The light below decks was dim and it took his eyes a moment to adjust but Tornas soon found Petra in her corner. She was kneeling facing the wall and holding a painting.

“Petrianna.” Sezjeck spoke “Tornas and I were sparing and it appears I need your assistance.”

Petrianna straightened up and turned to them. “Oh, yes you do.” she said. She kissed the painting and placed it reverently against the wall.

“Come sit down let me see.” She said gesturing to the wooden table with poofs tucked out of the way underneath. She set a fire ball in the air to brighten the dim space. She lit her hand with healing fire and placed it against the first mate's jaw. She let the fire grow and cover his face then retracted her hand, the wound healed.

“Fucking witch.” a voice said.

Sezjeck and Tornas both turned to see Jimothy. The sailor was known to be quarrelsome and superstitious. This encounter although unsurprising could not stand.

“Sailor.” Sezjeck said standing up from the table and squaring up with him “Petrianna is the surgeon and is therfore an officer of this ship and you will treat her as such.” he said solidly and cooly.

“Little witch is going to bring us all ruin.” Jimothy sneered under his breath and walked away back up deck.

Sezjeck turned back toward Tornas and Petra. He touched his lip where the gash had been. “Thank you Petrianna this feels much better.”

“Fire is good for dragons”, she said with an attempt at a smile and turned back to her painting.

“What is that” Sezjeck asked

“This?” she picked up her painting “It is,” she paused for a moment thinking “you do not have a word for it in common. It is znachok it is for prayer.” she concluded.

“Your goddess?” Sezjeck asked again.

“Yes The Great She Bear” she said and turned the painting to them “You see She is here, She has come out of her den after winter with her cubs and the spring blossoms where she steps. You see color green here is new life, She feeds her cubs because she provides for us all, and she calls out to great Prime Singer who allows her to bring new life of spring each year.” She pointed to each element of the painting as she spoke.

“Your goddess is very different than mine.” Tor mumbled sadly to himself.

“What?” Petra asked

“Nothing, Nothing” he cleared his throat. “It's beautiful.”

“Yes, you should put it up. No one would begrudge a cleric her deity's symbols.” Sezjeck encouraged. He knew her secret, and he wanted to protect it. Jimothy may be the first to question the source of her power but he surely would not be the last. Hopefully the ship would see some action soon. Something to keep people from thinking too hard about each other.