“Did you ever consider following Quillon’s path?” Kira asked.
Elodie snorted and busied herself with the food. “No.”
“But you could—if you wanted to.”
This time Elodie speared her with a look, a frown wrinkling her forehead as she studied Kira. “I could. If I indicated a leaning toward that direction, I could submit myself to the Trial of the Broken and request aseon’yerwho would prepare me for that life.”
“But you don’t,” Kira said slowly, trying to understand.
“No, I don’t.”
“Why?” Kira asked.
Elodie released a deep sigh. “By now, you should have realized the path you’ve chosen is hard. Even if you pass theuhva na, you face a difficult road. Training is designed to break the weak. Doing and seeing things that the rest of us don’t have to. It’s a calling and not one to be undertaken lightly.”
Elodie glanced at Finn. “Ask your oshota. He’ll tell you.”
Finn stared at the healer for a long moment before lifting his eyes to Kira’s. “She is correct. There is great honor in being deemed worthy for theadva ka, but there is a lot of hardship as well.”
Elodie took a bite of her meal, chewing and then swallowing. “Theuhva nahas killed those it deemed unworthy. Call me crazy, but I have no desire to chance that fate.”
Kira pondered their words.
Elodie sat back and crossed her arms over her chest. “Is that it? Is that why you came here?”
Before Kira could answer, Quillon stepped inside the med bay, coming to an abrupt stop as he caught sight of Kira.
Elodie placed a piece of bread-like food on her plate and dusted off her hands. “I’ll be going. I’m sure you’d like a little privacy for your conversation.”
Kira hesitated. Her instinct was to let the healer go, but for some reason, she found herself saying. “Not yet. This next part isn’t sensitive.”
Surprise crossed Elodie’s face. After a moment, she settled in her chair as Quillon lifted his eyebrows at Kira.
“I’m surprised to see you,” he finally said. “You’ve made no attempt to hide how much you dislike coming here every day. I thought once your preliminary treatments were up, I’d have to find someone to drag you here.”
The corner of Kira’s mouth quirked in wry acknowledgment. “I can’t say I would be here now if not for Elodie’s interference.”
Quillon slid his fellow healer a look. “Then I’m glad you two had a chance to talk.”
As was Kira. She still wasn’t comfortable with the other woman, and unreserved trust was a long way off, but Elodie made her pause and consider a different perspective.
In the healer’s place, Kira wouldn’t have handled being kicked out of her own territory with nearly as much grace. That Elodie had, said the woman was someone worth knowing.
“What have you come here for?” Quillon asked.
Kira folded her arms across her chest, uncomfortable. It had never been easy for her to ask for help, less so when it came to doctors and the sort.
The confrontation with the primus, however, had made it clear she couldn’t keep trying to do this alone.
“Affinities,” Kira finally said. “I don’t understand them—and I’d like to.”
The two glanced at each other. Quillon’s expression gave nothing away, even as Elodie looked slightly confused.
“What about them?” Elodie asked.
“How do they work? Why are they important?” Kira asked.
The two exchanged another look.
