Healers (13 page)

She gave an amused snort, “Yep, drunk and obnoxious. Got in a fight and got the worst of it. Spending two days as a slave.”

Tarc frowned, “I thought drunk and disorderly was one day?”

She nodded, “So’s starting a fight. So he got a day for each. He’s lucky, they’ve got him hauling garbage. They could’ve had him paving streets,
that’s
some hard work.”

Curious, Tarc asked, “What’s to keep you from being a lazy worker? Say you’re supposed to be paving streets, but you only put down a few stones?”

Lizeth smirked, “Whips.” She winked, “I’m told they only have to tell you once.”

Tarc grimaced, “Ouch.” After a pause, he said, “What happens to women? Do they have to pave streets too?”

“That’s… not so funny,” Lizeth said, frowning into the distance. “Older ones, they do unpleasant stuff like clean the palace. Younger, good-looking ones… we don’t really know, but the rumors are unpleasant.”

“Doesn’t it worry you… going into town?”

“Yeah,” she said slowly, “though I’m not a lawbreaker. However, rumor is you don’t have to do much to be found on the wrong side of the law if you…” She stopped, blinked, and turned to grin at Tarc, “Hey, did you just manage to say you think I look good without putting yourself out there?”

Tarc felt himself blushing, but hoped it wasn’t visible in the dim light. “Um…”
Now’s your chance!
he said to himself. “Yeah. I think you’re, um,
beautiful
.” To his tremendous embarrassment, his voice came out all raspy and freighted with emotion.

Lizeth turned to stare at him, her eyes widening with the realization of just
how
serious Tarc was.

Sam walked up then, completely unaware of what’d just happened. “Hey Lizeth, wanna go in and check out the tavern that has the guitarist?”

Lizeth’s eyes stayed on Tarc for a moment, then swung up to Sam. She shook her head as if coming out of a trance, smiled and rose, “Sure. You’d better stay sober though. I don’t want to have to cover your shift if you’re hauling garbage with Mr. James tomorrow.” She put her hand around Sam’s elbow and they started toward the city gates.

Tarc sagged back, feeling like someone had just punched him in the gut.

***

Joe sat back from his dinner and sipped his wine. His mother looked at him over the top of her wine cup. “I went to see your healer today,” she said.

“What?! The one out at the market?”

His mother nodded.

“Why? I told you she really didn’t do anything.”

“I know, but I could tell you thought she might have. When I teased you about them praying a stone out of your kidney, you were offended.” She tossed her head, “Anyway, I told you I wanted to meet your healer.”

“Well, yes, but I didn’t really think you’d do it. Who went with you?”

“I went by myself! I don’t need to be shepherded by a
man
. I grew up taking care of myself.”

“Mom! You
know
it isn’t safe.”

“Nothing happened to me. Well, I mean the guards didn’t do anything to me. That healer lady though…”

“
What
did she do?!”

“Apparently nothing. However, the chronic aching I’ve had in my back for years is gone!”

Joe blinked, “They didn’t pray over you?” He grinned, “Shake a rattle? Nothing?”

“Nope. Had me stand still for a while, with the woman in front and the boy sitting on a stool behind me. Then they sent me on my way.” Francis didn’t mention the little pebbles in the jar, something like that would be too much for Joe to believe.

“Just sent you on your way? Didn’t ask for payment or anything?”

“Nope. Drink your water, I brought you an extra cup.”

“Nah, this wine’s enough.”

Francis grinned at him, “There
was
one other thing. She said we should drink more water. Says the stones form when we don’t have enough water.” She picked up her large cup of water and held it up as if for a toast. “If a few extra glasses of water will keep me from having
those
pains, I’m going to drink a few extra glasses.”

Joe stared at her for a moment, then winced at the thought of another episode. He picked up his own water.

***

Eva snuggled up to Daum in the bedroll they shared. “Do you know what’s gotten Tarc down?”

Feeling oblivious, Daum said, “I didn’t know there was anything wrong. What happened?”

“He’s been moping around, looking like… Well, I don’t know what he’s been looking like. Sad, I guess.”

“You think he’s sick of being on the road?”

“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s the road, though I worry…”

“Worry about what?”

“Our kids are the only ones their age in the caravan. Maybe they’re just lonely.”

Daum grunted, “I’ve been worried about the same thing. I see Daussie watching Arco. He’s… dashing, I guess. But he’s
much
too old for Dauss.”

Eva didn’t sound put off by Arco’s age. “Women sometimes marry much older men, but I hope she doesn’t marry someone who fights for a living. Too much chance he’ll come home in a box someday.”

“Arco’s
far
too old for Daussie! I can’t believe you’re even thinking about it!”

Eva shrugged against him, “It’s not so different from your son mooning after that girl guard. She’s too old for him.”

“Lizeth?!”

“Uh-huh, haven’t you seen him looking at her?”

“No! She’s at least a couple years older than he is, surely he doesn’t think…”

“You know young people, they
don’t
think.”

“Well,” Daum said, “she’s been hanging out with that other guard, Sam. Tarc’ll realize it’s a lost cause pretty soon.”

“Yeah, maybe he already has. Maybe that’s why he’s been looking so depressed.”

“Maybe?” Daum said, dubiously.

***

Kazy looked up and frowned, recognizing the woman who’d come by yesterday wanting to talk to Eva. Tarc had made her go way, but she’d come back later in the afternoon when things were quiet. Kazy wondered if she should be trying to send the woman away herself. The lady said, “I’d like another one of your wonderful pizzas.”

