Healers
Hyllises scrambled to lay out a lunch on top of the little wagon that trailed the big one. Most of the caravan ate something of their own for lunch, but a few always came by to see what the Hyllises had made up. This time they had tomatoes and lettuce Tarc had found in Denton’s crossing the night before they left. Eva made sandwiches with sliced roast pork, lettuce, and tomatoes. They were quite a hit. Happy customers spread the word and they quickly ran out.
    Right after they finished laying out the sandwiches a man rode up on a horse. Kazy looked up, recognizing the older man who’d sought treatment back at Denton’s crossing. Her stomach cramped with concern that the man had come to complain about the treatment he’d received.
    Instead he smiled at Eva, “Whatever you did, my left leg doesn’t bother me anymore. My right leg’s still killin’ me though. So I borrowed this horse and rode after you, hoping you’ll treat my right leg too, like you said.” He narrowed his eyes, “How much are you gonna charge me?”
    Eva glanced at him, but she continued assembling sandwiches, “How much do you think it’s worth?”
    A startled look crossed the man’s face. “Well…” He shrugged, “I’ve been afraid you’d want to charge me ten gold pieces, and…” he looked down as if in some distress, “I would pay that much to have my leg back, so I suppose it’s worth it. But… that’s about all I’ve got.” He looked a little embarrassed. “If you want more than that, I’ll just have to keep living like I am and thank you for fixing one leg for me.”
    Eva grinned at him, “One gold, plus a second gold to clean out the arteries in your heart. They’re pretty bad too, but right now you can’t walk fast enough to stress your heart.”
    The man’s eyes widened and he raised a hand to his chest, “My heart?”
    Eva nodded, “Yeah, better you have it done than your leg. If one of the arteries that feeds your heart closes off, you’ll die . …
    “Okay,” the man said, looking a little frightened. “You’ve got a deal, and… thanks… for charging less than you could.”
    Kazy had watched this conversation with some disbelief. She looked around at her new family. Can it be that they really can help people?! Or really think they can? Kazy had been to a healer once when she’d been sick as a child, but didn’t think it had helped her. Certainly most people seemed to have low opinions of healers. She’d been a little bit embarrassed to find out her new family considered themselves healers.
    Eva sent Mr. Albert off to one side and said Daussie and Tarc would tend to him again. Kazy kept glancing over, seeing Tarc and Daussie, kneeling on each side and bending over the man like they had before. They were still leaning over him when the caravan began getting ready to leave. Eva sent Kazy over to take Daussie a couple of apples and a canteen of water.
    When she got there, Kazy thought Daussie looked drawn. Seeing Daussie looking sick made her stomach hurt.
    Tarc said, “Dauss, the caravan’s going to be pulling out. You rest for a bit. I’ll go get the horses so we can catch up to the caravan afterwards like before.”
    Daussie nodded tiredly and Kazy said, “I’ll stay with her. In fact, I’ll stay with you guys after the caravan leaves, then I can guide her horse again.”
    Tarc nodded and trotted towards the caravan where Kazy could see the first wagon pulling out.
    When Tarc returned with the two horses, he pulled a couple more big leaves off a nearby bush. He rolled one up and held it over the man’s neck. The man frowned up at him, “Why’re you holding it on my neck?”
    “‘Cause the arteries in your neck are full of crud too. It’d be a shame to fix up your legs and heart, then have you die of a stroke.”
    Eyes wide, the man said, “I ain’t payin’ more to have you do my neck!”
    “Yeah, yeah, we’re throwin’ it in for free.”
    Tarc and Daussie spent a while moving the

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