Everything swam before my eyes when I came to my senses. My own body felt like someone else's. The distant voices were like his father's whispering to his visitors, when he barely put two words together to explain why he couldn't repay a debt.

With difficulty focusing my vision on the familiar ceiling of the swamp hut, I propped myself up on my elbows. The head was so heavy that it could barely support my thin neck. Terriliel and Alarica sipped their fragrant tea from small cups again and smiled as they talked softly.

- Awoke? - Ter turned all his attention to me, left the cup and was soon...