one he'd heard in church, when he'd attended as a boy. O Virgin Pure, he knew it as.
Algy was not a religious man, but it had been a communal element in his youth, and on and off as an adult. Church did not change much as eras passed, not if it took itself and its rituals seriously. To a dragon past a century, it was a familiar comfort, even if he did not count himself among the flock.
As the tune progressed, and Algy resisted the temptation to join in, he felt the sudden rush of energy. He felt rejuvenated, and he could feel the tightness of the bruise on his face fading. His aches and pains disappeared, and he was left with the satisfied conclusion that the rumours he'd heard of the doctor were correct.
When Brooke spoke, the dragon looked up and offered her a smile, the corners of his eyes crinkling as he nodded in acknowledgement. If Algy had felt it, and Livvy was the presumed target, he could only surmise she was also feeling better.