Page 20 (1/2)

“Use it now” When he raises his eyebrows, I lift my chin “Master Please I can help”

A beat goes by, while he looks at ht” The corners of his mouth turn up “Do it” He looks at et the kit”

When he comes back, I’m surprised to see that there are vials of unknown alac trade Akron always got top of the line everything, that’s one thing I can say about him

“This is specialized?” I hold up a tube of clear gel

“Created by a human, actually” He smiles “On Zandia It helps Zandian skin heal many times faster than it would naturally”

“A huet to do such work?” I take a sterile wipe and the water tube; dab his forehead He doesn’t wince, but a muscle clenches in his jaw

“We told you, life on Zandia won’t be bad” His voice is even as I cleanse

When I rub the salve onto the wound, I can see the thin, purple line start to recede, like water evaporating “This is a”

He nods “Thank you” His voice is softer, as I clear up the debris

“It’s nothing I’ve tended far worse”

“Are you a medic?”

“No” I toss the trash into the incinerator bin and close the kit “Please, I don’t wish to talk about lance at him out of the corner of my eye

“All right, but eventually you’ll tell us everything,” he says, and I can’t tell if it’s a promise, a threat, or both

Chapter 6

Gorde