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“Never been to the Guild?” The healer stared at me in astonishment.
“She was born to southern farmers and signed up for a traveling apprenticeship with me directly from her home,” Amara said.
“Well, well, well.” The woman clucked her tongue. “I know apprenticeships outside the Guild aren’t much in favor, but clearly they should be if they produce students like Delphine. I’m due for one of my annual visits to the Caltor hospital soon, and you can be sure I’ll put in a good word on the matter to the healing mages there.”
“I’d appreciate it,” Amara said with a genuine smile. “The more voices, the better. Change is slow to come, but I’m hopeful we’re in a season of it at the moment.”
“I’m still not sure why my strength would be a detriment,” I said, not entirely following their conversation.
The healer chuckled and clapped me on the shoulder again. “You’re one of the good ones, Delphine.”
She wandered back into the crowd, leaving Amara to give me actual answers.
“Unfortunately, strength often comes with arrogance,” she said. “And arrogance doesn’t pair well with learning.”
“Oooh!” I felt dense for needing it pointed out. As soon as she said it, I could picture exactly the sort of mage student I’d always imagined the Guild filled with. My old expectations had been so different from the actual mages I’d met that I’d started to forget them—especially since so much of my thinking had been shaped by my father. But clearly my preconceptions hadn’t been entirely wrong.
“Of course not all the Guild students are like that,” Amara said, “even the strong ones. Just look at Hayes. It’s easy to see he was never that kind of student.”
“Not to mention you,” I said, shaking my head at her humble focus on Hayes. “You’re the very opposite of everything I imagined powerful Guild mages to be.”
“We can’t express how grateful we are that a Guild mage was on hand,” a new voice said, making me start.
I whirled around to find both of Josie’s parents standing hesitantly to one side.
“Thank you so much for saving our daughter,” Marla said. “I don’t know what your fee might be, and I’m afraid we might not be able to…” She trailed off before rallying quickly. “But of course we’ll find a way to pay it, whatever it might be.”
“Oh no, no!” I held up both hands. “I’m only an apprentice, and I couldn’t possibly…” I stopped as I suddenly remembered that as an apprentice, it was my master who set the fee for my services. It was how they paid for the expenses of housing, feeding, and training us.
I glanced at Amara to find her watching me with amusement.
“Given the circumstances, I don’t think there’s any need to talk of a fee,” she said. “It was a valuable learning experience for my apprentice.”
“Oh yes!” I agreed gratefully. “And please allow me to apologize to you for my behavior yesterday in the square. I allowed myself to become emotional and to unfairly accuse you. I want you to know it was never about Josie or her leg. It was my own issues, and it was terrible of me to allow those to intrude on such a difficult moment. Please accept my heartfelt apology.”
“Did you behave terribly?” The mother turned her blank expression on her husband who looked equally clueless. “To be honest, it was all so traumatic, I remember almost nothing. From the moment of the accident through until I had my baby healthy in my arms again, I can only remember snatches. I was certain that…” She stifled a sob, and her husband put an arm around his shoulders.
“From what we’ve been told, she would have died without you,” the father said. “You saved her life, and that’s all that matters to us.”
“Thank you.” I gave them the same half-bow I’d given the healer. “I’m most grateful for your understanding.”
After a few more protestations on both sides, someone appeared to take their attention, and I turned to Amara.
“Everyone here seems to be excessively understanding.”
She smiled. “I’ve noticed that happens after you save someone’s life. Especially a child.”
“I’m sure you’ve had plenty of experience with that, even if you aren’t a healer,” I said, remembering the way she had held back the flood that nearly swept us both away.
“You’ll soon have grateful friends of your own across the kingdom.” She grinned at me. “Maybe you’ll even decide you like a roving life yourself. I hope you do. Tartora could do with more traveling masters.”
I shook my head. I wasn’t ready to think about a future as a master.
“I’m just glad everything worked out this time. If the poor girl is ever injured again…” I winced.
Amara looked across the square at where an older lad was doing a jig, making the girl laugh.
“I spoke to the parents earlier. This was the final straw for them. They did everything they could to hold onto their farm, but they’re going to sell it now and move to Caltor. If their daughter is injured again, she’ll be able to be rushed to the hospital there where a team of healers can work on her.”
