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Post two

Post four

"Bronzehandler?"

"Go away. 'M asleep."

"Ah. ... Do you have time to talk while you sleep?"

A rustle of sheets. "... yeah, fine. Who're you?"

"Mindhealer Jessan. I've come to talk about your time with the Wherholders."

"'Ve already told what I know."

"Yes, yes, I know. I'm here to discuss how you're doing after the fact. You've been quite wounded."

"No s**t? 'S news t'me. Shocker."

"Indeed." The chair creaks. "How are you?"

"Drugged as <********>. See, apparently when you have to get your tits removed, it hurts. 'Specially with an infection. ... better, now, though, infection's gone. Bereck said so."

"He's a very good healer."

"Mmhm." A long pause. "'M not suicidal or anything. Not like I used them for much of anything. In the way. S'probably better this way. Less to worry about."

"Your arm?"

"Yeah, that sucks. Sucks a lot. It'll get better."

"You have one of the best Healers we have working with you, it's true."

"Yeah."

Another silence, longer than before.

A throat clears. "Was captured at Malvren."

"Aren't you a Malvren refugee?"

"Mmhmm. Guess how happy they were to see me."

"A wher wounded you, didn't it?"

"She. Green. Belonged to a friend. Ex. Ex girlfriend, a friend, a - well, not anymore, I guess."

"You guess?"

"Well, I mean. Lookit me. Traitor, all'a that. S'why she attacked me."

"Your ex girlfriend purposefully had her wher brutalize you."

"... aren't'cha s'pposed t'not trigger me or somethin'?" Words slurred. Fellis.

"My apologies. I didn't mean it like that."

"Mmph. She did. Meant it, 'nyway. Weird, innit?"

"A wher attack? Yes."

"No, no... weird, like, ten turns. S'how long we knew each other. Only dated half'a turn, in the middle of it, broke up, were still friends but - ten turns. They only banged up most th'others. My friend tried t'cripple me."

"I'm so--"

"You're not sorry. Not your issue. Bet if we were best friends an' somethin' like that happened again, y'do your duty t'the Weyr and kill me."

"I don't kill."

A sharp, hoarse bark of laughter. "No one does, amirite? Don' answer that, s'depressing. Kleos would, know she would. Mebbe C'tis, not Adi, mebbe Rochelle an'... m'brothers wouldn't. Mom mebbe, f'r bein'... bein' stupid." More slurring.

"Are those your friends?"

"C'tis came for me."

"The one who wouldn't hurt you."

"Maybe. An' I said kill."

"And... the others?"

"Rochelle's okay an' Adi's sweet. Kleos is Weyr-blind. Blah blah blah duty blah big words'n honor'n... all'a that."

"I'm sure it wouldn't come to that, Siata."

"'s it matter? Never wanted to fight. Not ever. Don't like it. Wait till they hear that," Another rustle of sheets, a pillow being moved. "Big'n strong'n not really all that nice t'look at jus' wantin' a hammer an.. an a forge. not fighting."

"You can still have th--"

" 'M tired."

"I und--"

"Should go now." A large body moves, a wher snorts. "Need to sleep."

"Of course." Skirts shift and brush ground. The chair squeaks. "All of this is strictly confidential, so you know."

"Mm. Seeya, healer."

"Sleep well, Siata. I will see you later."

Silence. The door opens and shuts gently.