Erian awoke slowly, with the distinct feeling that he had slept for days. Then a shiver ran down his spine.
For a few seconds, he didn't know whether he was still dreaming or trapped in that same darkness that had swallowed him after hearing that voice.
The air was warm now, filled with the scent of incense and sweet herbs, but the sense of danger still clung to his skin.
He swallowed, tasting the metallic tang of fear still lingering in his mouth.
His eyelids felt heavy, and the light filtering through them was soft and hazy.
It took him a few seconds to register the weight of a hand resting over his own. He blinked several times, trying to clear the fog from his vision, his heart still pounding like someone who had just woken from a nightmare.
When the blur began to fade, he distinguished a figure leaning beside the bed. His heart leapt. It was Seirion. His eyes were closed, and his face, lit by the flicker of nearby torchlight, looked peaceful, almost vulnerable.
