Page 88 of Phoenix's Fire

"So you're not hungry?" I asked.

He shrugged. "I just know the rations are limited, and hunters are given unlimited vegetables. I, um... I thought that maybe you were hungry."

I scooped up another spoonful. "I am." That went in my mouth.

"So eat it," he said. "I can say I convinced you to stay longer this way, or any of a dozen excuses. Just eat it, okay?"

I nodded and scooped up some more. "You know, most men offer things about themselves. I should probably learn something about you."

"Like what?"

"Your favorite color?" I suggested.

He laughed. "Um, pink."

"I like yellow."

He groaned. "Oh, that would've been a better answer."

"So you don't like pink?"

"No, I do. Up there, they have all these plants, right? And some have flowers. The first ones I ever saw were pink, and the kind we don't have down here. Ever since, I've always liked that color."

"Yellow goes with my hair," I explained. "Pink isn't a good color for me, but Meri had a pink dress once."

"What else do you like?" he asked.

"Healing," I admitted. "I used to like sewing cloth, but working in the infirmary feels bigger. Like it matters more."

"Like a challenge?" he offered.

I nodded. "And powerful." I stopped hard, letting my eyes jump to his face. I shouldn't have said that.

"Because you can decide if a man will ever use his arm again?" he asked softly.

"Tobias, I didn't mean - "

"Because I think it's a good way to control things when everyone tries so hardto take that from you." He offered me a smile. "And Jamison thought he was invincible. He learned he's not."

"Maybe we shouldn't talk about things we like," I muttered.

He reached over to gently rub my shoulder. "I like that you're not merely a healer, but a good one. I told the guys that's how I noticed you. When everyone else was panicking because of the severe wounds last time, you just got to work. You weren't even flustered, and you saved Jamison's life, even though the arrows were exactly like the Wyvern's."

"But he'll never use that arm," I reminded him.

Tobias shrugged. "He's alive. It's more than most can say. Broadhead arrows kill, Callah. They rip men apart. That you kept him alive? They think you must have worked hard to do so."

I nodded and took another bite, because I didn't know what to say.

So he kept going. "I always feel so helpless in the infirmary, but I'm constantly picked to help. I liked it when Ayla would call for me, because she made it easy."

"Easy how?" I asked.

He shrugged. "She told me what to do - and when I did it right. She didn't try to spare my pride, because she was focused on her patient. You've become like her in a lot of ways."

"Am I too much like her?" I asked.

He shook his head. "No. Ayla was always too brave. You are always meek and gentle. Some think you're trying to make up for Meri's and Ayla's corruption. I'll just casually mention that you're worried about how close the Devil has been to you, and that you refuse to give in."

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