Witch Bane by Tim Marquitz

that,
you’ve enough in your veins to ensure you won’t bleed out.”
    Sebastian sighed and let his head sink into
the pillow, his eyes closed. His embarrassment took rein of his
excitement as he tried to ignore it. Karil’s probing the wound at
his hip resolved to dampen it entirely as a searing pain washed
over him. He clenched his teeth and bit back a growl as she pressed
a finger into the hole that Shade’s sword had gouged out. A moment
later her touch was at the groove cut into his chest. She ran her
hand down its length as Sebastian hissed, her fingers at his ribs
just after. He smelled the char of brimstone, light in the air.
    “ You were lucky. None of your injuries
are severe beyond the blood loss, which we’ve already determined
isn’t serious enough to kill you.” He heard the amusement in her
tone and kept his eyes closed. “I’ve applied a poultice to numb you
as I work the needle and speed the healing as best I dare.” She set
her hand near the wound at his hip, but he barely felt her touch.
“There’s nothing I can do about this one save for protecting it
against infection and covering it until it scabs over. Your natural
healing will hurry it along. Keep it clean, and should you start to
bleed from the wound, apply pressure with a cloth until it stops. I
don’t suppose you’ll be off the leg long enough to let it
close?”
    Sebastian shook his head and glanced up at
her meekly. “Not likely.”
    She smiled. “It usually isn’t with you men.”
She drew the blanket over his groin and settled it across his leg,
his injured hip still uncovered. She then reached down and drew her
stitch gear from her bag. “I’ve made the poultice strong, so you’ll
feel a tug, but little more. Rest easy until I’m through.”
    He did the best he could. Karil leaned
against him as she worked, the contact a temptation he could do
without. The numbness of the medicine helped him to focus his
thoughts, and he steered them as far from the woman as possible.
After just a short time, having shifted about to reach each of the
wounds, every touch teasing, she took a breath and
straightened.
    “ Finished.”
    Sebastian opened his eyes while she stepped
back to gather her things. “Thank you.”
    She grinned in response. “I’ll have Freya
gather some clothes so they’ll be available when you awake.”
    “ Awake?” Sebastian asked, a sudden
yawn stretching out the word. He felt the past few days crashing
down on him.
    “ You need to sleep for the spells to
take hold. I’ve added an ingredient to the poultice to help you
rest.” She gestured to the flaps. “Your father is outside, so all
is well. Sleep and heal. Let your will make you right.”
    Sebastian blinked, his eyelids creeping
closed like twin portcullises at dusk. He watched the beautiful
Karil through the narrowed slits and yawned once more. Tears
blurred his vision as she moved toward the flaps. His eyes closed
before she made it outside.
    ~
    Sebastian woke with a start. He felt the tug
of the stitches as he bolted upright, his memory instantly restored
at the touch of pain. He settled back before he could do himself
harm.
    “ Feeling better?” the gruff voice of
his father asked.
    Sebastian rolled his head and blinked the
sleep from his eyes. The flicker of a campfire outside illuminated
the room in dim, dancing glimmers, but it cast enough light to see.
Darius came into slow focus, resting upon a wooden stool set near
the flaps. Sebastian lay silent a moment, taking a mental
assessment of his wounds. He did feel better.
    He took his time and eased to a seated
position, his legs dangling off the cot, the fur of the rug tickled
the soles of his feet. The stitches tugged at the skin as he moved;
uncomfortable, though not painful. He felt a bit of tightness at
his chest and side, and only a minor ache in his hip, but nothing
else.
    “ I am, actually.”
    “ Good.” His father stood and pointed
at a pile of clothing set beside the bed. “Get