Jaak returns with Eir at his side, the healer gasping at the sight of Hika. She rushes over, quickly feeling along the edges of the wound with nimble hands. She turns back to Jaak, seeming to already know who holds the knowledge she requires.

"What happened?"

Jaak answers her, his voice dark. "My father."

"So soon? Didn't he just attack her the first time?"

"Yes."

Eir's features harden and she kneels beside the couch, bending over Hika. She curses. "I can't see!"

Hika manages to muster up a flicker of starlight, sending it to hover above the wound. The raw flesh crawls, itching. Hika tries to inch away from it, but Eir's hand on her skin forces her to still. Eir frowns at her.

"What is it?"

"Something feels weird."

Eir's gaze flickers between the wound and Hika's face. "I need to remove this dagger, alright?"

"But isn't that a bad idea?"

"Under other circumstances, yes. But I am a healer, Hi'ilani. I need to examine this and I can't heal it as long as the dagger remains. Are you ready?" Hika nods and sucks in a breath as Eir begins to count, wrapping her fingers around the hilt of the knife. "One . . . two . . . three."

On three, Eir pulls the dagger from Hika's flesh. It slides out quickly, the path smooth beneath Eir's steady hand. The blood on the dagger freezes once it's out and Eir's eyes widen. She quickly hands the dagger off to Skadi and bends over Hika again. Eir presses her hands into Hika's stomach, causing the girl to lurch upward in pain. Eir pushes down again, light flaring around her hands and mingling with that of Hika's star.

"Stay down."

Hika fights against Eir's healing magic as it scorches her insides, searing her blood. If this is what being on fire feels like, she's infinitely glad that she doesn't feel it. Eir pulls her hands away, frowning.

"It's done."

"Is that bad?"

"Not exactly, but it should have taken longer than this."

Hika frowns, biting her lip. "Can I move now?"

Eir steps back. "Oh, yes. Of course."

Hika pushes on the couch to move into a sitting position, leaning against the arm of it. She pulls at the skin of her belly, examining the spot where the wound was. There is a shimmering blue scar, the same color as the marks still webbing out of it. Hika pokes the scar and Eir sighs.

"This needed a quick healing, I couldn't avoid a scar. I'm sorry."

Hika quickly shakes her head. "No, it's alright. I'd much rather have a scar than be dead." She pauses. "How bad was it?"

"Without myself or another healer, you would be dead or dying. Even if you were immortal already."

Hika swallows. "So essentially this is something I should never tell my mother?"

Eir gives Hika a disapproving look. "That depends. Do you want her to never trust you about these things again?"

"No?"

"Then you will need to tell her, at some point." She looks at Skadi. "May I see the dagger?"

Skadi is quick to turn it over to Eir. The healer frowns at it, trailing a finger along the blade. She doesn't touch the blood for a heartbeat but then presses the pad of her index finger against it. The blood flakes off and Eir turns the blade. It shines blue, sending a flash of light in Hika's direction.

She swallows at the nausea it brings up, forcing it back down. She doesn't like this dagger. She knows it doesn't like her either, an extension of Loki's power. Hika leans away from it, almost toppling over the arm of the couch.

She would have, if Jaak hadn't darted forward to catch her, she would have. He tips her back up and moves to sit on the couch beside her. Hika quickly swings her legs off to make space for him. He flashes her a grateful smile and Hika smiles back. Eir looks between the dagger and Jaak.

"Will you?"

He nods, reaching for the dagger. As it moves closer to Hika, the sick feeling in her stomach grows. Once the dagger makes contact with Jaak's skin, the feeling disappears entirely. Hika blinks at Jaak.

"It stopped."

"What did?"

Hika shudders. "The dagger doesn't like me. It was horrible when it was still inside me but even outside, it was trying to harm me. But now that you're holding it, it's quiet."

Jaak slowly sets the dagger down on the table and lets go. Hika quickly forces his hand back onto the dagger before she can vomit. Jaak squeezes his grip around the dagger until it becomes a pulp of ice.

He summons a drift of snow to carry it outside and dump it off the cliff. Hika sags against the couch, her breathing heavy. The wound still feels strange, but it isn't trying to destroy her now. It just isn't right. Her flame is absent, but that absence doesn't feel the way it should if it's just from the cold. It doesn't feel like she just needs to let her flame restore itself.

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Kanahā kūmāhi = forty-one, when counting

What do you think happened to her flame? What does this mean? What's going to happen next? Tell me your thoughts!

Happy reading and I'll see you next chapter!

~ Goddess of Fate, signing out