Hajin slumped against the courtyard slab while the watchfire caught and Toby warmed the broth beside their stacked supply packs. The redoubt sheltered their meal as Bron split the outer watch with both observers and Cassie checked the shoulder dressing.
"Stop lifting it, you idiot," she snapped, shoving Jonas's shield farther from his reaching foot without tugging the binding.
"You can't guard a wall with a dressing that keeps sliding off."
"I'm not lifting it, I'm admiring it," he grumbled, planting his good hand on the terrace step instead of reaching again.
"Standing there counts for something, right?"
Toby kept the broth stirring while eyeing the discarded strap with open suspicion, "Standing there makes you reach for it."
"The wall already has three people who didn't get stabbed through the shoulder today, so sit down."
