Ara is stable enough and is moved to her room. Two footmen carry her there on a makeshift stretcher made with two spears and some cloth between. I walk at her side and take a look back at the entrance hall. The scent of fresh blood still hangs thick in the room and the couch she was on is stained red. Looking at it from here, she should probably have died without healing magic. I'll have to see if I can learn it, though I'm not sure if I really need it with my natural healing. It probably can't hurt.

The pain of a pierced lung is well known to me, as well as the feeling of being unable to breathe and the urge to cough. She did better than I expected, for someone new to pain. If she wasn't new to pain like this I'll be disappointed instead. I'll have to ask her once she's ready to speak again. It makes me realize I don't know that much about her. Just like back in my own world, I should make some more effort to get to know people, or at least get to know Ara.

Ine is walking on the other side, where the bolt went in. She's still applying some magic on Ara's wound. The bleeding stopped and they didn't even have to take the silly clothes off. Very convenient. I do wonder what happened to the bolt? It's probably not a good idea to ask if I can lick it. It's the scent of blood that's making me a bit hungry. When we arrive at Ara's room, someone is already holding the door open. Ara is put carefully on her bed while I jump on the desk to watch. She looks pale, but alert.

Once they finish putting her down another coughing fit wracks her body and her face contorts in pain. Clearly, not everything in her body is right yet. The footmen retreat, taking the stretcher with them. Ine pulls a chair up next to the bed and settles on it. She's stopped her magic. To my eyes she looks tired. She smells and sounds tired too. Since there is nothing for me to do here, I relax and observe.

Ara is not doing too well, clearly her ability to heal herself has a limit. Her coughing is getting more frequent and, by what I can sense from her, more painful. It's almost an hour later when a man is let into the room. He carries quite a big suitcase with him. The man smells like herbs, poisons and magic. I stand up and hiss a warning. "Poison."

The man stops but doesn't look or smell alarmed.

"The right poison, in the right dosage, can act like a medicine," he says directly at me. "A good Healer knows when to use magic and when to use old fashioned methods." He turns toward Ine and Ara. "Quite the useful familiar you have there, to be able to detect that."

Ara is coughing again, so Ine answer is her stead. "He has his uses, thank you for showing him some respect. Please hurry, master, my mistress is still gravely injured."

The man walks around to the side of the bed where Ine is. He takes something that looks like a plank from the side of the suitcase and attaches it to the bed, then places the suitcase on it.

"If she hasn't died yet, it's unlikely she will in the next few minutes, not with me here. I've treated more mages and nobles than I can tell you and trust me when I say this, you ignore their familiars at your own peril. They only know their summoner is in pain. Some stranger enters the room and." The man pauses to flip open the suitcase and take out a roll of cloth which he spreads out next to Ara. Metal things are attached to it. "Then the stranger takes out a collection of knives. Things can get quite ugly from there."

The man takes out a crystal and a glove like Ara has. The design looks different, though I can't pinpoint the difference. If Ine isn't reacting, it's probably fine and I settle down comfortably again.

He shoots a glance at me. "This one is oddly calm, though. Now," he takes out a little pot. He opens the lid and hands it to Ine. "Heat this slightly and make your mistress breathe the fumes. Don't let her drink any. It will suppress the coughs for a while so I can work."

The man goes to work, occasionally giving instructions to Ine. He cuts away the clothing and to my surprise re-opens the wound. Blood flows out immediately but is soaked up by some cloth. Ine looks more distressed than Ara feels to me.

"Can't have the blood pooling inside, miss, I have to heal it in the proper order."

What follows is over an hour of nothing that looks interesting. Occasionally Ara grunts and a few times the man hands her something to swallow. I can feel that Ara is still in pain, but it's lessening overall. Except when the man does something. At one point he puts some slim tongs into the wound and pulls out what might be pieces of bone.

"Splintered rib. There is enough left for the body to repair the bone, but I had to take away these bits."

It's good that he's keeping us up with what he's doing. If I didn't have a sense of Ara, I would be questioning if he was doing anything.

It takes another half an hour before he leans back and declares he's done. Ara has fallen unconscious somewhere along the line from a combination of pain and exhaustion.

"She'll be coughing up blood and blood clots for a while. If it damages anything, your own skills should be enough to deal with it. Her rib is fragile still, and her body weak. The healing was magical, not miraculous. Dirt got inside her, if there are signs of an infection, send for me again." With practiced movements the man puts the tools he used in a bag. "The resources to rebuild her ruined lung and rib came from her body. Make sure she rests well and is well nourished." Holding up a finger he looks at Ine. "That means nutritious, which is not the same as filling. No excessive fat, no alcohol. Dairy products would be good."

Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.

He takes the small pot from Ine and puts the lid back on. Storing it, he finishes packing and closes the suitcase. With quick movements he detaches the plank and reattaches it to the case.

"Lastly, keep her out of politics for a while. If that was all, I'll take my leave. The bill will be sent in a few days."

Ine bows to him while I merely watch him leave.

Morning is overtaking the night and I'm still mesmerized by the falling snow. It's not falling as heavily as before, but still beautiful to look at. A sound from Ara and an increased awareness inside my mind alerts me that she's coming to. I jump from the windowsill past the sleeping Ine. The woman refused to leave the room to rest. Her efforts at staying awake to maintain vigilance over an obviously recovering Ara started to annoy me, so I convinced her to sleep by promising I would wake her if the situation got worse.

