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  Unable to assess the full extent of the injury that lay between her flank and her rump in the same way, she turned to look at Nafren.

  He was waiting patiently a few paces away for her attention and smiled when her eyes fixed on him. ‘To keep things simple,’ he said, ‘I’ll ask you yes and no questions, and you can respond with a nod or shake of your head.’ He approached slowly, and joked, ‘But please, try not to step on my feet as I examine you. I’ll need them to escort you back to the healing level of the facility.’

  He stretched out an arm so he could place one hand under Siray’s chin, then pressed the tips of the fingers on his other hand gently to the area around and below her left eye. He asked questions as he probed the injury.

  ‘Is this tender? Does this hurt?’

  Siray gave small nods or shakes of her head where appropriate, extremely mindful of her size and strength in this form in comparison to the healer. She felt relatively more comfortable being examined this way. It felt less personal, because she could be more objective about the physical body she now occupied, and she also felt like she had more control, probably because she was so much larger. Although the left side of her face was still tender, Siray was elated that she was having no issues with the eye itself.

  When Nafren moved onto her leg, he used a firmer pressure to feel the area, but Siray found that this didn’t bother her at all—it was the injury that least impacted her now.

  The healer had her raise and lower the leg several times, first slow, then fast, so he could observe the muscles and tissues working. After asking his questions, he moved farther down Siray’s body to examine the injury near her flank, where the arrow had pierced her.

  This time, he had her raise different legs, adjust her weight, turn on the spot, and walk slowly around him in a circle.

  Finished with his observations, Nafren beckoned her closer again. ‘Well, sweet, it’s looking very promising. The injury to your arm is healing nicely, so I have no concerns there. The lacerations to your face are also mending, and late tomorrow I think we’ll be able to take the bandages off that side.’

  Siray bobbed her head gently, pleased.

  ‘The wound to your side is a different matter, but I think we can speed up its recovery with additional therapy sessions in this form. As you’ve no doubt noticed, you’ll feel stronger as the yeibon, because the impact of your injuries on this physical body are less than that on your normal form, in which you received them—apart from the arrow, of course. Therefore, this body can heal them at a faster rate.’ Nafren tilted his head, his eyes still centred on her flank. ‘The wound from the arrow will take longer than the others, because it was so deep and nasty. But, as I said, we’ll do some more sessions in here, and I’ll have you moving like normal in no time.’

  Siray bobbed her head more enthusiastically this time, and Nafren smiled.

  ‘Now for the fun part. You can go and explore the forest—do a little pace work, even. But’—Nafren held up a finger and mock glared at her—‘if you overexert yourself and set back your recovery, I’ll confine you in this form to a closet.’

  Siray snorted slightly in amusement but nodded to show she heeded his warning.

  The healer’s pretend glare evaporated, and a smiled bloomed once more. ‘Off you go, then,’ he said, with a graceful wave of his hand.

  Siray turned away and wandered off slowly amongst the projected trees of the forest. As she ambled past one particular tree, she paused and pivoted slightly to face it. Holding out a foreleg, she aimed a gentle kick at the tree.

  Her foot passed into the trunk, then reappeared as she drew it back.

  She huffed in amusement, then turned away and moved on, weaving through the spaces between the trees. It was nice to feel real dirt beneath her hooves and the rise and fall of the ground as she paced under the canopy of holographic trees. It was hard to believe that, barring the ground beneath her, it was all fake, as the projected light was coded to also project the shadows that the trees would have cast in the real world.

  Feeling good, Siray increased her pace to an easy trot. Although she felt a painful pull at her side, her front leg held up well, and she continued moving between the trees, just enjoying the experience.

  Sometime later, after she started to become physically tired from her wandering, Siray turned and began heading at a walk towards the spot where she had left Nafren. As she plodded along, something large weaving far less gracefully through the trees ahead of her caught her eye.

  A rilander.

  Having heard her steps, its massive head was turned in her direction, its large eyes gazing sadly at her.

