Polly placed the pan of boiled water on the ice while their mother watched, ready to offer advice or intervene.

  His mom continued to explain to Zia what would happen next, “We’ll be cleaning the wound with the boiled water.” She then rubbed the little girl’s back. “Do you know why we boil the water first?”

  Zia shook her head but looked interested.

  “It’s to kill the nasties that cause us to get ill,” she explained, smiling at the simplicity of the explanation. “I’ve also got some special healing herbs to help Jack recover.”

  The little girl stretched her neck to look at the herbs Jack’s mother had been preparing.

  “Would you like to help heal Jack?” she asked.

  Zia nodded and looked calmer.

  His mother smiled at the little girl. “If you help out a lot, you might be offered some good classes when you get older… maybe even the healer class. Would you like that?”

  The little girl nodded again, her eyes widening at the thought of getting offered a good class. As an orphan living on the streets, she was more likely to be offered classes like beggar or thief than a class like herbologist or healer.

  “Let’s tie your hair back up with your pretty ribbon,” Jack’s mom said while taking the blue ribbon from Zia. The little girl smiled while her hair was retied.

  As they waited for Jack’s father to return with a healer, his mom began describing the sorts of things Zia might have to do to become a healer or herbologist. Jack sat with a broad smile as he listened to his mom take the little orphan girl under her wing.

  Their father returned with a woman in her late twenties who carried a small pack emblazoned with a red cross. Jack recognised her face; he’d seen her around the local area in his past life, though they had never interacted.

  The healer regarded Jack, who was still sitting with his top removed. “I assume you’re my patient.” She examined his arrow wound. Glancing at his mother, she added, “Good to see you again, Anna. How’s the baby?”

  Before his mother, Anna, could reply, Polly piped up, “The baby’s fine. It’s just an arrow,” and then burst into loud laughter.

  Despite the situation, everyone joined in with the laughter, and even Zia couldn’t help but giggle.

  Wincing at the sudden movement, Jack pleaded, “Please don’t make me laugh.”

  Polly’s mischievous grin spoke for itself, while their father observed the unfolding scene in silent contemplation.

  After calming her laughter, Anna replied, “Little Richard’s well.” She looked at Polly and shook her head. “His teeth are giving him trouble at night, but a little camomile on his gums helps.”

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  Sian nodded. “A good choice. Acacia bark paste works wonders, too.” She glanced at the pan of cooling water and smiled in appreciation. “You’ve prepared boiled water, I see.”

  Anna confirmed with a nod. “Yes.” She pointed at her prepared herbs. “I’ve also mixed calendula, camomile, and yarrow for cleaning the wound. I added some to the boiling water, and there are clean cloths in there as well.”

  Sian smiled and then chuckled. “Are you sure you even need my services today?”

  Anna’s smile turned embarrassed.

  Polly smirked. “I was thinking the same thing. Mom can pull the arrow, and I’ll stitch him up with my sewing kit.” She chuckled. “Our big, brave Jack will be back out hunting down more monsters in no time. I hear a dragon is threatening some poor villages, over yonder.” She pointed in a random direction. “Jack the dragon slayer to the rescue.”

  Jack groaned and rolled his eyes. That was funny, but I’m not encouraging her.

  Sian laughed. “Alright, Jack. The water’s cooled enough now.” She looked at where he was sitting. “This is going to hurt quite a bit… are you comfortable sitting, or would you prefer to lie down?”

  Recalling the agony of Greaves’ repeated stabs, Jack reassured himself, I handled that pain like a Master Warrior. I can cope with removing one arrow. With a small smile, he said, “I’ll be fine here.”

  “Who’s pulling the arrow out?” Sian asked, first glancing at Jack’s dad, then his mom.

  Jack’s father exchanged a look with his wife.

  Anna responded with a warm smile. “That will be me.” She washed her hands and lifted a boiled cloth from the water. “Zia, I won’t ask for much, but the more you help, the more likely you’ll be offered a healing class. Give your hands a wash if you feel up to it, sweetie.”

  Zia hesitated for a moment before washing her hands.

  Jack’s mom smiled as she knelt beside him. “Come closer, Zia,” she instructed. The little girl complied. “First, I’m going to wash away some of the filth so that less dirt goes into the wound.” She wiped around the arrow hole on his back; Jack winced at the sting. “See how the skin’s all red and looks sore?”

  Zia nodded, absorbing every word.

  “That’s because it’s damaged and inflamed… that means it’s swollen a bit, like a bruise.” After finishing the rear wound, his mom wiped around the protruding arrow fletching at the front. She discarded the cloth, washed her hands, and then retrieved a fresh one. “Would you like to try?” she asked Zia.

  After some hesitation, she nodded.

  “Alright, just hold the cloth as I did and wipe the rear wound, then the front wound,” she instructed, handing over the damp cloth. “With a healer here, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Sian can remove the debris. That is, the dirt from the wound. Without her expertise, we’d have to be a lot more thorough.”

  With extra care, Zia began to clean the wounds, her brown, puppy-dog eyes focused with earnest concentration.

  “You can be a little more forceful,” Anna encouraged with an amused chuckle. “Don’t worry, you won’t break him.”

  At Anna’s encouragement, Zia wiped a bit harder, causing Jack to flinch. She pulled the cloth away as if she’d touched a hot stove. “S-sorry,” she stammered, her eyes wide with fright and offered the cloth back to Jack’s mom like it would burn her if she didn’t get rid of it.

  While thinking, Fuck, that hurt, like a, hmm…! Jack gave a reassuring smile through his gritted teeth. “I’m alright. You were doing a good job, it’s just a bit sensitive.” He was tempted to add, ‘So don’t grab at it like a drunken ogre’, but thought better of it.

  Polly chuckled. “Can I have a go?” she smirked. “I promise to be really gentle with the big baby… I mean, Jack.”

  Jack rolled his eyes and ignored her. I should’ve gone to the temple and chosen Novice Healer, I could’ve avoided Polly’s terrible sense of humour.

  Zia continued cleaning until Anna declared that the wound was clean enough. Then, after washing her hands once more, she retrieved another clean cloth. “Are you ready?”

  Jack nodded. The healer also gave an approving nod.