The Dark Age Chronicles: The Fall of Night.
Healing Times

By the time they got theyoung man into the house, he had gotten up, looked up at the two of them thenfallen promptly asleep. They both heaved a sigh of relief and set him on thewet bed.

“He healed him,” Nurilah said amatter-of-factly. Then she gave a short laugh and shook her head with awe andwonder written on her face. Ihloden smiled along with her, but had mixedfeelings about the Griffin healing the young man. He still held a bit of agrudge against the young man for insulting him in Overed. But he tried to pushit out of his head and be happy that the man had not died. He knew he wouldhave felt terrible if the man had died. They gently removed the bandages toreplace the skin still bruised and the puncture wounds had not healed over but theribs were set. They shook their heads again and decided that they could leavehim and get some food.

“We have to be careful withhim still,” Nurilah said while she set some meat to roast and cut up somebread. Ihloden set the table and poured cold water into the cups.

“I know,” he replied,recognizing the hidden message behind her words. They ate with such an abandonthat they would have had Shila and his mother frowning at both of them. Theywere halfway through the bread and meat when there was the sound of a muffledgroan behind them. They spun around in their chairs to see the young manstanding in the doorway of the bedroom, one hand holding his side and the othergripped tightly on the door post.

“You don’t suppose that Icould get some of that,” he asked, his voice tight. He took a step forward andlurched violently. Nurilah and Ihloden dropped their food and lunged to grabhold of him. Nurilah reached him first and held him up against her large body.She guided him slowly to the table while Ihloden set the table. He sat downgingerly and with a wince. “Thank you,” he whispered. He reached out for thecup of water but his hand was shaking so badly that he toppled the cup. Ihlodengrabbed it before it could fall over.

“Here, drink up,” Ihlodensaid holding the cup for him.

“You are too kind,” he said,his voice barely audible, before he took a drink. Ihloden frowned, because he did not say it asa compliment but as if he really thought that they were being too kind to him.

“You don’t have to thank us,” Nurilah said,“Your wellbeing is thanks enough for us. It was amazing that you did not die.”

“Indeed,” the young mansaid, licking his lips. But his face said otherwise. He stared at the plate ofbread and meat, with such longing that Ihloden took pity on him and broke thebread up into pieces and held up the first piece to his mouth. The man lookedat him for a few seconds and then allowed Ihloden to feed him. Nurilahmeanwhile pulverized the meat with her grinding stone. He chewed with agonizingslowness. Ihloden and Nurilah patiently fed him and ate during the time he tookto chew. It was a silent but not an uncomfortable meal. It seemed to be gettingharder and harder for the man to chew. Then suddenly he gave a strangled soband burst in tears. He hung his head quickly as if his tears embarrassed him.He tried to push away from the table but instead he sort of got caught betweenthe table and chair. Ihloden sprang up and helped him out of the chair and intothe bedroom.

“I’m sorry,” he said with a tone of voice of achild that had been caught doing something terrible.

“Hey it’s alright,” Ihlodensaid feeling awkward, “You just need some rest you know. Once you get enoughrest you will start feeling better.” He helped the man to lie down on the bed.The man winced as he settled down. As Ihloden made to move away from the bed,the man grabbed hold of his hand.

“I remember you, you know.The boy that I insulted in Overed. I made you look like a fool. Why are youhelping me?” The man said hoarsely. Ihloden looked at him seriously.

“It was only a small argument. I don’t believethat one should let a man die over something as small as an argument.” The manlooked at him for a while then let go of his hand. His face looked as ifsomeone had taken off a great burden from his mind.

“You know,” he said groggily, “I alwaysthought so myself. By the way, my name is Voren.” With that he fell promptlyasleep.

Once he and Nurilah finishedtheir meal, Ihloden went home to tell his mother and Shila that the young manwas alright now, and that his name was Voren and that he was going to be muchbetter. The last part his mother gave a sigh of relief at. Then they bothinsisted that they come and see the young man and help out in his recovery.Ihloden tried halfheartedly to convince them otherwise but he knew it wasfruitless. So with an outward resigned face, but with a mischievous glint inhis heart at how Nurilah would react to this new development, he helped them tostart preparations with the cooking. The next morning he sent his mother andShila off to Nurilah’s house and then set off to make peace with Grims; hopingthat his boss will be a bit forgiving and let him continue his job.