Trals clenched his teeth, sweat pouring down his shivering skin. He would not scream.

"All right. I've done what I can," said Mree.

Pressure tightened around the throbbing agony in his leg. Trals opened his eyes, and the red mists of pain cleared to show Mree's face.

"Now tell me," the Healer said, "why that wasn't a waste of time."

"Trals has a plan." That was Njrea's voice. Trals rolled his head, and found that solid, beloved figure. She walked with one hand on his ...