Page 10 of The Lost Guard's Healer

She pauses, and a look of horror passes over her. Heat flushes her cheeks. “I’m sorry, Galene. I didn’t mean… I was being insensitive.”

I dismiss her with a headshake and return to my task. I hate how bad I’ve just made her feel, but I needed her to understand that the Oathlander is not someone to interact with. The thought of my mother tightens my throat.

The Oathlanders are all murderers, thieves, and liars. They may differ from Kingdom folk, but are just as untrustworthy. Every society thinks they are better than the others, but I know that we Shanti People are the only true good-hearted people in the world.

“Why do you think your father Tasked you with him?” Kris asks, breaking the silence while we work.

I spare a look back to where my father is conversing with the Oathlander. I have no answer to that, but I give it a try. “He wants to push me, to see what I would do. He wants me to prove I am grown and sensible and can handle any situation.” I sigh and shake my head again when I catch her looking back in his direction. “Kris. I mean it. Do not get close to him.”

She seems to have sobered a little and gives a shaky nod.

Before I focus back on the washed clothes, I catch the Oathlander staring at me from across the field. Our eyes lock for an instant, and I think I see something strained and conflicted in his dark eyes. But the sight of him makes my skin crawl and I turn away with a huff.

I can no longer be out here with him, looking at me like that. So I mumble an excuse to Kris and storm away without looking back.

With several huts and tents around me now, I feel like I can breathe a little better. Why had the Oathlander been staring at me? It must be some kind of trick of theirs. I won’t fall for it.

For a second, I think about using my gift on him, but it’s a terrifying thought. I still don’t know how to use it correctly, and there’s no telling if he can detect my intrusion. And I’d rather not get any closer to him than I have to.

Someone approaching from the woods gets my attention. The elderly Mortin is bare-chested and soaking wet as he trundles through the grass, carrying a heavy-looking sack over his shoulder. The path is on a slight incline and he is panting heavily, his spotted bald head gleaming in the sunlight.

I rush over and take the sack to ease his burden.

“Bless you, Galene,” he says, wiping sweat from his brow.

The stench of fresh fish stings my nostrils and makes me wince. “You should have helpers with you,” I tell him. “You’re getting too… ah, handsome… to go fishing and carry these heavy sacks.”

He flashes a smile that shows several missing teeth. “Is handsome what the kids are calling old these days?”

“I said nothing about being old.” I give him a polite smile. “But I do know several young ones who would love the chance to prove themselves.”

He waves a dismissive hand. “Never needed help my entire life.”

“Times are changing, you know?”

“I’m still waiting for my gift to show itself. Any day now. I can feel it.”

“I’m sure it will be wonderful,” I say with a grin.

We both know that anyone with magical potential has developed their abilities already. Everything had changed within the first two days of magic coming back to the world.

When we reach his workstation hut, I swing the fish sack onto a table outside. It lands with a thud and shakes the table.

“Good catches today,” I note. I also note how the area reeks of wet and rotting fish, and I fear it’s going to stick to my clothing and hair.

“This is the end of the season for their migration,” Mortin tells me. “It will be a while before we get another harvest like this.”

He’s fallen into thought and is watching me closely. I try to pretend I don’t notice, but eventually I face him with a frown. I already know what he’s going to ask.

“How is your light show practice?” he asks.

I suppress a sigh. I should be used to this question by now, but each time it irritates me. “I haven’t tried using it for a while. It’s not really… me.”

“Oh, but it is,” Mortin says seriously. “It’s more you than you knew before. You have been given a gift and you and your family can now utilize those gifts. Yelena In’Tara has been lighting fires to help people every day since she discovered she could summon it from her hands.”

“I am not Yelena In’Tara,” I tell him. “And making a light show is of no use to anyone. I didn’t ask for magic to enter my life. And, dear Mortin, I would appreciate it if people stayed out of my business.”

His brows rise. “The Shanti Tribe? Staying out of each other's business?”

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