As the sky slowly deepened into a violet dusk, stretching the shadows and wrapping the house in a dim, tranquil hush, I carefully sealed the holes in the ceiling and walls.

  With the quiet satisfaction that honest labour brings, I stepped back and surveyed my work. My hands rubbed gently together, unsettled by how long it had been since they had been occupied with anything so meaningful.

  The hollow feeling that had filled me for days gave way, at least in part, to a sense of relief.

  I bent over the wooden bucket in the corner of the room to wash the grime from my hands, drying them afterwards. Then I sat by the hearth, warming myself as I watched the delicate dance of the flames.

  Lost in thought, accompanied by the crackling of the fire, I failed to notice how swiftly time had passed. When I asked Siri, I learned that evening had already fallen and that the hour was well past seven.

  A flicker of unease stirred within me. Daneel and Arwa had not yet returned. Their delay gnawed at me with quiet worry. Had something happened to them? Or had they merely been delayed?

  Just as these thoughts crowded my mind, the wooden door swung open, and with the cool breath of the evening air Arwa and Daneel stepped inside.

  They both looked weary, yet satisfied. In their hands they carried what could well be called the spoils of a long day’s labour.

  In Arwa’s woven basket lay a haunch of goat, while Daneel bore two large baskets filled with stones and firewood.

  I quickly relieved Daneel of the heavy baskets and placed them beside the hearth. Arwa nodded, happiness spreading across her face. Though she had long practised as a healer, it was clear she still found peace in helping others.

  “Alek, my dear boy, what a fine job you’ve done!” she said, her eyes travelling over the repaired walls. “You needn’t have exerted yourself so, child. We shall look after you—do not worry. The Gods favour you; you are fortunate.

  “Today I helped a villager deliver her child, and in gratitude they gave me this splendid haunch of goat. Daneel shall prepare it in the proper fashion of this land—a meal to set your taste buds aflame. Once you have eaten it, you shall never forget it.”

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  Her words were cheerful, her voice full of affection, yet I could not help but feel shy as ever. I merely nodded. Arwa narrowed her eyes and regarded me with playful mischief.

  “Well then? Has a bee stung your tongue?” she teased, lifting her brows. “We are among our own, child—no need for embarrassment. Look, this meal is being prepared especially for you. You’ve grown thin as a rake. Eat well and regain your strength.”

  Her sincerity made me smile. It was impossible to refuse her warmth. “Very well, I shall heed your advice. I shall try to be more talkative,” I said with a laugh.

  By then, Daneel had already begun preparing the meat in the kitchen. Arwa and I sat by the fire and continued our conversation.

  “Arwa,” I asked with curiosity, “which villager’s birth did you assist with? You were gone rather long—I was worried for you.”

  Arwa sighed, though her smile did not fade. “I helped a newly married couple at the edge of the village bring their first child into the world. If a birth is not properly attended, both mother and babe risk death. In capable hands, that risk lessens.”

  Then she tapped her belly and let out a playful laugh. “Ha! I may be growing old, but I am still of use. My late mother used to say I had inherited my grandmother’s healing hands.”

  I heard her words, though I did not much believe in miraculous hands. Most likely, Arwa’s skill was nothing more mystical than years of experience and knowledge.

  Still, I reflected for a moment. In my former world, those of my age would still be at school; here, they were wed and raising children. It was a vast difference between that world and this one. The brevity of life here had shaped their way of living in profound ways.

  “You have certainly proved yourself an experienced healer,” I said sincerely. “And in my opinion, you are not so old—merely middle-aged at most. I wish I possessed such knowledge and skill in matters of medicine.”

  Arwa burst into laughter. “Ha! My boy, all you need is the will to learn. Knowledge is not easily shared, but I am not like others. I grow older and seek an apprentice.

  “As you see, my knowledge brings fine gifts. If you become as skilled as I am, you too shall benefit. It may even make your life a little easier. What say you? Would you be my apprentice?”

  I smiled in return to her eager gaze. “Yes. I would gladly become your apprentice and be of service to others.”

  Who would refuse such an opportunity? In this world as in my former one, healers were held in esteem. To save a life—to help another—was beyond price.

  “Very well, my child,” Arwa said with a satisfied expression. “From tomorrow onward, I shall teach you what I know. I would begin today, but I am quite weary and must rest.”

  At this, I nodded in agreement and steered our conversation towards lighter matters. As the night passed in the warmth of the hearth and the old couple’s cheerful talk, I offered a silent thanks to the Gods, wondering what the morrow might bring.