The Village Healer

"What did you just feed her?" a furious voice demanded, startling Lara.

The jug slipped from her hands, and water spilled on the floor.

An old man with a head full of wild white hair stepped forward, his face twisted with fury. Deep furrows etched his skin, and his sharp eyes burned with indignation.

Lina bowed her head respectfully, her voice calm and measured. "Healer U-Mao, this is the soldier who saved Abel and his brothers. He mentioned having some knowledge of medicine and gave Sister Delia fever-reducing medicine."

Lara narrowed her eyes, studying the so-called "healer." She had imagined someone wise and noble, a venerable physician full of quiet authority. Instead, the man before her looked like a caricature of a quack—haughty and grumpy.