That was how she liked to work, anyway. Mirar had tried to encourage her to hone her skills beyond what was necessary. He had made an art of this healing method and would always continue refining his work until the patient was back to his or her original state—or better—with no scarring and no need for rest in order to recover strength. Emerahl hadn’t seen the point of spending so much time and effort on healing just for the sake of aesthetics. Besides, if Star didn’t end up with a scar, the others might realize Emerahl had done something exceptional. Tales of her work would certainly draw the attention of priests.

Slowly, the broken inner edges of the wound realigned. Fluid no longer spilled out, but flowed along appropriate channels. When nothing remained but a shallow wound, Emerahl opened her eyes.

Reaching for the water and bandages, Emerahl heated the former and used the latter to clean the wound. She reached for the kit and took out a needle and thread. Using a little magic, she heated the needle as Mirar had taught her, to help prevent infection. The thread smelled of a herb oil known to fight festering of wounds. The kit might be small, but its contents were good.

When she turned back she found Star staring at her.

“You’re not what you seem to be, are you, Jade?” the girl said softly.

Emerahl regarded her warily. “Why do you say that?”

“You just healed me with magic. I could feel it.”

“That’s just the cure I gave you making you feel strange.”

Star shook her head. “I was watching you. You didn’t do anything but sit there with your eyes closed, while I could feel things moving inside me. The pain is less, when it should be worse.”

Emerahl considered Star carefully. She doubted the girl would believe a denial.

“Yes. I did use a little magic trick I learned from a Dreamweaver to ease the pain. Don’t think you’re all properly healed. You could come apart again if you’re not careful. I have to sew you up now, to help stop that happening. Do you want medicine to make you unconscious?”

Star looked at the needle and went pale.

“I…I think you’d better give me some.”

Emerahl put the needle down and looked through the kit. She found a vial of liquid labelled “to force sleep—three drops,” which smelled of formtane and a few other sedatives.

“This will do.” Emerahl looked at Star and sighed. “Will you promise me something?”

Star paused, then nodded. “You don’t want anyone to know you used magic.”