Ephraim was many things, but a poet was not one of them. Even if he understand the full extent of how he felt at this early juncture, the healer knew he would lack the words to express it with any degree of accuracy.

"I'll live," he allowed after a moment. How full could he possibly hope for that life to be, though? "Though I have certainly felt better. I would not recommend, I don't think, being attacked in one's own hospital ward."

The attempt at a joke fell entirely flat.