Speaking from the heart

After Naomi's rescue from Master Faizar's clutches, Daegal didn't let her out of his sight for a single moment. He always made sure she was within sight and hearing distance and would even enter a panic when she wasn't near.

An evening later, while alone in her tent, Naomi had earlier sent for Thalia and she entered when Naomi was poring over a tome.

"How is Azriel?" she asked upon noticing Thalia's entrance.

"Better now, Empress. He bled quite a lot since the arrow went clean through his shoulder but I and the other healers managed to help."

"Will he be able to fight?"

Thalia bent her head for a moment then looked up. "Azriel is strong but he will need time to heal."

Naomi cocked an eyebrow. "Time to heal? Why have you not used magic to speed it up?"

"We tried but something is wrong. The process is painstakingly slow so we have to rely on nature this time."

Naomi bit her lip and set aside the book that was on her lap. "Please take care of him. I will come to see him later."

"Of c