Feeling someone wiping my forehead, I slowly wake up looking at the face of a young, pink haired girl.

  “Mom! He woke up, he woke up!”

  I try to move my head to look around but I can’t, my entire body feels numb. A woman in her early thirties then approaches me, “Can you hear me? How are you feeling?”

  I try to answer but only a pained moan leaves my mouth.

  “Oh dear, you must still not be over the hill. Wait a second, I’m going to bring you some water and soup.”

  She then returns with what looks like two oil lamps. One filled with water the other with soup and carefully puts the opening to my mouth allowing me to drink.

  “Can you blink? One for no and two for yes.”

  I blink twice.

  “Good, your companions are safe. Your sister has had some internal bleeding and a broken rib but thanks to the help of that boy John she is slowly getting better. Her rib might even heal completely. Are you feeling any pain right now?”

  I blink once.

  “Alright, I’m going to use this needle and pinch you a few times in different places, blink twice anytime you feel it.”

  She then pinches me a few times and I blink anytime I feel it.

  “Phew, alright it looks like you don’t have any nerve damage. Your body is probably just extremely exhausted but you should be able to recover. My name is Sannah, I’m the village doctor. You’re currently in Salat, a village two days north east of Rostock. You have been passed out for four days while your companions carried you here. I’ve been taking care of you since yesterday evening when they arrived. Feel free to stay until you have recovered enough to travel again.”

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  Shortly after Sannah is done feeding me, she leaves and I fall asleep again. Over the next two days John and Sher Aka visit me from time to time while I slowly get the feeling over my body back. On the third day I am able to speak again and move my upper body enough to sit up for short periods of time.

  Sher Aka then visits my room again, “Hey, how are you feeling? Are you doing better?”

  “Yes.”

  “Oh! You can speak again, wonderful. Are you in pain?”

  “No but it’s still hard to move my body. How is Rayla doing?”

  “Rayla is doing well, she shouldn’t walk around yet but she is able to be moved.”

  “Can we go then? She can get better treatment in Rostock, we should start moving.”

  She pats my head, “Worry about yourself first. Would you like me to tell you another story today?”

  “Yes please.”

  “Once upon a time in a kingdom far, far away…”

  Sher Aka tells me another fairy tale and even though I never remember the story's contents afterwards, it still leaves me with a cozy feeling after.

  “...Are you back Thoma Ahad?”

  “Hmm? Oh sorry I think I must have fallen asleep for a bit there.”

  With a notebook and pen in her lap, Sher Aka gently smiles, “It’s alright, how are you feeling?”

  “Happy and warm.”

  “That’s good, is there anything on your mind? You look deep in thought.”

  “Oh it’s just, there is this book my mother used to read to me…I wonder if I’ll be able to find it.”

  “Do you remember what it is about?”

  “Hmm? What is what about?”

  “Nothing…How about you rest some more? You look tired.”

  “Yeah…I think I will.”

  “Good night Thoma Ahad.”

  “Good night sister.”

  Two more days pass and I recover to a point where I can move my legs again but I still can't stand up yet.

  John then comes to my room, “Yo! We’re planning to start moving back to Rostock today. How are you feeling?”

  “Pretty okay, how is Rayla?”

  “Gee, is that all you want to ask? She’s fine, definitely better than you. Come here, I’ll pick you up, we’re joining a fruit merchant back to Rostock.”