This needs to be in here somewhere. We need to see our healers actually be healers, and I'd like to start off young, so they aren't perfect at it.

The fireworks were long in coming, partially because it wasn't in Daisy's nature to be angry, and it wasn't in Kaelyn's to be vocally angry.

And also because Colm's house seemed to generate peace. Mama and Master had lived together for decades, and their relationship seemed to be almost entirely out of rough edges to sand off any more. Kaelyn had seen both good and bad marriages in Coombe and thought she knew the earmarks of each; thinking about such a thing at fourteen was part of why Davis had picked her as a healer, after all.

All the earmarks of a good marriage were in this one. They both said “I love you,” as easily as they breathed, something that Kaelyn's own father struggled with. To her memory she had heard him tell his mother he loved her maybe ten times, and he had said it to Kaelyn less than half that. Not that he wasn't loving; he was. He took care of things; he showed his love in his long, patient, hard work. He never raised his voice, he was gentle in remonstrations, but equally subdued in his praise. Words were hard for him, and it was obviously confusing for him to have a daughter that prized them so highly.

Mama and Colm spoke all the time. Every little thing was part of the conversation, every decision was discussed or at least mentioned.

And there were lots of little physical cues. Gentle pats on the back, a quick hug as they passed in the kitchen on the way to different activities. Disagreements may have happened, but it seemed they were reserved for times when the girls weren't in the room.

Daisy was adjusting to living with the quieter Kaelyn, and it hurt Kaelyn to see how hard it was for her. Daisy was an open book, always, and with everyone. Kaelyn wanted to be like that, but also didn't want to bore others with her life story. It took some adjusting to realize that when Daisy asked what you were thinking about she actually expected an answer. It took Daisy some adjusting to realize that Kaelyn didn't always want to be with someone else.

Okay, now to what this chapter is actually titled.

Visiting the Sick, for Real This Time.

Daisy and Kaelyn had been training with Colm for two weeks now, and were used to a certain pattern. The four members of the household took turns cooking, now that Mama was moderately certain that the girls could cook. “It's nothing against you, ladies, but we've had some apprentices in here who were best not left alone in the kitchen,” She explained as she watched Kaelyn make bread.

But today was different. Colm had told them the day before that today they were going to actually do Healer work. This was a welcome announcement, until he explained that what he meant was not “we're going to do fancy magic,” what he meant was “we're going out to visit people.”

Kaelyn and Daisy were kind, strong, intelligent girls who understood that a large part of the healer's art was spending time around the sick. But this was still new. What if they did something wrong? What if someone was really sick?

Colm asked them each what they had in their satchels before they left. He hadn't given them specific instructions. Kaelyn said, “well, I brought bandages, willowfine, gauze that has been boiled and soaked in a numbing tincture, a few rags, dried anise and mint.” Colm nodded gravely and turned to Daisy.

“Let's see, I have bandages too, and some twisted gut thread and a needle, a cooling salve, and a curse net I made last night because I couldn't sleep.”

This too was met with a grave nod, no hint of the direction his thoughts were going behind his kindly face. “Very well, apprentices. Let us see what we need out there today. We have three people that I know need visited, and as we travel through Strand we will always find others in need. If we have time, we will stop in at the Fountain for lunch, but whatever else we do, whatever else we may be, remember that we are healers, first and foremost.” The girls nodded gravely and tried not to show excitement. The Fountain was where other young people might be! And a free lunch in town was always a treat.

But if they were going to get that lunch they were going to work for it. A shepherd from a nearby valley had been bitten by a snake—non-venomous, thankfully—but the wound was still troubling him and seemed to be infected. Kaelyn and Daisy knelt by their master and helped as he directed. Kaelyn would never have admitted it aloud, but this was the sort of thing that made her wonder about her choice of career. She could handle blood, or bones, or people with fevers or coughs, but flesh that was corrupted...

She looked over at Daisy and noted that she was also a little pale as they carefully cleaned away the diseased tissue and washed the suffering man's leg from the knee to the foot. Daisy looked up and caught Kaelyn's eye. Daisy made a slight face, one that spoke volumes. Her mouth stayed still, her eyes barely moved, but what her expression said was “I'm in over my head...” Kaelyn responded silently, her eyes widening a little and a tiny little nod. And somehow knowing they were together on this helped. Kaelyn's heart warmed toward her fellow apprentice, and she wondered if resenting Daisy was a good idea in the first place.

“Ladies, you did very well in there. I think his wound will clean up, if he can be convinced to change the dressing. Will you too check in with him tomorrow?” Colm said.

That look again. They held each other's eyes, and finally Kaelyn said, “Of course, Master Colm.”

Colm, walking a few steps ahead of them, smiled to himself. He didn't need to see their look. He'd seen it before.