Lion Head Mesa Love me, love me

"all right." 

khaba could change his mind, of course.

she did not think he would.

the doctor gathered her astringent willow-bark water, wetting his scars. she kept a paste of poppy to numb and ground lemon balm for the dressing itself.

without preamble she cut into the first scar with her tooth, cutting it open. black blood flowed; she drew back to stem this with a cloth, then cut the next, so on and so forth.

more dabbing. astringent which might sting. the poppy-lavender slathed over top, then the fragrant citrus of the salve. she lay strips of wide leaf over these and then sat back.

khaba had not moved nor flinched.

'"eating will be difficult for several days. you should ask to take some time off your duties. as sesh, i insist."