Page 196 of Elven Crown

“So were you.”

“Just go talk to Zida anyway,” Rebecca cut in with a nod toward the healer still scowling at them all from her post at the base of the stairs. “Let her take a quick look at you, at the very least.”

“No offense, Knox,” Burke added with a grimace, “but all I want right now is to crawl into my bed and sleep for a week.”

“And you can do that after the healer takes a look at you,” she said. “Both of you.”

Diego and Burke broke into matching grimaces before Titus’s booming laughter echoed through the garage.

Rebecca turned toward the vuulbor and pointed at him. “You too, big guy. I know you all probably feel better than you look, and honestly, you look like shit right now. But I’m not taking any chances. Go.”

Titus’s goofy smile morphed into a similar grimace before he lumbered off after the other two rescued operatives to see the healer.

Rebecca forced back a smile and was more than happy to handle the rescued operatives’ gear as well as her own as she headed toward the armory with everyone else.

By the time all their gear and newly acquired weapons were returned to their proper places and the armory was locked up tight again, Zida had completed her preliminary inspections of the rescued operatives.

Rebecca made her way toward the healer at the base of the stairs in time to hear the old daraku’s final instructions.

“Right now, all I’m gonna tell you to do is get as much rest as you can. If you’re feeling hungry, grab one of Bor’s GIYs.”

Burke snorted and shook his head. “Can’t say I’ve got much of an appetite.”

“That’s fine. Just as long as it comes back. And if any of you experience any side effects after what you’ve been through and I find out about it from anyone elsebeforeyou come to see me, I’ll kick your asses.”

“Side effects?” Diego asked. “Like what?”

“I don’t know.” Zida folded her arms and cocked her head at him. “You tell me. Or I can keep you under twenty-four-hour observation, if that’s easier for everyone. What do you say? Deal?”

“Deal,” Burke replied immediately, then swallowed.

Diego scratched the back of his head and seemed to have difficulty meeting the healer’s beady black eyes. “Yep. Pretty sure I can manage that.”

Titus’s low chuckle followed. “I’ll remind him, healer.”

Zida scowled up at the vuulbor looming over her and nodded. “I’ll hold you to that.”

Then the three rescued magicals slipped past the healer and made their way up the stairs, presumably to turn in for the night.

Rebecca couldn’t blame them after a mission like this. A night of solid sleep sounded amazing, and she hadn’t even been kidnapped and strapped to a magitek torture device and used as bait.

The second those three disappeared up the stairwell, Zida’s watchful scowl scanned the other operatives heading across the garage. Her black gaze settled on Rowan far more frequently than anyone else. Every time she looked at him, her scowl darkened.

What was that about?

Rebecca stopped beside the healer and nodded. “What do you think?”

“I think you got lucky as hell, kid,” Zida grumbled.

Rebecca gestured toward the stairwell. “I meant about them.”

“Oh, I know exactly what you meant.” The healer didn’t stop glowering across the garage, and she didn’t look at Rebecca. “Those three will be fine, given rest and a little space. I wouldn’t send them on any other field missions anytime soon, though.”

The healer snorted again and turned her nose up, still refusing to look Rebecca in the eye. “Not that you give two bishta’al shits aboutmyrecommendations…”

Great. Now Zida’s crappy mood made sense. She was still pissed at Rebecca for leaving the infirmary before the healer had given her the green light.

“I never said I don’t value your opinion, Zida.”

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