Choosing not to think about Narin any longer, Gara turned to the villagers. "I'll check on those who were poisoned," he said calmly then added, "And I won't ask for a single coin."
"You won't charge us?" one of the villagers asked.
Gara gave a small nod.
"That's true," Hari quickly added. "Sir Healer never asked for payment when he treated Rima. He refused the coins I tried to give him."
"Really?" the same villager looked at Gara, guilt flickering in his eyes.
Gara didn't say anything, but Hari, with his old body, nodded aggressively.
At once, the villagers began apologizing. The Liners, too, lowered their heads and admitted their mistake.
Before following the villagers to see the sick, Gara's gaze met Kian's across the crowd. Gara gave him a slight nod, and Kian returned it. At least Kian—and even Mohan—had been honest enough not to shield Narin.
