The Ravenspire infirmary smelled strongly of bitter herbs, stale sweat, and rubbing alcohol. It was a cold, miserable room deep inside the Guild compound. Designed for function rather than comfort, right now it felt like a torture chamber.
Elara sat on the edge of a stiff wooden medical cot. She gripped the edges of the mattress with her right hand so hard her knuckles turned completely white. A thick leather strap was clenched tightly between her teeth.
Standing beside her, the Guilds senior healer placed his heavy hands on Elaras broken left collarbone.
"I have to push the bone back into alignment before I bind it," the healer said grimly. "This is going to hurt, Elara. Do not move".
Elara just nodded tightly, biting down harder on the leather strap.
The healer pressed his thumbs directly into the bruised, swollen purple flesh of her shoulder. He violently shoved the broken bone back into place. A sickening pop echoed in the quiet room.
