The next morning came quiet The sky was pale and the air smelled of ash and damp soil Emily woke before anyone else and sat by the doorway of the clinic Her back ached from sleeping against the wall Her mind still replayed the night before The boy’s mother the silence after the last breath the small wooden bird in her hand She turned it over between her fingers again tracing the rough edges The carving had already become smooth from how often she held it

Lila came out rubbing her eyes Her hair was messy and her steps slow Good morning she said in a soft voice Emily smiled faintly Morning You should sleep more Lila shook her head I like mornings The world looks clean before everyone touches it

Emily liked that She nodded You’re right It does She stood stretched her shoulders and began to boil water The day had to start no matter what had ended before

By the time the sun cleared the treetops people were already gathering near the square A few came with small injuries a burn from a cooking pot a child with a cut finger She treated each one quietly Her hands moved steady but her thoughts were far away She could feel something in the air different a tension that had no shape yet

Hart arrived later his face shadowed by worry He leaned his staff against the door and said They are coming

Emily looked up Who

Riders From the north again The same road as before but not the same people

How many

Six maybe seven Heavy horses They travel like soldiers not traders

Emily’s chest tightened The last visit from the north had brought poison hidden in kindness She had told everyone to test everything since then and they had listened But she knew not every danger came in a jar

When do they reach us

Before sundown Hart said They move fast

Emily looked toward the hills already covered in sunlight She said quietly Then we prepare

Lila heard and froze Her eyes wide Are they coming for you

Maybe Emily said Or maybe they come for what they think I am

Hart said They will not touch you again

Emily smiled faint tired I’ve heard you say that before

He gave a small shrug It was true before It will be true again

By afternoon the heat rose across the fields The air shimmered like glass The villagers moved slower but stayed alert Every doorway had buckets of water ready and every child was told to stay close Emily spent the time cleaning the clinic She checked the herbs she had stored counted the cloth rolled the bandages lined up the few tools she had left It was not much but it was what she trusted

As the light began to fade they heard the sound Hooves first distant then closer Dust rose on the road like smoke The riders came through the narrow pass and stopped at the edge of the village They wore long coats and broad hats their horses tall and restless The man in front was older gray streaks in his beard His eyes sharp but not cruel

Emily stepped forward before Hart could stop her She stood in the middle of the square hands empty back straight The villagers watched from doorways silent

The man dismounted slow deliberate He looked around then at her You are the healer

Emily nodded Yes

He studied her face for a long time then said You saved the governor’s wife

I did

He nodded once That is why I am here She lives the child lives The governor sent word north He said a woman of strange talent healed them without medicine

Emily waited

The man said We came to see if it was true

You rode all this way to check a story

He almost smiled In my line of work truth and stories kill with the same speed

Hart took a step forward What line of work is that

The man’s hand rested on his belt near a small knife not threat just habit I serve the court he said I protect the governor’s interests The people who rule this land do not like surprises especially ones that bleed

Emily crossed her arms I am not your problem I keep people alive

He nodded slowly That may be true for now But a woman who can heal without a doctor becomes more dangerous than one who can kill with a sword

Emily’s jaw tightened I didn’t ask for this power I only use what I know

That may not matter to men who fear what they do not understand

Hart stepped closer voice low You bring threat here and you will not leave standing

The man’s eyes flicked to him Calm friend I bring warning not war I am not your enemy not yet

He turned back to Emily The court wants to see you They will send for you soon When they do do not refuse

Emily’s stomach turned cold I don’t work for kings or courts I work for people

He looked at her with something like pity Then you will learn that those are the same when the crown decides it so

He climbed back onto his horse but before leaving he added one last line Tell your people to stay ready Change rides faster than sickness

They left as quickly as they came Dust rose behind them until the road was empty again

Hart let out a slow breath He looked at Emily They will come again

I know she said They always do

That night the village gathered by the fire Everyone had heard what the man said They looked at Emily with the same fear and trust mixed in their eyes Mira spoke first What do we do if they come for you

Emily looked around at the faces the same faces she had bandaged and fed and saved She thought about lying but stopped herself again She said We stay calm We keep doing what we do If they take me you keep healing You keep teaching You remember everything I showed you because this doesn’t end with me

Lila shook her head You can’t go with them

If I don’t go they might burn this place

The crowd went still The fire cracked

Hart said Then I go with you

Emily looked at him and saw he meant it She nodded once Then we go together

Later when everyone had gone she sat outside alone The stars were sharp and cold again She looked down at her hands the small scars the tired lines She whispered I came here to save lives not fight kings

The wind moved through the trees carrying the faint smell of dust from the road She thought of the man’s words about the crown and fear She knew how power worked even in her own world Hospitals had boards and donors who made choices not because they were right but because they were rich This was no different Only the weapons had changed

She picked up the small wooden bird from her pocket and held it close

You died because I couldn’t reach far enough she whispered to the memory of the woman she lost I won’t let them kill what we built here too

From behind her Hart’s voice came quiet The people will fight for you if they must

I don’t want them to fight I want them to live

He walked closer sat beside her You can’t choose both forever

Emily stared into the fire until her eyes stung She said soft Maybe not But I can try

When Hart had gone to rest she stayed there alone for a long time listening to the wind and the soft hum of night Somewhere far off thunder rolled She thought it sounded like hooves again like warning

She whispered to herself Tomorrow we prepare We teach more We move faster

Her voice was calm steady stronger than she felt She reached for her notebook again and wrote a single line before closing it

If they come I will not run

Then she looked up at the stars one last time before the clouds swallowed them and said aloud so the night could hear I have saved too many lives to lose my own now

The fire burned low The air grew cold The healer from another time sat waiting for a dawn that would not bring peace only the next battle between fear and mercy

And she was ready