Kairi’s brow narrows; her nose scrunching. “Did you just call me a lesser?”
“Compared to Asha, all Penticari are lesser.”
Argen gets up from the cot, cursing under his breath as he moves to exit.
“What about your stomach?” Kairi says to Argen.
“I am fine,” he snarls on his way out.
Kairi blinks a bunch of times.
I hunch over. “My leg—how am I to hunt?”
“Oh—” Kairi’s eyes gain sudden clarity. “Sit on the cot!”
I obey, crying out as I put weight on my leg.
“Louder!”she whispers.
“My leg—” I cry louder, holding my knee.
Orvell darts through the door. “What is it?”
“It’s fine,” Kairi says. “I’ll help him.”
Orvell comes over to me. “I will see to him.”
“No, I must have Kairi see to me,” I huff.
“Are you mad?” Orvell sneers.
Kairi rushes around the hut, grinding herbs.
Remembering what I must do, I grab my leg, “Owww—Sweet Tempest—” I wipe my eyes vigorously.
Orvell gasps. “Strong Ramsey—are you crying?”
“No!” I shout. It is the truth.
Kairi thrusts a cup of tea into my hand. “Drink.”
I gulp the tea, which is meant to calm the nerves, and a moment later, warmth spreads up my leg as she applies salve up its length.
“Those herbs are not good!” Orvell snarls. “I keep telling her that!”
“If they are no good, why do I no longer feel pain?” I flex my leg.
Shock overwhelms Orvell’s ornery features.
“Try walking again,” Kairi urges.
I get up from the cot and walk in a small circle, wincing slightly.
“How does it feel?” she asks.
“Better, but it still throbs with pressure.”
She hands me a jar of the salve she made. “Rub this on your leg whenever you feel the pain return. It should be fully healed within a few days.”
