Elliott seemed content with the idea of impressing an older boy--even one he didn't know--and Eva could only be grateful for the simple worries and wants of children. He was also watching the healer's work with enough interest to not notice that his mother was not looking directly at it. It was a good thing she trusted the work of healers, because her usually strong constitution had a decidedly harder time when it came to an injury incurred by one of her children.

When Elliott indicated that it was time to proceed, Evangeline asked, "How long will he need to have the stitches in?"

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