He stared at her for an eternity. “You—”

“Out of the way, you big brute,” Zhek said, pushing past Rendor.

Orla followed the healer, crowding into the small room. Zhek grabbed Shyla’s hands and tsked over her raw palms. But when he spotted the wound in her leg, he ordered everyone out. Rendor left with Orla, taking his unspoken words with him. She doubted he’d return. And while that knowledge ached deep inside her, it no longer cut as sharply into her heart. She’d said what she needed to say. Although she never thanked him for saving her life. Actually…she had when she saved his by sending Yates to sleep.

Zhek’s administrations yanked her painfully into the present. He grumbled as he washed her wounds. When he examined the gash on the back of her leg, she about jumped off the table. He rubbed a numbing paste on it and she showed considerable restraint by not snapping at him for not doing that first.

“At least the blade went in and out clean,” he said.

“Clean?”

“It wasn’t twisted while inside you. That would have caused more damage and extended the time you needed to heal.” He sighed loudly. “Not that you’ll allow it to fully heal before injuring yourself again.”

He made it sound as if she did it on purpose just to annoy him. She wisely remained quiet while he finished patching her up. He called for one of the vagrants to help her to her room. As the young man supported her through the common areas of the commune, she searched for Rendor. Shyla noted the time—angle two-ninety. But, as she had suspected, Rendor was gone. For once, it would have been nice to be wrong.

When they reached her room, she remembered her recruits and Jayden. “Do you know where Jayden is?” she asked the young man.

“I think he left to gather information.”

“Can you tell him to come to my room when he gets back?”

“Sure.” He helped her onto the cushion and left.

Shyla squirmed into a comfortable position. Pain bit into her each time she moved her leg. Soon after she settled, Zhek arrived with a cup of his special tea.

“I promise to drink this once Jayden returns,” she said.

“That might not be for a while.”

“Do you have something for the pain?”

He considered. “You promise to stay put while waiting?” He fluttered a hand toward the door. “And not go out visiting?”

“Yes.”

Zhek grunted and left. When he didn’t return, she eyed the tea. Her encounter with the guards and Yates had left her without any energy. Sleep would be best, but she needed to talk to Jayden. Before she could decide, Zhek returned with a glass of red water.

“Red?” she asked when he handed it to her.

“For the pain.”

“Thanks.” She drank it.

He jabbed a finger at the cooling tea. “Remember your promise.”