Relieved it seemed to be simply about food today, Kazy said, “Would you like some tea as well?” The woman nodded, so Kazy poured a cup of tea and handed it to the woman. Then she slid one of the pizzas Tarc had just put on a big leaf out to the edge of the counter. The woman dropped a coin in Kazy’s hand and picked up her pizza, turning and walking away.

Kazy glanced down at the coin. It was gold! “Ma’am!” She called, stepping from behind the counter and trotting after the woman. Catching up to the woman she said, “Sorry, but you paid with this!” she held out the coin.

The woman looked at the gold coin, but didn’t reach for it. Lifting an eyebrow at Kazy she said, “I
didn’t
pay you with that coin…” she winked, “just like Eva didn’t make my kidney stones go away.” She took a bite of her pizza and, with a satisfied smile, continued walking.

Kazy stood staring after her, conflicting emotions pouring through her. Being paid a gold for a pizza was amazing, but learning Eva was still doing her healing business in
this
town made her sick to her stomach.
Why would she do that when it’s so dangerous?! They make plenty of money on the food they sell!

Kazy turned and saw the people waiting in line staring at her. Tarc had stepped up and was doing Kazy’s job. He threw her an irritated looking glance. Still feeling unsettled, Kazy went back to the counter and took over.

When things quieted down later that afternoon, Kazy stepped over to the rest of the Hyllises and showed them the gold coin. “A woman gave me this for a pizza today.” She looked sharply at Eva, “Said something about you making her kidney stones go away.”

Eva eyed
looked at
the coin bemusedly. “Well… that was sweet of her.”

Exasperatedly, Kazy said, “I can’t believe you’re still working as a healer! What if you get arrested?! You could be a slave for… I don’t know, a long time!”

Eva said, “I’m
not
working
as a healer. I’ve healed a couple of people, but I haven’t charged them for it.”

Kazy shook the gold coin at her, “What’s this then!”

Eva lifted an eyebrow, “Someone tipping you really well for your extraordinary service handing out the pizza?”

“That isn’t funny,” Kazy said exasperatedly.

Eva took Kazy’s hands and looked her in the eyes, “I know it isn’t, and you’re right to be concerned. But, we can’t let people suffer, people who we can help. There’re
enough
people in this world we can’t do anything for.”

“Even if you’re
enslaved
?” Kazy whispered, feeling desperate.

“Even if…” Eva said sadly.

***

Tarc started into town, leading their black horse to get supplies. As he walked out of the area where the Nortons were camped someone fell in beside him. A glance out of the corner of his eye told him it was Lizeth, but he turned his eyes back to the front. After his disastrous confession that he thought she was beautiful, he’d been avoiding her. He had absolutely no idea how he would ever be able to speak to her again. Now she was walking beside him!

Heart thumping like he’d just run a race; he prayed she wouldn’t say anything to him. Then he prayed she
would
say something to him. Instead, she gave him a shove. “Are you trying to ignore me?! Yeah, I saw you look over. I know you know who’s beside you!”

Damn she’s strong!
Tarc kept his eyes straight ahead for another moment, then slowly turned his head to look at her. “Um, hi.” She had a grin on her face like she didn’t realize this was the worst moment of his life.

“’Um, hi!’
That’s
the best you can do when you’re talking to the girl you said was ‘beautiful’ two nights ago?” She laughed, “I never would have pegged you for such a ladies’ man!”

Tarc stared at her, desperately trying to think what to say. How could she think this was funny? Finally, he said, “Um, but then you left with Sam.”

Lizeth blinked and pasted a startled look on her face. An obviously fake look. “Oops! I didn’t realize!”

Tarc waited for her to clarify, but then finally said, “Didn’t realize what?”

“That telling me you thought I was beautiful meant we were married! Is that really how they do it where you come from?”

Tarc shook his head, trying not to look surly.

“Engaged?”

“No, but… you know…”

“Nope,” she said cheerfully, “I
don’t
know. I guess you’re going to have to explain it to me.”

Frustrated and unable to explain himself, Tarc turned his eyes front and tried to pretend she wasn’t there again.

Lizeth gave him another shove, “Are you trying to ignore me for a second time?!”

Tarc turned to glare at her, but at the huge grin on her face he burst out laughing. “
You’re
driving me crazy!”

“Us girls,” Lizeth batted her eyelashes in a coquettish fashion completely out of keeping with Tarc’s experience of her, “we like to
talk
about these kinds of things.” She gave him a jaundiced eye, “Whereas, you loutish boys are so out of touch with your emotions you can hardly bear to speak a word.”

“Yeah, that’s me,” Tarc said. He grunted a couple of times like a pig.

Lizeth laughed delightedly, but then she turned serious. “Look Tarc, I
like
you. A lot! I am kind of worried that I’m just infatuated with… how
deadly
you are.” She put her hands up to fend off his look of distress, “I know, I know, you don’t
want
to be deadly. You’re committed to being a healer.” She batted her eyelashes again, “But you know, I’m a soldiering girl. I think deadly is
sexy
!”

Tarc’s brain hiccoughed on the word “sexy.” He took a breath to interject.

Before he did, Lizeth said, “Wait, wait, let me say my piece…” When Tarc subsided, she continued, “So anyway, you’re deadly, and therefore sexy, but you’re young and…”

Hotly, Tarc interjected, “My dad’s younger than my mom!”

Lizeth grinned at him, “How much?”

Tarc said, “Just a few months, but…”

“And you’re
two years
younger than me.” She shrugged, “But, that isn’t a really big deal. The
big
deal is
I’m
young.
I’m
not ready to settle down. A traveling soldier wouldn’t make a very good mother!” She paused for a second then said, “Soooo…”

She didn’t say anything further, so finally Tarc turned to her and said, “So what?”