The Crow King's Wife(32)

“I can skin a greased weasel in the dark with one eye closed without damaging the pelt. I think I can handle this.” Caleb returned dryly.

“That must have been an unusual skill to master and one that I can see absolutely no practical use for.” Jala returned in the same tone.

“It was a figure of speech Lady Merrodin, not meant to be taken literally.” Caleb growled and shook his head.

“Grim can handle the cutting, and I know you can handle the healing.” Zoelyn broke in quickly before things could get worse. The last thing she wanted was two of her friends to become enemies.

“If you say so.” Jala sighed and motioned delicately to Caleb. “Begin where ever you like and I will patch him up as needed.” She invited.

“Are we certain he isn’t going to wake up in the middle of this? What if he just fainted? I mean I would really hate to wake up with someone’s knife in my eye.” Valor said before Caleb could take a single step toward the bed.

“If he starts to wake I’ll make sure he stays out cold.” Caleb promised as he pulled a chair closer to the bed and settled in it. He leaned over silently and turned Shade’s face toward him. With gentleness that Jala obviously hadn’t expected he removed the makeshift bandage from Shade’s eye and examined the wound closely before raising his dagger to begin.

Jala turned her head and Zoelyn caught her eye and smiled. “Evanell was the Master healer for the city of Amdany. Grim helped her as he was needed. So he isn’t a complete amateur at this. Nel tended to be a bit squeamish about some things and so Grim would do the dirty work.” Zoelyn spoke quietly and she saw Jala relax a bit at her words.

“Do you remember that time that hunter stepped in his own trap and the Dazzi mauled him? I had to carve him up to remove the trap and push his guts back in before Nel would even come close.” Caleb said in a distracted voice.

“As I recall even you almost lost your lunch at the sight of that one.” Zoelyn replied quietly.

“Nel had nightmares about that for weeks. Every time I went out to hunt after that I thought she was going to kneecap me to keep me from leaving the house.” Caleb continued as his dagger tip carefully cut away the first layer of scar tissue from Shade’s eye. Shade stirred under his hand and Caleb leaned back and carefully sat the dagger down.

Jala flinched back and by her expression it was clear that she expected Caleb to punch Shade to knock him out, but when he reached for his bag instead her expression shifted to curiosity.

Barely a breath had passed before Caleb dropped his bag and leaned forward once more with a small amber colored glass vial in his hand. He quickly pulled the stopper from the vial and gently shook Shade. “Shade, wake a bit. Here I need you to drink this. It will help you.” Caleb’s voice was gentle as he held the vial to Shade’s lips with one hand and lifted his head enough to drink with the other. Shade swallowed weakly and coughed a few times as Caleb lowered his head to the pillow once more. “Just rest now. We made it to Merro and Jala is going to heal you. All you have to do is sleep.” Caleb said as he dropped the empty vial onto the table beside him and watched Shade settle back into the bed.

Zoelyn could tell by Jala’s expression that Caleb’s actions had done wonders to improve her opinion of him, despite the fact that he hadn’t paid the least bit of attention to her. It was obvious he hadn’t been trying to impress her or anyone else in the room with his actions.

“I’m a much harsher judge of character than you are Jala. You want to save the entire world, and I don’t think there are many worth saving. I would sell my soul to save Grim though, and there are very few people I will say that of.” Zoelyn informed her quietly.

Jala turned to look at her and then slowly looked back to Caleb who had once again begun work on Shade’s eye. “I’ve never heard you speak of anyone like that before.”

“There are only five that I would say that of. Three are in the room the fourth is playing with his toys downstairs. The last one is in Delvay.” Zoelyn said with a faint smile. “Shade, Wisp and Sovann I would of course save as well, but I don’t know if I would go as far as the soul selling part for them yet.”

“You better not go that far for me either little girl.” Caleb grumbled in a distracted voice. “I swore Kevala’drin on Rivasa. My life isn’t worth betting on let alone trying to save.” He finished quietly. “That’s part of what I need to speak with you about Valor, and now seems a good of a time as any.”