Leonidas finished examining the elven archer. “All right, Maeryn. Looks like there isn’t anything major to worry about. Just need some rest, a little food, and you’ll be knocking down curs in no time.” She smiled, though her face was still wore the signs of exhaustion and sadness, nodding quickly before making her way out of the room. He walked out, seeing Jeanne leaning against the door frame opposite where Kveldulf was resting. She was hunched over, her arm once again wrapped around her waist, and he could see her jaw was clenched tightly.

  “Jeanne!” Leonidas called out.

  Her attention snapped to him as she turned to his direction. “Hmm, what?”

  “It’s your turn,” he said, gesturing her into the room. “Come on.”

  “I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head and waving the comment off.

  “Jeanne,” he replied, pointing towards the room sternly.

  She grumbled as she made her way into the room. She slowly maneuvered herself to the bed. While climbing in, she winced in pain as Leonidas put his hand under her back to help her lie down. “Thanks,” she said through gritted teeth, trying to control her breathing.

  “No worries,” he said, conjuring up a visual disc with the red stone.

  “I think you’re doing this just to use that damn thing.”

  “No. And you’re telling me you wouldn’t?”

  She laughed before letting out a painful groan. “Damn, this hurts.”

  “No wonder,” he said as he viewed through the disc, “you have two broken ribs.”

  “Oh, fucking wonderful.”

  “You’re lucky; they’re already set in place.”

  “They are?” she asked, her eyebrows squished together and blinking quickly.

  “Yeah, ribs are usually pretty good about that. So, no hooks for you.”

  “Oh, Shepherd’s kindness, not the fucking meat hooks.”

  “Still better than what your friend will be feeling for the next few days.”

  “When do you think he’ll be on his feet again?”

  “If there’s no major infection and he doesn’t do something completely stupid, I’d say about two weeks.”

  “Two weeks?” Jeanne said, her eyes widening and raising an eyebrow.

  “He had multiple crossbolts lodged in his guts, and one almost took a rib out, and that’s not including the plethora of other injuries he acquired. I’m honestly surprised he’s not crying in pain right now.”

  “A noble man should be silent and thoughtful. Through both pain of heart and pain of flesh,” Kveldulf said from the other room.

  “And a noble man should rest before he reopens his wounds and perturbs his healer,” Leonidas replied to the quote.

  “Duly noted,” Kveldulf replied.

  Leonidas turned to Jeanne, “Does he always do that?”

  “Do what?” Jeanne asked.

  “You, know. The whole quotation thing?”

  Jeanne shook her head. “No,” she said her jaw tightening for a moment while in thought. “That’s been more of a recent thing since he’s rejoined us.”

  “I see,” Leonidas said. “That’s certainly something. Not sure what, but it’s something.”

  “Yeah, same here,” she said.

  “Regardless,” Leonidas said in a more jovial tone. “I blame you.”

  “Of course, you do,” she said, rolling her eyes.

  “What exactly were you all doing when this went south?”

  “Cid, Kel, and I were traveling with the others for some expedition. Mostly guarding the scholars and all that.” she breathed in deep, causing her to wince sharply again. “But I don’t know the details on that one.”

  “What was the expedition about?”

  “I couldn’t tell you if you put a truth spell on me. Cid would probably know more about that.”

  “You’re back into body guarding again after the Sorrel affair?” Leonidas asked as he grabbed his satchel and pulled a chair up to Jeanne’s bedside.

  “We just started a freelance company and figured getting a couple of quick jobs under our belts would help build a reputation before we took on bigger one. One reason we took this job was Cid thought this would get the word out without being as risky.”

  “Huh,” Leonidas said, “not a bad idea.”

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Yeah, look how good it went.”

  “Well, you all made it out in one piece. Not everyone can say that.”

  Jeanne turned to Leonidas, tilting her head and narrowing her gaze.

  “What?” he asked.

  “I was expecting you to read me the riot act or something of that sort.”

  Leonidas blinked his eyes rapidly and touched the base of his chin. “I mean, did any of you rush into a fight because you wanted a certain kill?”

  “Doc, we’re soldiers for hire, not lacking in self-confidence or intelligence.”

  “All right, then. Did anyone decide to give away their cover to make a grand entrance and undermine the element of surprise?”

  “If I didn’t know the context of that question, I’d be insulted,” Jeanne replied coldly.

  “And did anyone race out into a dangerous situation because 'everyone else was doing it'?” Jeanne’s mouth dropped while she blinked slowly.

  “How did any of you survive out there?”

  “I stopped trying to figure that out a long time ago. Regardless, I don’t have to worry about any of that now. So … Kveldulf and Cid were the two you mentioned before from The Cold Company?” Leonidas asked as he ground thin pieces of willow bark. Jeanne nodded.

