“Rozea already knows I have a few Gifts. I don’t want her to know how Gifted I am or she’ll have me doing things with customers I don’t want to do. So let’s pretend that you weren’t as hurt as you appeared to be and that I only used magic to stop the blood flowing and to hold things together while I sewed you up.”

Star nodded. “I’ll tell them that.”

“You promise you’ll tell them no more?”

“I promise.”

Emerahl smiled. “Thank you. I miss you all, you know. Sitting up here with Rozea is so boring. She won’t even let Brand come and talk to me.”

“Now you’ll have me to talk to,” Star pointed out, smiling.

Not if I leave tonight, Emerahl thought.

She put a hand behind Star’s head and lifted it so she could tip a few drops of the cure into the girl’s mouth. Star swallowed, grimaced, then continued talking.

“You were right, about this trip being dangerous. We are so far behind the army now. How many of the guards are dead?”

“I don’t know.”

“Some are. I know that. What if this happens again?” Star looked at Emerahl, her eyes becoming glazed. “I’m so glad yr with ’s. If yr powrs’r strong, y cn help pr’tect ’s. We need y.’”

Emerahl looked away, turning her attention to threading the needle. Of the guards she had seen fighting only two had been alive at the end. Others might have been keeping watch for further attack, out of her sight, but if not then the caravan was now badly under-protected.

And two guards can’t watch me effectively.

She began sewing the edges of the wound together. Star made a small whimpering sound at first, then her breathing slowed and deepened.

Star’s right. The whores need protection, Emerahl thought. Especially if the caravan doesn’t meet the army again for days.

Days in which she was in no danger of being discovered by the priests.

She muttered a curse. Finishing the stitching, she put the needle and spool of thread back in the kit. Then she called Rozea’s name.

The madam peered into the tarn. She looked at Star and her eyebrows rose.

“She lives?”

“For now.”

“Well done.” Rozea climbed inside and sat opposite the sleeping girl. “Nice stitching. You’re full of surprises, Jade.”

“Yes,” Emerahl replied. “Including this one. I’m leaving. I want the money you owe me.”

Rozea paused. Emerahl could sense the woman’s indignation turn slowly to annoyance as she realized she could not keep her pet whore from escaping. “If you leave now, you go without a coin.”

Emerahl shrugged. “Very well. But don’t expect to see me again. Ever.”