The Worst Healer
Copyright© 2026 by InSpite
Chapter 6
In the morning, I ached from head to toe, especially my left side and right hand. I’d woken aching many times before, though—after a fight or after pushing myself in the gym. It was a familiar, almost comfortable feeling.
On top of that, I was quietly pleased to have woken in the morning, though passing out in the early evening instead of the early hours made a difference.
With the bar almost empty and the streets mostly clear, I managed to go for a run.
Granted, I got a few strange looks and a little chafing from still damp trousers. I even tried to do some push-ups, but my left shoulder and wrist politely informed me I should reconsider.
I washed up after the exercise, pulled on the fresh shirt and made my way down to the bar feeling strangely satisfied to be settling into something approaching a routine.
I nodded again to the blonde barmaid after passing her twice when I went out for and returned from my run. She smiled again. “Oh, Carrie, you found your shirt, that’s ... good.” We’d introduced ourselves when I went for a run without it, and she’d teased me about it.
“Hey, Gwen, yeah, and it’s still all clean. You wouldn’t want me hanging around all sweaty after my run now, would you?”
She flushed slightly, changing the topic “Your group hasn’t arrived yet, but they always sit at the same table whenever they’re in town. Ellie gets ... a little cross if someone else sits in it, so our regulars steer clear of it.”
“Oh, I hope she doesn’t cause any trouble. This is the only place I really know in town, so we can’t have her burning it down.”
“Ah,” Gwen smiled reassuringly. “No one causes trouble here. My brother is the owner. The place is under his protection – no one spills blood here. That, and the food, are why we’re always so busy.
Wondering just who the hell her brother was, but guessing it would be rude to ask, I figured I’d find out from one of the girls later. “Good to know. Thanks, Gwen. I’ll wait till they get here to order some food.”
I moved to the table, nestling into the corner to wait for them. I was surprised to see Heron arrive a few moments later, until I remembered there was a discussion about bounties and details.
He slid opposite me with a friendly smile. “Carrie, you’re looking a lot better. I hope the recovery is going well?”
I flexed my left arm. “Yeah, it feels a lot better, and it’ll give me something to practice on for a week or so.”
I started to stand, looking around for a larger table. “Should we move, if the rest of your group’s joining us...”
Heron waved away the concern, “Nyxia thought Rhian would be more comfortable without her presence. Kerr was out drinking last night ... it was messy ... he won’t be awake until evening, and Baldwin isn’t fond of bars.”
“That’s ... probably for the best.” I responded as politely as I could.
Heron gave a chuckle, not offended in the slightest. “They are all dear friends, and I love them each, flaws and all. But sometimes it’s easier when they’re not here.”
He looked at me curiously before adding, “Every group is the same, I think, friends who drive each other crazy on occasion, I’m sure you’ll feel the same about the Red Briar after a while.”
I winced slightly at that. “Ah, the last I’d heard, I wasn’t going to be joining them. We were in the woods for a trial of sorts ... it didn’t go to plan.” I added awkwardly. “There were some concerns about ... my fighting style.”
Heron gave me a thoughtful look. “I can’t comment on how other clans run their affairs, but if you’re looking, I can put in a good word with a few contacts. Healers are always in high demand. I’m sure...”
A scream cut off his words.
“GWEN! ARE YOU THERE? I NEED FOOD!”
Ellie had arrived, holding Sierra’s hand for guidance, with Rhian clutching her ears in the doorway behind.
“Right here, Ellie, no need to shout.” I wasn’t sure if Gwen was very good at faking a smile or genuinely happy to see the Witch, but it certainly looked like the latter.
“Thank the Spirits! Three Chickens, a platter of potatoes, two loaves of bread and three mugs of ale, please. As fast as you can.” She started forward towards the table feeling her way with the staff “And whatever these two want as well, please.”
Sierra still seemed downcast and with Rhian quiet as ever. They made their way to the table in silence before I greeted them with a polite, “Morning.”
Ellie stopped dead in her tracks “Carrie? You’re here? Where the hell did you go last night?” She prodded her way to the table with her staff.
“I came back here ... to sleep.” I wasn’t sure what I’d done wrong as I did a quick replay of the night before. “Should I not be here, I guess I wasn’t invited, I just assumed ... and you all went upstairs last night, so I guessed you’d gone to bed and came back here instead.”
