CHAPTER 20: AN UNUSUAL RESPONSE

When Zoe and Anthony were outside the barn and Anthony was sure there was no one else around to listen he looked his master in the eye with a look of concern. The age master was calm and collective, but even when the patient was anxious waiting in the barn, with Clio to help ease his comfort.

"What's so important it couldn't wait?" Zoe crossed her arms and tapped her fingers in an impatient manner.

"It wasn't a rock he tripped over." Anthony blurted out. "The bruising on his leg is much larger than if he had simply tripped on a rock. By the size and the areas that were bandaged, I'd say it was more likely he was beaten there."

"Very observant as always." She spoke as if she had already known. "His parents told me he's been having trouble with gambling debts, the fractures on his leg indicated he's been beating repeatedly in that one leg. The trip was probably the final strike that broke it." She looked at Anthony's shocked expression. "You thought I didn't notice?"

"You still wish to treat him, even though he hasn't been forthcoming?"

"I'm a healer, I treat the body but a person is a whole other matter." Zoe turned toward the barn door. "People are complex, harder to fix than flesh and bone, so do yourself a favor and focus on what you can do. Grab a broom, and let's get ready for this operation."

Anthony felt the sudden remembrance of his old school days when teachers prepared him for practical studies of agriculture, services and basic skills, while he spent his time scribbling theories about magic. Although they were advanced for a child, to his teachers they were just meaningless scribbles. They would often scold him that training in a skill that would benefit the empire was more important that a non-mage. If he had been from an ordinary family, they would have lashed and beat him, but since his father was a General they simply scolded and gave a warning every time he was caught. I