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do no more. His bones are barely knit together. He needs to be careful. I couldn’t take away all the bruises, they were too old. I could’ve done more if you’d brought me to him sooner.”
    “Feel like I could run all day.” Fen struggled to sit up.
    Daria held a hand up. “Stay. You rest a full day. If you come to me in another day, I can knit those bones better. Too much healing and your body can go into shock.”
    “I’m fine,” Fen argued.
    “Be it on your head if you kill yourself.” Daria rose awkwardly to her feet. “Why not go back and have whoever tried to beat you to death finish the job? You boys are all the same. Too much of a hurry to meet your maker.”
    “He’ll rest.” Edana glared at Fen. “If he moves from there before I get back from returning you home I’ll beat him to death myself.”
    Fen grinned up at her. “After all this effort? Not likely.”
    “Don’t try me,” Edana warned. “Are you ready, Daria?” She took the woman’s hand when she nodded.
    Once they reached the horse, she remembered the saddlebags of food. “Can you wait here while I take something in to my friend?”
    “If you take too long I’ll remove the blindfold,” Daria warned. She placed her hand against the horse. “What are you taking?”
    “Food.” Edana took the saddlebags off the horse and let Daria touch them. “But here, I’ll give you your money so you don’t have to worry I’m leaving you here without paying.” Edana took the bag from her boots, removed a handful of coins, and then handed the bag over.
    Daria shook the bag near her ear before she opened it. She sniffed at the coins and touched them. “They seem real enough.”
    “They are. I’ll be as quick as possible.”
    Edana ran inside and stopped when she saw Fen stood by the kitchen door, his hand on the knob. “What do you think you’re doing?” One hand want to her hip, the other held the saddlebag.
    Fen grinned. “Gotta use the outhouse.”
    Edana’s eyes narrowed. “Truthfully? And why can’t I go in there if you can?”
    Fen’s grin faded instantly. “It’s where they were killed.”
    “There’s no… ah… bodies?” Edana flinched at the thought.
    “No. You don’t want to see the kitchen. It’s a mess. The worse I’ve ever seen. Blood everywhere. I’d go out the front and walk around if I had the energy.”
    Edana swallowed hard, all interest in checking the kitchen evaporating. She held up the saddlebags. “I brought you some food. There’s even a couple of plates and two cups and a water-skin of orange juice. My nurse I had when I was little always made it for me when I was sick. She said it helps with healing.”
    “Thanks. Leave it by the fire.”
    Edana nodded again. She placed the saddlebags where Fen had pointed and smiled when she saw River back in the spot she’d chased him from earlier. “I’d better go. Daria’s waiting for me.”
    Fen nodded. Edana watched him a moment longer before she turned and hurried outside. She felt guilty for what Fen had gone through and couldn’t understand why he hadn’t yelled at her for the dangerous situation she’d put him in. Maybe he’ll tell me off when I get back, Edana thought as she reached Daria’s side.

* * *

    The front room was empty when Edana returned. She looked around, trying to hold back the fear that started to rise. “Fen?”
    “Wait there,” Fen called from the kitchen.
    “What are you doing in there?” Edana asked as Fen and River came into the front room.
    Fen shook his head. “Thanks for the food. It was good. I shared it with River. He eats a lot.”
    “I forgot how much dragons eat, even when they’re little. I just wanted to get him away from there. I don’t know if I can smuggle that much out here. I can give you more money.”
    “More?” Fen looked confused.
    “There was some in the bottom of the backpack I gave you the other night.”
    “I haven’t had time to look through it. I was too busy with