  As she looked at Baindan, he took a hesitant step in her direction, and her yeibon body tensed in response. She still couldn’t face him. Especially not when she was still undergoing treatment for the injuries she had received.

  Quickly averting her eyes, she altered her direction slightly, deciding a more indirect route to Nafren was attractive in that moment.

  At one point, when she felt her legs and body begin to tingle, she turned and used the feeling to guide her along the remaining length of the room and back to Nafren.

  As she drew closer to the room’s exit, she spotted Nafren talking with Porda near the ridiculous-looking white door, still free standing in the middle of the forest. She had half expected it to have disappeared.

  Seeing her emerge from the trees, Nafren finished his conversation with Porda and came to meet her. As he approached, he gestured for her to wait where she was. ‘Did you enjoy stretching those legs of yours?’ he asked.

  She bobbed her head in response, and Nafren circled her to briefly look at her leg and flank.

  ‘The wounds look fine to me,’ he said, shifting his attention from her injuries to her face. ‘I’d like you to Change back now, Siray, but be prepared—you’ll feel your exercise session a little more in your normal form. You might even hurt more than you did this morning, but you’ll find you’re still stronger overall as a result.’ He stepped closer to her shoulder, an arm already preparing to reach for her.

  She Changed. Nafren hadn’t been kidding. In her normal form, Siray’s legs wobbled a little, and Nafren promptly stabilised her with his arm.

  ‘Easy now. A bit of food and some more rest will do you wonders.’

  As he guided her to the door, Siray felt her injuries throb. The wound in her side was the worst, and she felt each stinging pulse intensely. Annoyingly, she had lost the ability to see with her left eye again, as the swelling had returned again in her normal form.

  When they reached the door, Nafren hit the activation pad to make it slide open, allowing him to guide her through. Once out in the hallway, he had her pause, and Siray turned her head, peering over both their shoulders with her good eye.

  Porda and Baindan were following behind them once more, and Baindan appeared to be standing taller than he had earlier.

  When the four of them were in the hallway, the door to the forest closed behind them, the healers guided them back down the long hall to the risers, where Nafren repeated the security procedure with the guards.

  By the time they were standing on the riser, Siray was actually looking forward to seeing her narrow bed again, and it seemed to take a long time to finally arrive at the healing level. Past the guards, down the corridor, and at last into the room she shared with Baindan again, Siray breathed a sigh of relief as she spied her freshly made bed, which still stood at an incline.

  Nafren helped her lean into position against the bed and activated the mechanism that made it lower down to its horizontal position.

  Sitting up from the flat position, Siray leaned forwards so the healer could place multiple pillows behind her back, then peered eagerly down at the mobile table that held a covered tray. As the healer swung the table around to position it in front of her, Siray saw that Porda was helping Baindan in the same way.

  Pausing before she turned her attention to the meal before her, Siray considered the day she ha
d ahead of her, with Baindan so close by. She looked to the healer, who was readying to leave.

  ‘Nafren, could you leave the wall activated for a while? I want to get some rest after I eat and don’t want to be disturbed.’ She felt her face composed as she smoothly spoke the half-truth.

  Nafren didn’t hesitate. ‘Of course.’ He walked to the wall between the two beds and activated the button there. After the wall was up, he smiled sadly down at Siray. ‘Still haven’t forgiven him?’

  Siray stared at Nafren. How did he—?

  ‘Relax, sweet,’ said the healer soothingly. ‘I don’t know all, I just have eyes.’ He patted her arm gently. ‘The flow of time can ease even the sharpest of pains. But devotion works even faster.’ He gave her a knowing look, then turned and left the room, the sound of the door swishing closed accompanying his exit.

  A moment later, Porda emerged from the wall and also left.

  Turning her attention to her meal, Siray ate some before she eventually pushed the table away and to the side. Sinking down into her pillows, she turned her face to the softly glowing wall, watching the light as she thought.