A few steps and a jump and I'm on the desk again. I know Ara doesn't like me on the desk, but with the sheaths on my claws I won't damage it much anyway. From here I can see her eyes fluttering as she approaches wakefulness. I hear her murmer some names. A few are unfamiliar, others I recognize. Ine, Sonia and two someones called mother and father. Finally her eyes open completely. It takes a while before she focuses on me.

"Get off the desk," she says automatically as she raises herself up a little.

I grin back at her. "Make me."

She sighs and lowers herself down on the bed again.

"This isn't what I had in mind to say." It's quiet for a moment, but I sense she has more to say. "My father always told me to express my gratitude when it's due, too often such is assumed to be understood. Thank you, you probably saved my life. Twice."

I shrug and make a non-committal sound.

"I know you didn't do it out of affection for me, it's the result that matters."

Ara clears her throat and coughs. Lightly at first, but harder after a while. When she sees Ine stir she regains control over herself.

"My father also told me to never apologize for my actions. I think I understand now what he meant. I shouldn't apologize for who I am or the decisions I make." She clears her throat, obviously working up to something. "Sorry I killed you, the first time you were summoned here."

Ara isn't looking at me but staring up at the ceiling, so she misses my surprised look. I mostly forgot about that already. I've died in summons so many times since then and it wasn't the worst way to go. She didn't have to say this to me, but she did and I'm struggling to find a response.

Thinking back to what Ara said earlier, I'll offer her my gratitude, small as it is. "Thanks."

Ara turns her head towards me. "I must admit I had expected more of a reaction. I guess I should have known better by now."

The silence afterward feels comfortable and ara has a slight smile. Then she starts coughing again. It's a rough, deep cough. When it's through there is a scent of blood on her breath and she is gasping for breath.

"Have you ever been hurt before, Ara?"

I don't receive an answer, so I repeat my question when she's calmed down a bit.

"Never. I thought I knew what pain was after the training I've had when I was young. Turns out sore muscles, scrapes and bruises are nothing like having a piece of wood and metal sticking into your body."

A somber mood slowly settles over her. The sensation in the back of my mind goes blank with fear. Not fear of something, just fear. I can see Ara's hands trembling and her breathing becomes erratic. One by one, tears slide down her face to soak into the pillow.

"I nearly died," she whispers with a shaking voice. "I nearly died."

I watch her crying for a while. She's holding back, I can tell. Probably so Ine doesn't wake up. The crying only ends at the next coughing fit. At the coughing ends she is once again left gasping for breath. Her coughing is starting to hurt her, especially her rib, but I don't sense extra distress.

"You handled the pain well. For a human," I tell her.

Ara chuckles. "A big compliment, coming from a demon."

I remain quiet while Ara recovers from her coughing. Most humans I meet are either healthy or die, so it's interesting to see how they are when injured. Mostly like any other intelligent animal, so far.

Ara breaks the silence and looks at me intently. "We should start over differently."

Her stare is making me uncomfortable, but I nod. I'm curious where this will go.

"Most familiars settle easily in their role and give it their all without being told to. You don't. I would like you to put in more effort. No, I need you to put in the extra effort at keeping me alive." She pauses for a light cough. I'm surprised at how easily she admits she needs me. "Folk tales say you can't demand anything from demons and devils, you make a deal. I should start treating you like a proper demon. Tell me your price for protecting me from harm and following my instructions and I'll see what I can do."

The offer surprises me. Harijia did tell me before that devils and demons get to negotiate as they get stronger, but I don't think I'm at that point yet. I'm not going to throw away this opportunity. The problem is, I have no idea what to ask for.

"What do you offer?" I counter.

"I was drilled in many types of knowledge, I can share those with you. Foods, drinks, precious metals or gems. A room in this mansion of your own. I can't think of anything else at this moment."

A sudden inspiration hits me. "I want to be free to go where I want to!"

Ara shakes her head, smiling. "That would run counter to protecting me. You won't be able to trick me that easily, demon."

I hadn't intended it as a trick, but when she says it like that it does make sense. There goes that idea. Well, there was something I already wanted from her. I turn to face her properly. This is something I really want and I feel the need to make sure she understands. "Teach me about summoning and familiars. And teach me about magic."

Ara remains silent. Did I ask too much? I softly poke my awareness of her and she startles into another coughing fit. When it's over she faces me again.

"That's it? Are you sure? I mean, sure! I'll accept this bargain." Ara takes a deep breath and coughs heavily into her hand. She holds her moist hand out to me and I smell something long familiar. "A deal like this is sealed in blood."

I stare at the hand with its layer of spit and traces of blood. Whatever. My tongue lashes out and wraps around her hand, taking my first taste of her blood. Ara cries out in surprise and when I withdraw my tongue I see an angry looking red welt on her hand. I forgot about my acidic saliva. Before she can lecture me about not telling her about it, Ine begins to stir and rouse from her sleep. That cry must have woken her up. Ara's last look at me promises we'll talk about this more later. That suits me fine, as long as I get to know more about magic and summoning.