The Dark Age Chronicles: The Fall of Night.
Afterward

Ihloden woke up to replace acrowd of people about him and Nurilah shaking him violently. “Ihloden!Ihloden!” her screaming was registering faintly in his ears. The sun wasshining straight into his eyes but he was too tired and confused to even closethem. “Can you hear me Ihloden?” Nurilah asked, her voice a little louder. Henodded slowly and tried to lick his dry lips. Then as if the movement awoke hisbody, pain hit him again like a wall. He felt his body arch up in pain and hisscreams, now able to be heard rang out into the morning. Nurilah grabbed himand buried his face in her chest. He kept going unconscious of how loud or howlong he was going. He only knew that he was totally exhausted when he was done.

Nurilah picked him up and carried him to herhouse. “Tell his mother and sister,” she called back to the silent crowd. Nurilah placed him gently on her bed andstripped him. He would have felt ashamed under any other circumstances. But asit were he felt as though he was in a dream. He could barely move his arms orlegs or breathe. Nurilah had washed him, and was treating his wounds when hismother and Shila came barging in.

“Ihloden!” they both screamed rushing towardhim, then stopped. Their eyes openedwide with horror. They turned to Nurilah.

“Who or what did this to my son?” his motherasked. Nurilah shook her head.

“I cannot answer that question,” she said in alow voice, “But we can speculate later. For now; a hand here will not hurt.”

They both rushed forward andwith trembling hands helped Nurilah place ointment over his wounds and bandagethem, wincing every time he made a noise. He tried to call out to them but thewords could not come out of his mouth. So he gave up and let them treat him.Afterward with a parting kiss on his brow from his mother and Shila, they leftthe room. Nurilah threw him a knowing glance and left the door partially open.She did it on purpose so he could hear what was being said.

“What do you think causedthe wounds?” his mother asked.

“Soldiers?” Shila asked.

“Not Soldiers,” Nurilah saidher deep voice resounding loudly in the room, “It was not human what made thosemarks, but it seemed more like some kind of animal.”

“An animal!” his mothercried, “What kind of animal could have done that! Did you see how deep theywere, how wide? Did you see? What kind of creature…..” her voice trailed off ina sob, “Why is this happening to him? Why?”

Ihloden heard Shila soothehis mother gently. “What I want to know,” she said, “was what was he doing outin the woods? I know that he must have had something to drink but he has neverwandered off the wrong way. Never. No matter how drunk he was and Ihloden getspretty drunk. I would know. So why was he in the woods?”

Nurilah sighed, “That is aquestion only he can answer. And right now and possibly for a few days more, hewould not be able to answer that question.” She paused, “Do you want to takehim home or leave him here with me?”

“You keep him,” his mothersaid sounding very tired, “I will have work. I….I won’t be able to care ofhim.” A sob caught in her throat again. Ihloden felt his heart break in hischest. He hated his mother sad. He had seen the way she was when his fatherdied in the war ten years ago, against Lyficen. How she had mourned his father,her eyes red from crying every night, her smile almost never there. And nowwhen she was beginning to come back to being like her old self he came andcaused all this. And for what? An age old legend about some Griffin. He wouldhave chided himself if it all had not been true. If he hadn’t known that thecreature that caused the wounds on his chest was none other than the griffinfrom the age old legend.

“Don’t worry Marian,” Nurilah said, “You knowI will take good care of him. I will have him back to you in perfect health ina about a week or so.” Shila answered, “Thanks you Nurilah. Thank you foralways being here for us and mostly for him. He….he really appreciates you.Just in case he’s never said it.”

Nurilah laughed, “He doesnot need to. I know it. That’s the way things are between me and him. We knoweach other’s feelings without ever having to say them.” They chatted a few minutes more, then Marianand Shila came to bid him farewell. They both kissed his cheeks and foreheadmaking him blush a little and then left. Nurilah saw them out and then cameback to him. She rested her hand on his head. “My boy,” she said solemnly, “Youare going to have a very tidy fever tonight.”

She was right. It was theworst feeling ever, just short of the experience he had with the blue flames.He was so hot he was gasping for air. He felt like he was being engulfed in asuffocating blanket of heat. He could feel his chest heaving up and down,trying to suck in air, his fingers clawing at the sheet on the bed.

“Easy Ihloden,” Nurilah kept saying, wipinghis body down with water. Realizing that it was not working she was soonpouring bowl of water over his body. Ihloden thought that the night would neverend. Then he felt himself get cooler and air began to flow into his body. Agroan escaped his lips as he sank back into the wet bed. He was totallyexhausted. He just wanted to sleep. Nurilah helped him off the bed onto thefloor. Stripped off the wet sheets, put on dry ones and dragged him back on. Hewas lying on the flat wood of the bed. She changed his bandages also and thensat beside him. “It will be better tomorrow night” she said, “the worst isover. The medicine had begun its work. Fever like this is the sign.” She pattedhis head, “I am going to sleep now Ihloden. I will sleep on the floor besideyou. If you need me, reach over and touch me, okay?” Ihloden managed a nod, hiseyes were closing fast. “Rest well my boy,” he heard Nurilah whisper as hedropped off to sleep.