  ***

  She must have slept long and deep, for when she woke some unknown time later, Siray felt fully rested. As her good eye opened, she saw the same wall of light before her. She didn’t know if it was the rest, the fact that she felt less pain, or all the thinking she had been doing in the spans when there was nothing else for her to do, but she didn’t feel quite as angry with Baindan as she had yesterday. Or even that morning. Not that she was ready to talk to him, but she had at least admitted to herself that he had thought he was acting in everyone’s best interests. She sighed.

  ‘Siray?’ said a soft voice.

  Surprised, Siray turned her head. ‘Genlie!’ She smiled at her friend.

  Genlie sat in a chair nearby, which hadn’t been there earlier, her eyes looking bleary.

  Siray slowly pushed herself up, waving for Genlie to stay seated when she started to get up to assist. ‘It’s alright, I’m a lot stronger today,’ she said, turning more fully to look at her friend. ‘Have you been waiting long for me to wake?’

  Genlie shrugged. ‘Don’t stress—it’s been a relief to get away from the others for a bit. There’s … quite a bit of tension still down there.’

  Siray nodded, understanding. ‘What happened with Deson?’

  Genlie sighed. ‘Once we managed to get him out, it still took an effort to herd him all the way to the risers. He came back to himself a little when he saw the guards there, and we got him into our rooms without much difficulty. But when Wexner came in …’

  ‘He didn’t hurt Wexner, did he?’ Siray asked, concerned.

  Genlie shook her head. ‘No. But he yelled at him a little, which was okay. Probably helped to vent some of his anger.’

  Siray nodded. ‘He was so angry yesterday. I thought he was going to Change on the spot and attack Baindan.’

  ‘He almost did. Thank the Mother we got him out in time.’ Genlie shook her head again. ‘He’s pretty angry that Baindan put you at such risk.’

  Siray’s eyebrows lifted high, but her grimace at the movement this time was smaller. ‘Me? Everyone was put at risk!’

  Genlie waved away her comment. ‘Yes, everyone was, but more importantly to Deson, Baindan knowingly put you at risk.’ She looked down at her hands, which were pressed tensely together. ‘It’s an instinctual thing, I guess.’

  Then Siray understood, and peered more closely at Genlie. ‘Kovi’s angry too?’

  Genlie smiled wryly. ‘Yep. Hence why I came to visit. Too much male … protectiveness, happening down there at the moment.’ She chuckled. ‘I actually banned the rest of them from coming to visit today. Figured they could all use a day to calm down.’

  Siray smiled. ‘Good idea.’

  ‘And’—Genlie hesitated a little—‘I hope you’re doing some thinking of your own.’

  Siray’s good cheer dropped away. ‘I can’t forgive him, Genlie. Not yet.’

  Genlie nodded, a small section of her blonde hair falling free from behind her ears. ‘I understand. But’—she took a breath—‘I know Wexner. I’ve fought alongside him for a whole cycle, and he saved me when the training camp was attacked. I don’t believe he would risk my life, or any of our lives, lightly. And I think Baindan is the same.’

  Siray nodded slowly, acknowledging Genlie’s advice. ‘I’ll keep that in mind,’ she said, extending her hand.

  Grasping it, Genlie smiled once more before standing up and releasing Siray’s hand. ‘I’ll leave you to rest.’

  ‘Will you come back tomorrow?’ asked Siray hopefully.

  Genlie nodded. ‘Sleep well,’ she said and then left.

  Siray kept the watching the door for a while after it had closed behind her friend and then sighed. Seemed like the Great Mother was trying to tell her something.

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  THE NEXT DAY followed a similar course. Nafren and Porda brought Siray and Baindan down to the therapy room, and following another examination with Nafren, he announced that she could go for a canter through the forest.

  Due to the accelerated healing and excellent attentions of Nafren, Siray felt stronger than the day before, and as she finished her light exercise, she returned to where the healer was waiting to re-examine her.

  She could see he was pleased with her condition.

  ‘Well, sweet, at this rate, I think you might be able to go for a gallop tomorrow.’ He smiled as he gave her leave to Change.