  “How long have you known them?”

  “Over a decade at this point.”

  “Damn, and they put up with you willingly?”

  “Oh, shut up!” Jeanne snapped as Leonidas mixed the bark powder with flour and honey, placing the bowl on the table next to the bed, pointing to her tunic.

  “May I?”

  She let out a snort. “You know you don’t have to ask, right?”

  “Yes, I do,” he replied, a soft smile forming at the corner of his mouth. Lifting her tunic carefully, he found several large bruises on her skin on the left side of her torso. Both of their eyes widened at the sight.

  “So that’s a thing,” she said, moving her hand over to the bruise. Leonidas swatted at her hand.

  “No!” he said sternly, “don’t be childish.”

  “My broken ribs, my choice,” she replied adamantly.

  “And you can deal with the pain then,” Leonidas said as he began putting his stuff away.

  “You’re no fun,” she said, rolling her eyes again.

  “You can do whatever the hell you want when you’re not injured.”

  He lightly placed the poultice on the bruise. She breathed in sharply at the touch, tightening up as the pain hit again.

  “How come I don’t get the painkiller tonic?” Jeanne asked him.

  “Because last time I gave it to you, you ran around on two broken legs, fought an orken mercenary, and proclaimed yourself ‘Jeanne, first of her name, High Imperial Queen of the Squirrels.’”

  “Oh … oh,” she said slowly. “Might’ve forgotten about that.”

  “In any case, this should start to kick in before too long.”

  “It’s starting to feel a little better already.”

  Leonidas applied the poultice to her skin, feeling her breathe in and out slowly, trying to control the pain as best she could. He paused, seeing her there resting on the bed, watching some of her cares from earlier in the day beginning to wash away and allowing herself to relax and regain her strength.

  Since their last time together, he forgot how stunning she could be. The confident smile, the boisterous laugh, the devil-may-care attitude— he forgot how much he enjoyed being around it. Even when she would drive him crazy with antics and pranks, there was something about her that he found comforting.

  Something he wished he could possibly explore to find a semblance of companionship. But the thought of reaching out and seeing what was there caused him to think of all that might go wrong. Memories of those closest to him being wrested away before he knew it had happened— one in particular causing him to wince at its mere recollection.

  Leonidas looked back at Jeanne, and the thought of such a fate befalling her made him certain that anything beyond flights of fancy should never stray too far away. He cleared his throat as he returned his thoughts to the task at hand. “That should help. Try to get some rest and let the bones heal up. But knowing you … well.”

  “Why, Doc, you sound like I’m some form of trouble-maker.”

  “You, my dear, are the Queen of that realm.”

  “You could join us, you know. Might enjoy an exciting battle or two.”

  “I’d rather not, thank you. I’m not exactly the type to run into a fight.”

  “You wouldn’t be put in the front lines. No offense.”

  “Already am,” he said jokingly.

  “But seriously, none of us are that skilled in healing, and I’d rather have someone who can put us back together if things go bad quick.”

  “I’ll need to think on it. The last groups I’ve tagged along with

  “Sure, but in all seriousness, Doc. Thank you for coming here when you did.”

  Leonidas was taken aback by her change in attitude. “Of course. Wasn’t anything at all.”

  “It’s just … I know I can leave the wrong impression with people. And I know you’re never thrilled when our paths cross …”

  He placed his hand gently on her shoulder. “Jeanne, I don’t hate you. You just annoy the piss out of me sometimes.”

  “What about that time I broke into your clinic and brought that wolf inside?”

  Leonidas narrowed his eyes. “Jeanne, I’m trying to be nice. Could you not remind me of that?”

  “Then there was that time I tried to see which ingredients could get me drunk… or high.”

  “Gods, that was an expensive night,” Leonidas said with a heavy sigh.

  “And then–”

  “I get your point, Jeanne!” said Leonidas before letting out a long breath. “Still, I do not see you as bad company. There are others far more worthy of that distinction.”

  “Oh, oh!” she said. “I forgot about them. Have you ever heard from those people since you left?”

  “No,” said Leonidas, helping her sit up to wrap bandages around the poultice. “And I’ll be a very lucky man if I never hear from them again.”

  “Well, thanks again,” Jeanne said. “This means a lot.”

  “Remember that when I send you my bill of service,” Leonidas said, helping her lay back down as he finished wrapping her bandages. “But right now, get some rest and I’ll check on you later, all right?”

  “You better tuck me in, and right this time, or I’ll knock your teeth out.”

  “Yeah, you’ll be just fine,” he said, chuckling under his breath before making his way to the stairs and the dining area below.