She slid onto the bench next to me, patting at the table until I offered a hand, which she grabbed with a squeeze before continuing to hold onto it. “Of course you’re invited.” She reassured. “The food here is amazing, but the rooms are awful, and this area is sketchy after dark. We come here to eat most days ... and drink when we’ve been kicked out of everywhere else. But you should have stayed with us. Sorry, I was out of it last night.”
She turned her attention to Sierra, who’d settled next to Heron, leaving Rhian to squeeze in on the same side as Ellie and I, “Sierra, you didn’t sort out a room for him?”
Sierra had a tired expression, despite having the opportunity to sleep. “He left while I was carrying you to bed.” she said quietly, “and I’m not sure it’s our place to arrange his room.”
Seeing Ellie open her mouth to protest, she continued, cutting her off. “It’s certainly something we need to talk over, but let’s conclude our business with the White Eagle so we can discuss it privately.”
“To business, then,” Heron gave a polite nod, before drawing a scroll from within his cloak, placing it on the table and addressing Sierra.
His tone remained friendly but with a formal edge. “The White Eagle thanks The Red Briar for concluding their contract with the Barony of Vaston. We recognize your right to the contract’s completion fee and have signed it over to you. We also cede any claim on Guild bounties for the monsters hunted by us and slain by you and on any items recovered from the bounties.”
“How much?” Ellie harshly whispered, unable to see Sierra waving her away.
“The Red Briar accepts the contract and would like to offer the White Eagle twenty percent of the completion fee to act as a finder’s fee and payment for services offered.” Sierra struck an equally formal tone in her reply.
“Generous,” Heron mused.
“If you hadn’t arrived, I would have died. Ellie was unconscious. Carrie and Rhian were badly wounded. You saved us from a bad end, it’s only right we should offer a fair reward.”
“Agreed. Then that’s concluded.” Heron nodded, seeming satisfied with that response. “There is one remaining matter...” he continued, his tone less formal and a little hesitant. “The Barbarian’s axe, we agree it’s yours by right, but Kerr would like to buy it ... if we can agree a price.”
“Oh...” Sierra said thoughtfully, “That was a nice axe, and we haven’t had chance to Appraise it yet.”
“It’s of fair quality, true. Baldwin has Appraised it and it has a Skill: Backhand”
Sierra and I both winced as he said that name.
“A Barbarian Skill, embedded in an axe too large for any in your party to wield. You’re welcome to Appraise the axe yourself and we’ll offer market rates for it.” Heron’s smile was still friendly, but I knew a man haggling when I saw it.
Sierra looked thoughtful, “Ellie, remind me ... Backhand is considered a rare skill, isn’t it?” Something told me she was asking questions she knew the answer to.
“Super rare,” Ellie confirmed. “And ... If I’m not mistaken, it’s a Skill high on Kerr’s Wishlist.”
Heron’s sigh showed me he knew he was being outplayed. They haggled back and forth for what felt like an hour. The rest of us ordered food at Ellie’s insistence, and it arrived as they were wrapping up.
In the end Heron left with a list of suitable items to offer as payment, still friendly and affable despite being raked over the coals by Ellie and Sierra on the axe’s price.
There was an awkward silence for a moment after he left. I started eating, responding to a gnawing hunger that had crept up on me unnoticed. Its intensity surprised me.
Ellie fumbled for my hand, giving it a reassuring pat and then a squeeze. “Slow down,” she offered. “Pace yourself and order at least the same amount of food again. We’ll be here eating for a couple of hours.”
She took a quick break to chew a mouthful of her second chicken before continuing. “When you use mana, your body will let you know the next day. The more you use, the greater the hunger. Don’t rush, just listen to your body and eat until it tells you you’re full.”
I took her advice, waving Gwen over to order more food. The two of us were slowly working our way through the food as the inn gradually got busier. Ellie was working on the last chicken and loaf of bread when I realised the hunger was easing off.
I looked up awkwardly, noticing we’d been eating in silence and the other two were long finished with their plates.
I pushed the plate with a few remaining scraps of food away sheepishly. “Sorry about that,” I muttered.
Sierra nodded, taking a deep breath as if she’d been waiting to say something but was dreading the conversation. “It’s normal. I should have thought to warn you.”
She continued before I could wave away the concern, striking the same formal tone she’d used to talk about the contract with Heron “The Red Briar would like to offer their thanks and a quarter share...”
“Whoa!” Ellie interrupted with a spray of chicken. “Why are you talking to him like he’s an outsider?”