“I don’t like the sound of that,” Jemson said. “You left this morning on business, and came back bloodied, on the run from the Guard. I think you’d best leave well enough alone.”

“But I have to find out who did the Southies,” Han said. “If it was the Raggers, I need to know. I can’t stay in the mountains forever. I can’t leave Mam and Mari on their own.”

“We’ll see,” Jemson said. “In the meantime, you need healing. If I’m not mistaken, that arm is broken.”

Han had been cradling his injured arm with his other one. It was swollen from elbow to wrist, and turning a nasty blue-green color. His silver cuff was tight, the flesh bulging around it.

“I can’t pay for a healer,” Han said. “Maybe if we bind it, it can wait till I get to Marisa Pines.”

“Actually, there’s someone here who can help, I think,” the speaker said. “Are you able to stand?”

When Han nodded, the speaker said, “Come with me.” Jemson helped Han to his feet and led him down the hall, supporting his good elbow with one hand and carrying a lamp in the other. The usually bustling corridors were eerily silent, the temple sleeping around them. Jemson led him past the sanctuary and classrooms to the stone dormitories where the boarders and dedicates stayed.

They crossed a moonlit courtyard, and Jemson pushed open the door to a room that gave onto the healer’s garden. Inside were two single beds, a table, a straight chair and a rocker, a tub for bathing, a trunk, and a dry sink and basin.

Jemson set the lamp on the table. “Lie down and rest. I’ll be right back.”

Han sank gratefully onto the bed, feeling guilty because he was still filthy from the river, but too tired to do anything about it. Just having a refuge, someplace to sleep for a few hours, was a blessing. His arm throbbed, but he was so tired he fell into a kind of worried waking sleep. It seemed only minutes later that he woke, startled, when someone entered the room and sat on the edge of his bed. He groped for a knife that was no longer there.

“Hunts Alone, what have the flatlanders done to you?” Willo set her healer’s bag next to him and put her cool hand on his feverish forehead.

“Willo?” His mouth was so dry he could scarcely force out the word. “What are you doing here?” Willo never came to the city. She claimed it drained all the magic out of her.