Commander Braghaman Larethian

Physical Examination

Braghaman sat with his left sleeve pushed up to his shoulder and his arm draped across the table in front of him. On the other side of the table, a priest sat and looked at his arm. Gently, he took Bragh’s arm by the wrist and elbow and lifted it a few inches.

“Does this hurt?”

“No,” the paladin answered.

“That’s good. Flex your fingers for me.”

Braghaman easily opened and closed his fist a couple of times. He then looked at the priest who had been watching intently. The priest nodded and then looked up. “Good.”

“What do you think?”

“You said the pain comes and goes?”

“Yeah. It’ll happen without warning and my fingers will spasm some when it does.”

“How bad is the pain?”

“Pins and needles. Its not as bad as getting stabbed through the gut, but its noticeable.”

“How often does it happen?” the priest asked as he gently put Bragh’s arm back on the table and leaned back in his chair. He then picked up the folder that was sitting on the corner of the table and started looking through the papers inside.

“At first it was every few months. Now, it seems to happen every three or four weeks.”

“Does it hurt more than it used to?”

“Not really. Just happens more frequently.”

“I see.”

“Am I going to lose use of it?”

“I don’t know,” the priest answered, putting the folder down and looking back up at the paladin. “Its a possibility.”

“Its because of that explosion, isn’t it?”

“That seems the likely reason. Some lingering nerve damage as a result of the wounds.”

“Will it get better?”

“Possibly, but I’m not sure I’d bet on that.”

“So what does that mean for me?” Braghaman asked.

“Its possible that things will stay like this. Every now and then you’ll have a spasm and your fingers will twitch. It could start happening more frequently. Are you left handed?”

“No,” Bragh answered quietly. “But that is my shield arm.”

“Do the spasm affect you using your whole arm?”

“No,” Bragh said, shaking his head. “I just can’t hold on to things. I’ve dropped a cup once or twice.”

“Then this probably won’t get in the way too much. At least for now. Have you told your wife yet?”

“No,” Bragh smirked as he ran his hand over his chin. “Didn’t want to worry her if it turned out to be nothing.”

“She’s going to notice sooner or later. Assuming she hasn’t already.”

“Right, doc. I’ll tell her when I get home.”

“Good. I’d like you to come back in a month so we can get an idea of how you’re progressing.”

“Sure thing. I’ll schedule something as soon as I have things sorted out.”

“Don’t lose hope, commander.”

The paladin stood from the table and started rolling his sleeve down. “Never do, doc.”