Page 32 of The Curse of Golden Blood
I gently tilted her chin, studying the gash across her nose. The cut was not deep, but it was still an open wound, and could easily become infected.
"Hold still," I said, letting go. "This will sting."
I grabbed a nearby pot of salve and dipped two fingers into the thick, greenish paste, the scent of stormroot and winterberry wafting into the air.
"Wait, what are you—"
Before she could finish, I pressed the pads of my fingers against the wound, applying a thin layer of the ointment.
"Ouch!" She jerked away, her hand flying up to her face.
"Stop squirming."
"No, it burns!"
"That's the medicine," I said, grabbing her chin again and forcing her to look at me. "Now hold still, and let me help you."
Her eyes narrowed, and she huffed out a breath. But she didn't try to move away, and I took that as a sign of acceptance.
"Good," I said. "Now, tell me, what were you thinking, attacking him like that?"
"He insulted me. What else was I supposed to do?"
"Ignore him."
"Easy for you to say."
"You are not a child. Act like it."
"Oh, I'm sorry," she snapped. "Is there some rule about not getting angry when people insult me?"
"There is a rule about not using our fists to sort out disagreements." I paused. “Unless sanctioned, of course.”
"Well, you would know all about that, wouldn't you, Warlord?"
I chuckled. "Think what you will, little dove, but every battle is won with either blood or pain."
"So, the end justifies the means, is that it?"
"It does."
She fell silent, her golden eyes distant. When she spoke again, her voice was quieter, more careful.
"What will happen to Terys?"
I continued applying the salve, not bothering to look up. "He will be thrown to the pits."
Her sharp intake of breath made me pause. "So... he’ll die?"
"That is what he gets for using his training for the wrong purpose." I resumed my work, noting how she stiffened at my words.
"I am not weak," she said, fire returning to her voice. "I had him. If he hadn't attacked me from behind like a coward, I would have won."
"Mmm," I murmured, neither agreeing nor disagreeing as I smoothed the ointment across her skin.
She was quiet for a moment, then said softly, "I don't want him dead."
I stopped what I was doing and looked at her directly. "There it is."
