Page 169 of Phoenix's Fire

"We have to change the bandage on his tail," Lessa explained before making a disgusted face. "He's the one who got shot."

"Oh no," I gasped, moving closer to see the man's tail. "Did someone get the bullet out?"

"The shot went through and through," Drozel told me, flicking his tail out so it was accessible. "But it hurts, which makes balancing hard, so I'm currently a very large and uncoordinated idiot."

"I can help," I offered.

Lessa wrinkled up her nose again. "It's gross."

"I used to help heal, before I was married," I explained, bending to look at the wrapping.

"Here, sit," Omden said, pushing a footstool next to me.

I was grateful for that. This baby had grown large enough that my backconstantly hurt now, but my hands continued to unwind the fabric. A few layers down, the first spotting of blood was visible on the cloth, but there was no pus or stench.

"Good, it doesn't look infected," I assured him. "While it's unwrapped, we should wash the wound."

"I have salve," Omden said.

"Wash first," I told him. "Cleanliness prevents sickness."

"Grab some washcloths," Lessa ordered. "I'll get a bowl of water."

Those two headed in opposite ways, going deeper into the house. That left me there with Drozel. The man was as large as the Wyvern, but his coloration was softer, more natural-looking. He was also smirking at me in a way that wasn't intimidating.

"So you're a healer too, huh?" he asked.

I nodded. "All girls are. Well, to a point. If we sew well enough, we're allowed to work in the infirmary. If we don't, we're expected to stand in the hall and pray when the hunters return." Then I paused, my eyes jumping up to his face.

"And I happen to know you ladies never knew they were attacking us," he said gently. "It's okay, Meri. Ayla's explained all of it to me - and we've heard about you."

"What about me?" I asked.

He murmured a little noise that sounded almost teasing. "Oh, just that you were her friend, you got married, and she's been worried about you. She mentioned how brave you must've been, and you know, things like that."

"I wasn't brave," I mumbled just as Lessa returned with the water. Omden was only a moment later with the cloths.

That let me start cleaning the mess on the man's tail. Whoever had wrapped it the last time had used far too much of the ointment. As carefully as I could, I wiped it away from the open wound, then turned his tail to do the same on the other side.

Once that was done, I changed to a new, clean cloth. This time, I pressed the warmth against the wound, holding it there for a moment before carefully cleaning off the scab. Once, the tail in my hand twitched, tensing like it wanted to jerk away.

I sucked in a little breath, but Drozel just reached up to rub my forearm. "It stings," he admitted. "Sorry. I'm trying not to flinch."

"Thank you," I breathed.

He shrugged. "I think I'm the one who should be thanking you. Omden has the hands of a metalworker, and Lessa can't even look at the wound without puking."

"Puke?" I asked, trying to translate that word into English in my head.

"Vomit?" Lessa offered. "Throwing up? Like you were doing when I met you."

That made my face warm up. "Oh. Okay. The smell of an infection can be disturbing, but his injury looks like it's healing well."

Omden chuckled. "Lessa doesn't like any blood, or gore, or raw flesh."

"Nope, I do not do body fluids of any type," Lessa agreed.

"Except one," Omden teased.

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