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.”

  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.

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  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.

  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.

  “This will hurt 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.

  “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, 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.

  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.