  Happy with the idea she could return to full movement tomorrow, Siray grinned once she was back in her normal form, the left side of her face aching dully at the motion. Then she enquired, ‘And how is Baindan’s recovery going?’

  Nafren cocked an eyebrow at her but said, ‘He’s doing even better than you. The injury to his chest is all but healed, and Porda has told me that he’s nearly regained full range of movement.’

  Siray nodded, something in her pleased.

  Nafren continued. ‘Yep, he’ll be able to join the others in their accommodation tomorrow.’

  That gave Siray pause. ‘What about me?’

  Nafren shook his head. ‘I’d like to keep you for an additional night in the healing level, just to be sure. But if everything keeps progressing well, you can also rejoin your friends the day after.’

  Siray nodded, but her thoughts were moving fast. ‘Nafren, instead of the forest tomorrow, could I do something else for exercise?’

  Surprise flickered across the healer’s face. ‘What did you have in mind?’

  She told him her idea, and he looked at her for a long moment.

  ‘I’ll think about it this afternoon and let you know when I come to take those bandages off,’ he said slowly, nodding to the left side of her face.

  Siray dipped her chin once, accepting that answer for now.

  ***

  As promised, when Nafren came to do her evening checkup, he removed the bandages from Siray’s face. Siray had eagerly anticipated his visit, due to the fact that after taking some further rest, she had found that she could now partly open her left eyelid.

  Nafren noted the improvement and hummed with pleasure at the development while warming a rounded silver implement in his hand.

  Made nervous at the sight of the unfamiliar instrument, Siray was assured by the healer that it was merely a tool he would use to gently work up the edges of the plaster that had held the bandages in place, and she relaxed once more.

  As he worked, Nafren spoke to her, his eyes flicking once to the glowing wall between her bed and Baindan’s. ‘I have thought about your proposal,’ he said. ‘And, in the interest of you attaining full health—both physically and mentally—I’ll agree. But’, he said firmly, ‘I have a couple of conditions.’

  Siray nodded and listened intently as he explained them. When he was done, she said, ‘I can accept those.’

  Nafren smiled. ‘Then we have an agreement.’

&
nbsp; Siray felt a last little tug as Nafren pulled away the final bandage, and her stomach tightened at the knowledge that her face and injuries was bare for all to see.

  Setting aside the bandages and his instrument, Nafren picked up a thin, damp cloth and began gently sponging the side of her face. When he was done cleaning the area, he switched the cloth for a compact container and dabbed some kind of cold cream onto the skin around her cheekbone, his touch light and gentle. Placing the container back down and wiping his hands, Nafren smiled. ‘There. Almost as good as the original.’

  Siray smiled a little nervously at his use of the word ‘almost’.

  The healer saw this, of course, as he saw all of her smallest gestures or expressions while he was tending her. ‘You are not to worry about it,’ he told her sternly, in that confident but quiet way he had. ‘If anything, the differences to that side of your face make you more interesting.’

  Genlie had said something similar the other day when they had discussed the injury, and Siray felt a bit more reassured. Both Genlie and Nafren couldn’t be wrong.

  But then her nerves returned as Nafren handed her an oddly shaped mirror that had been resting on his trolley.

  Thinking that she would get it over with quickly, Siray took a deep breath and held up the mirror.

  The first thing she saw was her eyes. A light, icy blue, they seemed different to Siray. Whereas at the start of the Golden Time, right before the Change ceremony in Lalinta, she might have described them as youthful and eager, she now thought they looked more knowing. More … hard.

  Her skin had darkened too, contrasting sharply with her eyes, and it glowed from all the outdoor training and travelling she had done. Her hair was still the same deep shade of red but was longer now, and it fell in thick waves about her face.

  And the scars … There were four of them, white with a little pink still showing around the edges as they finished healing. They started at her hairline near the corner of her left eyebrow and swept down diagonally across her temple to the top of her cheek.