Page 26 of A Warrior's Heart

“Go to bed,” he ordered.

The jellyfish returned to my stomach, their long legs twisting and turning. He refused to leave my sight until he knew I was safe inside my room.

I saluted him and heard him faintly chuckle as I opened the door and went inside the cabin. Eva was curled up in bed, her blonde hair fanning across her pillow. I settled in beside her and pulled the blanket to my chin, smiling as I closed my eyes and drifted to sleep.

***

After a quick breakfast of salted meat, cheese, and fruit, I helped Eva make salves and elixirs in the physician’s quarter. She had taught me how to be a healer over the years, and I enjoyed the knowledge that I was helping people. Saving lives instead of taking them.

“Do we need so many?” I asked, looking at all the small vials.

“Yes,” she answered, filling another. “You never know when we’ll need it, so it’s best to be prepared.”

“This one fights infection from festered wounds?” I asked, holding one up that contained a slightly yellow liquid. “It looks like piss.”

Eva laughed. “At least you’ll always know which one is which. Tell me.” She held up one with red liquid. “What does this do?”

“The medicine you make for Lorcan. It helps with night terrors,” I answered. “Also with insomnia.”

“Correct. And this?” She motioned to a green one.

“Headaches.”

“Good.” She smiled as she mixed a salve in a wooden bowl. She crushed herbs and added them to the mixture. “This reminds me of when I used to teach Alek the healing arts.”

“He’s much better than me,” I said, dabbing a finger into the bowl and smearing the cream on my hand. It helped with burns. “Unlike you and him, I don’t have magic. The medicines I make aren’t nearly as potent.”

Eva had been born with the gift of magic. I had not. And it had always secretly bothered me. It was why I worked so hard and trained my body nearly to the breaking point in order to be the best archer I could be. So I could be of use.

“You don’t need magic in order to be a great healer, brother.”

“It would help.”

“One of the best physicians I ever met was human,” she said. “It was when I lived in Silver Falls. He taught me so much. Magic is not the answer to everything. Your heart is what matters most.” She squeezed my shoulder before standing from the stool and placing the vials in a holding container. It was nailed to the wall, so it wouldn’t slide around when the ship jolted or rocked. “Did you and Malik have a nice time last night?”

“Huh?”

She tossed me a smile over her shoulder. “I woke to find you missing, so I cracked open the door and searched the deck. I saw you two standing very close together.”

“We were only talking.”

“Did you want there to be more?”

“It matters not what I want.” I averted my gaze to the small square window, seeing blue skies on the other side.

“You care for him.”

I shifted in my seat. “Of course I care for him. I care for Lorcan too, yet I don’t want him romantically.”

“But you want Malik romantically?”

Her question hung in the air, unanswered.

“When will you ever speak of it, brother?”

“Speak of what?”

Eva walked over and took both my hands in hers. I had little memory of our parents, as I was so young when they were killed, but I remembered our mother’s face. Eva resembled her greatly, the same sparkling blue eyes and pale hair.