“This will hurt Jack a little,” Anna said to Zia, “so Jack might cry out. But the pain will pass quickly, and he’ll feel better soon.”

  Gripping the arrow fletching, his mom caused Jack to flinch. “Right, I’ll do this quickly. On the count of three,” she said. “One, t…” She pulled the arrow free in one clean motion.

  Jack swore at the sharp, unexpected pain. “Fuck!” he gasped, unclenching his fists as the pain subsided. Fuck, that hurt almost as much as being stabbed by Greaves!

  Zia jumped in shock and hid behind Anna.

  A small trickle of blood seeped from the wound. Jack’s mom dabbed at it while the healer activated one of her skills, forcing debris from the injury.

  Anna reassured the little girl, “It’s best not to let your patient wait for the full count.” She chuckled as she wiped away the blood and debris. “Jack would have hurt more if I’d waited until three.”

  Jack felt twinges of pain as dirt and wood splinters were flushed from both the front and back of his side. He clenched his fists until his knuckles turned white. Damn it, that feels like the wound’s been scrubbed clean with a stiff bristle brush! Shit, that’s sensitive. He grunted from the pain and closed his tear-filled eyes. Is she really a healer? Feels more like a Master Torturer!

  “That’s the wound cleaned,” Sian announced. “Healing next.” She looked at the little girl and added, “This is the pleasant part for Jack; things get better from now on.” She gave Zia a warm smile. “If you’re interested in becoming a healer, you can volunteer at the clinic when you’re older.”

  Zia gave a shy smile at the offer and gave Anna’s leg a hug.

  Jack felt a soothing sensation as his flesh knitted back together. “Ah, that’s so much better,” he said, mostly for Zia’s benefit.

  As the healer worked, she explained, “This will heal most of the internal damage, but it isn’t perfect. You’ll be sore for a few days, and there could be some scarring, both internal and external.”

  Jack relaxed as the sharp pain dulled. “Much better, thanks.” He stretched his arms and regretted it. “Ow! Still sore.”

  “We aren’t miracle workers, well, not at this level,” Sian chuckled. “If you want the scar tissue removed, you’ll need to seek out a Master Healer. There are a few in the city, but they won’t come cheap.”

  “I’m fine with a few scars.” He recalled how he’d been scarred in his past life and that the Master Healers he’d consulted were damn expensive. A couple of scars on his side were nothing compared to the burn marks he’d carried for twenty years. “How much do I owe you?” he asked, forgetting he was a sixteen-year-old with loving parents. “I’ll be working at the Royal Lib…”

  The healer interrupted him. “Your father’s already paid my fee. Take it easy for the next week. If you have any problems, your father knows where to find me.” She smiled. “If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading home. My dinner will be cold now,” she complained while chuckling.

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  Jack apologised. “Sorry for that.”

  Sian laughed. “Don’t be silly, you needed the treatment, and that’s what I’m here for.” Turning to his mom, she added with a warm smile, “It was lovely to see you again, Anna. We should meet up sometime to compare our herb formulations. I had no idea you were so interested in medicinal herbs.”

  Anna beamed. “I’d like that. Are you free next Saturday? We could discuss things here over dinner; I have a new recipe I want to try out.”

  Sian clapped her hands in delight. “That sounds wonderful. The cook who replaced you at The Marquis Banquet lacks your touch. Is two in the afternoon convenient?”

  Anna nodded in agreement.

  “Then it’s a date,” Sian said with a smile. “I’ll see myself out.”

  Accompanied by a few kind words, Jack’s dad walked the healer to the door and thanked her as she left.

  “Polly,” his mom called out, “go run your brother a hot bath. We need that filth washed off before we treat his other wounds.”

  Polly hesitated for a moment. Perhaps trying to craft a witty remark, Jack guessed. Before she headed to the bathroom. Jack couldn’t help but chuckle as he heard her complaining about being ‘his servant’ and ‘doing all the work and not being paid’.

  “Are you able to bathe yourself?” his mom asked. “You must get all that blood and dirt off, so your scratches don’t become infected.”

  “I think so,” Jack replied, twisting to test his range of movement. “I’m still sore, but much better. I’ll be alright if I take my time.” After a brief pause, he trudged towards his room. “Damn, I’m going to ache in the morning,” he muttered under his breath.

  Anna turned to Zia with a warm smile. “You did well, little one. Maybe you’ll grow up to be a great healer,” she teased. Zia returned a shy smile while Anna continued, “Next, we’ll use the remaining boiled water and herbs to treat Jack’s scratches.” She gestured towards the arranged herbs. “Would you like me to explain what each is for?”

  The little girl’s nod elicited a wide smile from Anna. “Excellent. Neither Polly nor Jack has ever cared much for this sort of thing,” She busied herself with preparations for Jack’s return. “This is going to be fun.”

  Soon after, Jack entered his room, dragging his pack and bow behind him. The pack was still stuffed full of the dead rogue’s looted gear. He stuffed it under the bed and stripped down to his underwear before heading for the bathroom.

  Just as he arrived, Polly emerged from the bathroom. “Ugh, that’s enough to ruin my appetite,” she complained while looking at her brother’s naked chest in disgust. “It’s like looking at a plucked, anaemic chicken!”

  Too tired to retort, Jack grunted and closed the door behind him. The warm, embracing heat of the bathroom wrapped around him, and he sighed with relief. Within a minute, he was immersed in the hot water, groaning as the soothing warmth eased his aching muscles. “That’s better,” he murmured, submerging his head under the water.

  When he resurfaced, a knock sounded at the door. “Are you decent?” his mom called.

  Glancing down at his naked body, Jack replied, “Not really… I’m in the bath!”

  “Hmm… I’ve got some herbs to add to the water,” she said. After a short pause, she added, “Cover your little bits. I’m coming in.”

  Jack sat up with a start, water splashing onto the floor as his mother swept into the room. He rushed to cover himself, his face etched with astonishment. His mom carried a bowl of pungent herbs over to him and, without a word, dumped its contents into his bath, and turned on her heels, leaving swirling vapour spirals in the humid air as she closed the door behind her.

  “After you dry off, come back to the kitchen without your top,” she instructed from the other side of the door. “I’m assuming you don’t have any open cuts on your lower body. If you do, let me know.”

  “Okay… erm, thanks, Mom?” Jack blinked at the surreal moment and stirred the stinky concoction into the bathwater, a small part of him afraid she’d barge back in if he didn’t. “That door needs a lock,” he muttered.