Page 54 of The Turncoat King

They hadn’t let him down.

“Listen to Rafe.” Luc stood. He had been avoiding Ava, but suddenly he needed to speak to her. Work out what had happened today.

The crawling sensation of invisible eyes on him had faded, and he couldn’t blame her for hiding as she had. Hewantedher safe. Was glad she’d been able to get away from the Kassian scouts.

They needed to talk about her abilities.

Speaking of which . . . “Did Ava sew your cheek?”

Frederik turned his head so the firelight illuminated the left side. “Yes. The healer says she’s never seen such a neat job.”

Luc crouched down to examine it. It looked perfect. And like it was already healing. “We’re lucky to have someone with Ava’s skill.”

He suddenly realized the position he’d put Ava in by making the request to Raun-Tu. He hadn’t spoken to her about it.

Before he knew for sure she could create magic with her needle, he would most likely have mentioned her ability, but as of this morning, he knew the risk she took.

It wasn’t that spell casters were reviled. They were held in awe, but also suspicion.

Rare power did that.

They were also considered prizes to be won or stolen.

And isn’t that exactly what had happened to both her and her mother?

No wonder she hadn’t wanted to say anything about it.

He remembered demanding she tell him what she’d done to him before the Kassian forces had caught up with them again after their escape, and the trapped look that had come over her.

He straightened, and strapped his scabbard to his back. “Good night, Frederik. You fought well.”

The solider tapped his chest with his fist in gratitude. “If you’re looking for your lady, the healer called her to stitch up Revek.”

Luc changed direction with a nod, hoping his face didn’t show his surprise.

Ava was only a few rows of tents away from him.

He hadn’t asked her to sew up Revek earlier, because he didn’t want her anywhere near his friend after the fight they’d had.

He didn’t trust Revek with her.

He increased his pace, found the white tent they always used for the injured set up beside the healer’s large cart.

Ava waited outside next to the fire burning in front of the tent’s entrance.

“Good. Luc. I need help bringing Revek out closer to the light.” The healer, Dorea, turned as he arrived, ducking into the tent ahead of him.

Ava watched him from her place beside the fire. She had a pouch out on her lap, and he saw thread in her hand.

“Ava.” He crouched in front of her.

“Luc!”

He turned to look through the open flaps of the tent, and saw Dorea standing with her hands on her hips.

When he glanced up at Ava, there was a gleam of amusement in her eyes.

He rose up, suddenly not as irritated with Dorea as he had been.

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