Free Balance (The Neumarian Chronicles) by Ciara Knight

reaction—and clasped him to me. “That is the best Penton special ever.”
    He looked to Ryder and I wanted to smack him for not saying the same. He raised his eyebrows, “ Ah, it looks okay.” He started laughing until he held his side and rasped, “I’m kidding.”
    I walked over and smacked him on the back of his head.
    “Hey, no hitting the wounded,” he said, his lips trembling in mock pain.
    Raeth held her fists to her side and crinkled her nose at him. “B-better her than the lashing I -I’d give you.”
    “Relax, it was a joke , Penton.” He smiled up at his sister. “You look beautiful Raeth. I’m glad Penton could fix you up. You look…grown up.” He attempted to roll onto his side, by the time he made it a glisten of sweat moistened his upper lip and his face turned red, then he collapsed back onto his back. “Can one of you help me up?”
    I hurried over and helped him upright and he reached his hand out to Penton. Moments later, they clasped one another’s forearm in a warrior’s welcome, Ryder looking him straight in the eye. “Thank you.”
    While Raeth’s jaw fell open and Penton looked ready to pass out, I wasn’t surprised. I knew Ryder had liked Penton from the moment we’d met him in Acadia.
    He released Penton’s hand and collapsed back onto the bed, holding his side and groaning. “Now, can you get back to work figuring out why I can’t heal myself?”
    I felt powerless and wished with every fiber in my body that I could heal him. When Thornton joined us, I asked. “Aren’t there any healers on board this ship?”
    He bent over Ryder and injected something into his tube running from the IV bag. “So far we haven’t found one. Ryder is it.”
    I toed the bedpost shattered at Ryder’s devastation and asked, “Is there a chance he won’t regain his gift?”
    Silenced answered.
    Hand fisted, Ryder punched his mattress, then inhaled.
    Raeth moved to her brother’s bed without a hitch in her walk. “We d-don’t know.” Flashing Penton a warm smile, she turned back to Ryder. “I-if anyone c-can figure it out, it’s Penton.”
    Ryder nodded.
    Raeth glided to her knees, sat beside him, and carefully wrapped her arms around his shoulders.
    Tears leaking from the corner of my eyes, I cleared my throat. “Yes, but you can’t return to Acadia. Every woman will want a limb like yours. Can you imagine? Mandesa will want her face replaced with a Penton special.
    Everyone laughed. Of course, we knew it was true. Mandesa would rip Raeth’s leg from her body to have it for herself. She was sick, demented, and dangerous.
    “I think Ryder needs some rest. The quicker he heals , the quicker we can get back to planning our freedom.”
    Penton’s jaw set in his I’m-determined-to-save-the-world look, and I didn’t have a doubt he’d succeed. “I won’t let you down.”
    I followed Raeth and Penton into the corridor. “Hey, Raeth , I can’t get over it. It looks almost a hundred percent natural, yet…better.”
    She lifted her dress, twisted and turned her leg. “Th-the hinge is only visible close up.”
    “Can I feel it?”
    Giggling, she nodded, yes.
    I ran my fingers over it. It was smooth yet almost human. And while I knew it was artificial, it didn’t possess that cold metallic feel. “It’s warm.”
    Penton slipped his arm around Raeth’s shoulders. “Lubricant flows in a circuit throughout the leg and into the toes. The constant movement creates friction, heating the surface slightly.”
    “Brilliant, absolutely brilliant. Once the war’s over, I’ll bet every person who needs a limb will beat a path to your door.”
    Penton paled. “I hope not. I just want some peace with Raeth. I’ll see you in a bit,” He mumbled, scooting Raeth out into the hall.
    Once away from the doorway, he turned her in his arms and covered her lips in a passionate kiss as she seemed to melt against him. As he released her, he spotted me gawking, and turned crimson. “Don’t need