He smiled charmingly. "I have come to call on you, Elainya."
"I am with a patient."
"Surely, you have some time. Let your maid watch him."
"Sir Reif, I am very busy."
"Elainya, my darling, how can you treat me this way?"
My nerves could not abide him. "Leave," I said simply, but the word was an order, and he left.
My hands were not gentle at their work and Nian grasped them suddenly. As I felt his pain, I was ashamed. "Forgive me, Nian, but that man torments me so."
"I need no power to see that. Be careful, he is a dangerous man."
"I am a dangerous woman."
He released my hands. "This also I know."
"I'm sorry, Nian," I said with a sigh, and resumed my work with more gentleness. Someone had washed the bandages and put them in the aloe bath I had made. I sprinkled more of the powder
