Page 53 of The Turncoat King
“Maybe I am.” She was fighting her perfectionist nature. The compulsion to make things whole.
But she was going to be careful, and protect herself, whatever Luc’s motivation for putting her in this situation.
She leaned back, and Frederik sat up.
“Thatisgood work.” The Rising Wave healer, a woman in her late fifties, with short, thick white hair held back from her face with a headband, studied his face. “Can I call on you again?”
Ava nodded, but she would have to keep a check on Frederik. Make sure his scar didn’t disappear.
And if it did, she would have to tweak her response the next time she did this.
There was a groan from inside the tent, and Ava realized it was Revek.
“How bad is he?” she asked.
“He shouldn’t have pulled out the arrow. That’s my job.” The healer’s annoyance was clear. “He’s lost a lot of blood. When I’ve finished with the clotting poultice, perhaps you can sew him up, as well? Your handiwork is far superior to mine.”
Ava gave a slow nod. “If he lets me. He’s suspicious of me.”
The healer gave a snort. “He’ll do what the Commander says.”
Ava didn’t think Luc would force Revek to deal with her, but then again, he did know what she could accomplish when it came to arrow wounds.
So perhaps, for the sake of his friend’s recovery, he would try to force the issue.
“I’ll help if he agrees.” She looked over at the march of soldiers, the roll of the wagons. “What will you do when they pass you?”
“We’ll put everyone into the cart who isn’t able to ride or walk on their own, and start moving soon. Revek should be all right to travel in a bit.”
Taira had been talking quietly to Frederik, but she stood, squinting up at the sun. “I’m back on shift this afternoon, so I have to go.”
“I’ll come along.” Ava didn’t know where she stood with regard to her own shift.
She was fully healed now. Her cloak had done its job. So she would find Deni and get her orders.
“I might come find you tonight,” the healer said as Ava swung up into her saddle. “Revek should be ready to be stitched by then.”
“You’ll find her with your Commander, not on our side,” Taira said with a grin.
Ava nodded, but she didn’t think that was true any longer. And for tonight, at least, she liked the idea of the quiet privacy of her hidden tent.
Luc had eagerly taken the opportunity to put some space between them. She suddenly realized she wouldn’t mind doing the same.
Chapter 17
“Is it enchanted?”
Luc looked up from cleaning his sword to see Frederik standing on the other side of the campfire, eyes gleaming in the firelight.
“No.” He wiped the blade down one last time with the oiled cloth and then slid the sword back into its scabbard.
“They say it is.” The young soldier stepped closer and then sat down.
Luc’s mouth twisted in a wry grin. “Who’s they?”
Frederik lifted his shoulders. “The other soldiers. The stall traders. Sometimes the cooks.” He turned his head to look at Luc. “Rafe says you’re as good as you are because you’re Cervantes, and you train hard.”
That wasn’t completely true. Luc stared into the flames. He had taken a chance on Ava’s protections. Run in front of an arrow.
