Our happy party settled around the fire. A few of my caregivers checked patients, but otherwise the main area was empty at this early hour. Odd insisted on fetching me a bowl of oatmeal and a handful of apple slices. It didn’t take me long to devour them. The others wished to spread the news of the cure, but I asked them to wait. It might not work for everyone and Phelix might have a relapse. Despite my initial excitement, there were too many unknowns at this time. Plus I didn’t need the news to reach our enemies.

“If you wanted to keep it a secret, maybe you shouldn’t have screamed ‘it worked’ at the top of your lungs,” Quain teased.

I ducked my head. “I couldn’t help it. Besides, only you three woke up.”

“Others did as well, but they rolled over and went back to sleep,” Loren said. “We knew it was you and...”

“And it’s always better to check than be sorry,” Quain added. “‘It worked’ could be code for the dead are invading.”

“Wow, that’s...really random, Quain. Aside from you, who would ever put those two things together?” Loren asked.

“Shut up, Loren.” He threw a spoonful of oatmeal at his friend.

“You’re asking for it now, pup.” Loren aimed at Quain with a full spoon.

“That’s enough, boys,” I said, pushing Loren’s arm down. “Thank you for coming to check on me. And now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to return to my patients.”

They watched as I clambered to my feet. Weak-kneed but steady, I searched for Danny. He helped Ginger clean the syringes.

“Amazing, Avry, simply amazing,” Ginger gushed.

I put a finger to my lips. “Keep it under wraps for now. Just in case.”

“Of course. But we have to tell Christina!”

“Of course.”

Danny collected a handful of syringes and followed me to the stage-three cavern.

Sergeant Phelix gave me a weak grin.

“I hope you don’t mind, but I tried a new medicine on you,” I said to him.

“I don’t mind at all. I feel so much better.” He pushed up on his elbow. Hope brightened his face. “Will it...?”

“It might save your life.”

He clasped my arm. “But you said—”

“I did, but that was before yesterday. Today’s a whole new day. And the best thing you can do is rest and regain your strength. Are you hungry?”

“Yes.” He said the word as if amazed by the answer.

“Good. I’ll get you breakfast after I check on the others.”

As I moved away, Danny whispered, “I thought you were waiting to make sure the cure worked before saying anything.”

“Positive thoughts equals positive healing. The mind plays an important role, and if a patient is convinced he’s going to die, it counteracts his recovery.”