Ester finished examining Damon shortly after noon and, to his surprise, found nothing that justified keeping him in Mirath for another twenty-four hours. The three ribs broken during the fight against Caelum were already knitting together at an abnormal speed, partly because of Damon's own nature and partly because Ester had spent the last few days preventing him from sabotaging his recovery. His shoulder was still sore, but the joint was stable, and the smaller injuries had already closed. That did not mean he was fully recovered, only that traveling no longer posed an immediate risk.
"You can go," Ester said as she put away the needles. "But there is a difference between being able to travel and being able to fight as if you weren't beaten half to death less than a week ago."
Damon put on his shirt.
"I wasn't beaten."
Ester looked at the marks still visible across his torso.
"Of course."
"It was an even exchange."
