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A cool hand touches Lev’s cheek, and the o He’s somewhere else now

“You’re safe, child,” the wo voice says “Open your eyes”

When he does, he sees her pleasant face s at him Square jaw, black hair tied back, and bronze skin, she’s a—“SlotMonger!” he blurts, and feels his skin flush red “I’m sorryI didn’t meanIt just came out”

She chuckles “Old words die hard,” she tells hi after it was obvious eren’t from India And ‘Native A for my taste”

“ChanceFolk,” Lev says, hoping his SlotMonger slur will quickly be forgotten

“Yes,” the woone, but I suppose the nah resonance to stick”

He sees the stethoscope around her neck—the one he at first incorrectly thought belonged to a harvest-caeon

“You’re a doctor?”

“A Woman of Medicine, yes—and as such I can tell you that your cuts and bruises are healing, and the swelling of your wrist is ive you leave to shed it You need to gain a few pounds, but once you taste , that shouldn’t be a problem”

Lev watches warily as she sits on the edge of his bed and studies him

“But your spirit, child, is a vastly different matter”

He withdraws, and her lips purse ruefully

“Medicine wo takes ti, and I’ll leave you to rest”

He stiffens, reflexively on his guard “What?”

“What is your name?”