Page 89 of The Prison Healer

She’d completed her tests yesterday under his watchful eye, the two of them alone in the infirmary, with Jaren having gone back to the tunnels and Naari accompanying him to smooth out any wrinkles caused by his absence. Kiva was beyond the point of questioning the guard’s motives, and was now just grateful for the unexpected ally she’d become—for all of them.

But today ... since the most recent tests had failed yet again, Naari had arrived at the infirmary early that morning, reminding Kiva that she still had more samples to collect. And despite Kiva’s protests that she needed to remain with Tipp in case of a relapse, the young boy refused to allow her to stay behind and coddle him for another day.

“Your n-next Ordeal istomorrow,Kiva,” Tipp said. “You need to t-test the aquifer and the t-tunnels so that you’re done. I’mfine,so stop w-worrying and justgo.” He pointed to the door, as if doing so would help convince her.

“Don’t worry, sweets, I’ll keep an eye on him,” Olisha said, having arrived with Nergal to cover the day shift.

The offer was meant to reassure Kiva, but the last time Olisha had watched over Tipp, he’d collapsed out in the freezing cold, entirely forgotten. As such, Kiva didn’t have much confidence in the woman’s ability to monitor him.

Tipp sighed and said, “I w-won’t leave the infirmary, I promise. Not even if there’s a f-fire.”

Kiva frowned. “Please do leave if there’s a fire.”

“Fine, b-but aside from that, I won’t move. I’ll keep B-Boots away from the rats, and I’ll m-make sure Tilda eats something. I’ll even t-try and get Nergal to d-do some work.”

The man in question made aharrumphsound and proceeded to clean his fingernails, while Olisha sniggered at his side.

“How about you take a nap,” Kiva suggested instead. “Sleep is good for you.”

“I’ve b-been sleeping fordays,” Tipp complained. “I’m all b-better, Kiva.” He held his hands out to the sides. “Fit as a f-f-fiddle.”

It was true that Tipp had made an amazing recovery, to the point that it was almost impossible to believe that she’d feared he was on his deathbed only a few days earlier. But that didn’t mean she wasn’t struggling with the all-consuming terror she’d experienced at the thought of losing him.

“If you feel even theslightestbit unwell—”

“I’ll have someone c-come and get you,” Tipp said, rolling his eyes. “I know, I know.”

Kiva ignored the eye roll and stepped closer, pulling him into a tight hug. He froze in her arms, before his hands came around her and he hugged her back.

“This is n-nice,” he said, his words muffled by her tunic. “We should d-do this more often.”

Kiva laughed and pushed him away, pointing a finger toward the bed he’d used since falling ill. “Rest. I mean it.”

He rolled his eyes a second time, but he trudged obediently to the bed and sat down. How long he’d stay there, Kiva didn’t know, but she trusted that he wouldn’t break his word and leave the infirmary while she was gone.

“I’ll be back as soon as possible,” Kiva told Olisha and Nergal, the former nodding in reply and the latter giving an uncaring lift of his shoulders.

Kiva hurried over to where Naari was waiting at the door, following the guard out into the crisp morning and toward the center of the prison grounds.

“You’re testing the water today?” Naari asked.

“That’s really all that’s left,” Kiva said. “That, and the tunnels.”

“We’re heading there as well?”

Kiva nodded. “Everything left is underground, so we might as well check a few of the passageways straight after the aquifer and the pumping station. Then we’ll be done.”

“Done?” Naari repeated. “As in, done-done?”

“Unless you can think of somewhere else that should be tested,” Kiva said, “then yes, done-done.”

Neither of them said what they were both thinking—that everything was riding on today’s samples. If the rats didn’t show any symptoms by tomorrow, then her attempt at finding the origin of the illness would have failed.

“Don’t think about it,” Naari said, reading Kiva’s mind. “Water can host all kinds of bacteria. I’m sure you’ll find something today.”

Kiva appreciated her confidence, and was about to say as much, when an angry voice yelled her name. They were halfway across the open space between the infirmary and the domed building at the center of the prison, where the ground was muddy, the grass patchy and mostly dead. There was little else nearby, the closest building being a watchtower, which was why Kiva was surprised to turn and see Cresta marching in their direction, the woman’s hands clenched into fists by her sides.

“Where the hell do you think you’re going?”

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