Residue by Laury Falter Page A

stance, his head tilted up defiantly, his expression taut and unyielding.
    While I was still processing all that took place, I was certain of two things. What he’d done was by instinct and he had no regrets for it.
    When his eyes locked with mine they stayed there briefly, only to confirm that I was breathing again, before moving down my body to ensure I hadn’t endured any other injury.
    Only after he was confident I was safe did his expression loosen.
    Charlotte remained at her brother’s side but with the same amazed and disgusted expression the rest of the class held.
    It was obvious this had never taken place before. I was fairly confident no one had stepped in to defend another during a sparring match before and I was absolutely certain that a Caldwell had never protected a Weatherford. These insights, however, were discarded immediately as the room erupted.
    I started toward Emery, concerned about what injuries he might have sustained. Ms. Boudreaux brushed by me to reach him first, an herbal remedy already in her hand. She stooped and tucked it under his nose until he reacted to it with a shudder.
    In the midst of the commotion, as I watched Emery’s eyelids flutter, I reacted with the only solution I could offer.
    “ I’m a healer,” I said in a shallow, hushed breath. And then my mouth snapped shut, realizing what I’d just done. I’d made an announcement that the class had just heard, and about which I wasn’t entirely certain of…and I was furious at myself for it.
    Several heads turned and once again I felt in the spotlight but it was Ms. Boudreaux who reacted. She yanked me forward and down to a crouched position, giving me the approval to work on him.
    Completely uncertain of what I was doing and irate with myself for having proposed my assistance in the first place, I hesitated. Emery’s eyelids fluttered and without another thought I placed my hand on him.
    “ Incantatio sana,” Ms. Boudreaux instructed.
    While I’d never spoken this particular phrase before, or any really, and the objects I’d touched had still healed, I figured it couldn’t hurt.
    “ Incantatio sana,” I whispered hastily.
    There was no movement from Emery other than his fluttering lids.
    “ Incantatio sana,” I repeated more firmly, more loudly. “Incantatio sana.”
    Emery’s eyes settled, closed momentarily, and then reopened. His mouth twisted upward in a half-smile before he drew in a breath. Then, in the silence, his voice gruff, he asked, “Well? Did I win?”
    “ No,” I replied flatly.
    Only then did Ms. Boudreaux relax, rolling back to an upright sit. A few students laughed and stepped away, the incident over now. I stood, drew in a deep breath, and headed back to the edge of the room where I had been before the sparring session.
    Now I was the one in the flustered state. I had just openly acknowledged that I had healing capabilities and they had just been demonstrated on my opponent. How could that be, I thought. Then I surmised that there was really only one conclusion. He had already been on his way to recovery. I had nothing to do with it other than placing my hands on him and speaking a quirky phrase at the opportune time.
    Somehow, this realization made me feel better.
    Jameson still stood where he’d been, his stance still readied. It looked like he’d take on the entire class if needed.
    Emery didn’t seem to take any offense though.
    Whatever Ms. Boudreaux had done, it worked. By the time he was on his feet, he clapped his hands readily and belted, “Who’s next?”
    He even argued with those insisting he sit the next one out. That took place as Ms. Boudreaux wiggled a finger at Jameson, beckoning him to the corner of the room.
    Clearly, he was going to be punished which made me wonder what that meant in a school like this one. Although I tried to listen without making it obvious, she kept her voice low and what I deduced from the conversation wasn’t much. When he collected his canvas bag