Excerpt from Crag by Kate Hill Available from Ellora's Cave. "Right this way, missy," said the Knight who'd escorted her in. They edged around people, stepping over some and nudging others aside, to the more open space in the center of the room. Lily glanced at the hearth and saw two women turning a deer over a spit. At least they had food. The sounds of coughing and sneezing mingled with moans, soft conversation, and the snapping of flames from the fires and torches throughout the building. The bearded Knight paused behind a man draped in a gray tunic stained with dirt and blood. Dark brown hair was tied with a piece of rope at the man's nape. Lily noticed his neck was rather thick and his shoulders broad in spite of his slimness. He applied a bandage to the stump where his patient's hand had once been. The patient was an older man with grayish hair and a battle-scarred face. Eyes closed, he gritted his teeth against the pain. The healer finished with the bandage, and the bearded Knight said, "Crag will take good care of you, missy." The healer's head jerked over his shoulder, and Lily stared at him. His cheekbones were high and wide, a rich brown beard covered his face beneath. A full lower lip peeked out from beneath the wiry hair. The tip of his straight nose was gently rounded, a streak of dried blood running down its tip. Blue eyes glanced from beneath thick, dark brows. Lily noted those eyes didn't look at all welcoming. "Crag, this woman's walked twenty miles with a sick baby to get here. Where would you like her?" Crag looked at Lily hard, his expression saying he'd like her to go anywhere but here. He stood, his shadow falling across Vina's face. He was very tall, very lean, and Lily noted his face looked nearly as gray as his robe. He appeared more like a nightmare than a healer. Surely he wasn't a Knight? Yet a circle of red thorns was embroidered over his heart, the symbol of his Order. "Space is limited, Sir Rain," Crag said, his voice a low timbre. The sound of it might have been comforting had his expression not been colder than the snow outside. "But we'll find a place." "Of course you will." Sir Rain placed a hand on Lily's shoulder, then turned to leave. "Sir," Crag followed Rain, "have the reinforcements arrived yet? We have close to two hundred people in our settlement now, and with just me and Sir Wood" "Crag, I'm sure the Order is sending more men as quickly as they can. We'll just have to make do in the meantime. You're doing well." Rain nodded and left. "Doing well," Crag muttered under his breath, his jaw working. Vina wailed, and Lily did her best to quiet her. Hesitantly, she said, "Sir Crag, where can I get some water?" "Just Crag," he said. "I'm not yet a Knight. I'm serving here as part of my training." Lily didn't really care about his training. She only wanted some water, food, and a place to rest. He seemed to sense her thoughts as he pointed to the women by the spit. "Go ask them. They'll tell you where to find supplies. Come with me first. I'll get you a place to stay and examine your baby." "Help! A healer! I need a healer!" shrieked a woman from across the room. "My husband's not breathing!" "Just find an empty space somewhere," Crag called over his shoulder as he stepped over people and wooden supply trunks toward the woman crying for help. "I'll be with you as soon as I can." Hoisting Vina over her shoulder and rubbing her small back, Lily muttered, "Some Knight he's going to make. The epitome of manhood and compassion."

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