Page 45 of Wind and Water
She’s right about that. I’m not the greatest healer, but I can visualize the injury, and her bones have begun to heal out of place. “You’re going to need a stick or something to bite down on.”
Several centaurs gather around. Corell says something in their language, and Pallon rushes away. “We are with you, Birdie.”
“Corell. It’s good to see you. Are the children alright? She didn’t hurt them, did she?” Her eyes widen. “The fireball. Oh no.” Tears stream down her face. “The village.”
“It’s alright, Momma.” Wren kisses her mother’s cheek. “Don’t get riled up.”
“The village was empty,” Corell says. “We knew there would be vengeance once Venora saw we had moved against her. Farress leads the rest of the Western Centaurs north.”
Birdie lets out a long breath and winces. “I’m so relieved.” She looks around at so many staring down at her. “I can’t believe all y’all came to save me. Thank you.”
Pallon returns with a stick with a diameter of about an inch. “This is the best I could find. There are few trees in this region.”
Taking it from him, I say, “It will do. Thank you.” I force a smile for Birdie. “Your ribs have begun to heal badly. The process to make them right again will be painful. I’m sorry, but there is no help for it.”
Birdie nods, and when I offer the stick, she puts it between her teeth.
Holding her mother’s shoulders, Wren asks, “Is there no other way?”
“Not out here. We still have five days to journey. These ribs will pain her the entire way if I don’t get them fixed now.” My gut is in knots. “I’m sorry.”
Even with the stick in her mouth, Birdie gives me a smile. “Do it.”
“Wellon, I will use my magic to set the bones properly. Once that is done, you can gently add to my power for the healing.”
Wide eyed, Wellon nods vigorously, and his hands open and close with his distress.
I grip his shoulder. “Gently, Wellon. If we heal her too quickly, we could do more harm than good.”
The centaur takes a deep breath and lets it out. “I will only add what you allow. I understand.” He touches Birdie’s shoulder. “You will be well again.”
“Hold her, Wren. The ribs have to break to be set, and that’s going to be painful, even with my magic to ease the way. I’m not a natural healer. If my brother Aaran were here, this would be a simple thing.” My heart and pulse are racing. I’m more of a field dressing kind of healer. In battle, I can stop bleeding until a true healer can be reached. This is delicate work.
Wren touches my shoulder. “We trust you, Liam.”
The soft tone of her voice, with her clear gaze, calms me. I press both hands to Birdie’s midsection and close my eyes. Three ribs have begun the healing process, and all are out of place. Willing my magic forward, I pray to the old gods for strength in gifts that are not mine. I send power to the misaligned breaks and feel the pop of each one as it cracks at the healing point.
Birdie’s screams are muted by the stick she’s biting.
I have to push aside my worry over her pain. It can’t be helped, but with my magic flowing through her, I feel the sharpness of it and grit my teeth. I don’t have the strength to use magic to ease pain and still have enough to heal her when the sun is nearly gone from the sky.
The worst is over. I move the bones into place. As I begin the healing, I open my eyes and look at Wellon.
His sharp magic thrusts against mine, hard at first, but then he gentles the flow and boosts my power. One by one, we mend the bones, then heal the bruised tissue around them.
Once I’m sure it’s done, I say, “We’ve done it, Wellon.”
His tail flicks once, but then he lets out the breath he’d been holding and stops the flow of his magic.
I do the same and find a teary-eyed Birdie staring up at me. “How do you feel?”
After lifting herself to sitting, she hugs me and then Wellon. “You are both miraculous. It’s as if they were never broken.” She pokes the spot. “No pain at all.”
Exhausted, I slide from my knees to sit. I wish there were sunlight to reenergize my magic, but it will have to wait for morning.
Birdie stands. “I’m going to want to know more about your magic, baby girl.” She points to Wren for a moment before she walks off with Corell and a few other centaurs.
They recount everything that happened from the time Birdie went to the black tower.
