el

ies and water. A tray sat just inside the door - a piece of bread

it un

field medicine had taught me what to look for in the dirt of a dozen worlds. I recognized the broad leaves o

eaves into a poultice when th

morning air behind him. H

tray, then to me. Pale face, weak posture - but alive, and

You still survived a wound that should have killed you days ago. Twic

ill," I said,

d reached for the wound

e hitting the wall. "Al

k. "You are my intended mate. I am

ight die and complicate your cleanup

fire-blackened pin on the table, and couldn't reconcile the primitive tools with the clean re

one last lo

rty years screamed a warning. I was being watched. Not the

tree line. Nothing. No movement. That was how I knew for su

plants and spoke alo

ontains inulin, a prebiotic fiber. Plantago major le

hemistry. Useless informat

ening. I know you're there. And you