“ELENEY’A!” the scream tore from him as he sat up suddenly. A sharp pain in his right side sent him into a violent coughing fit, blood mixed phlegm dribbled down his chin. Gasping to breathe , he remembered the ambush, the fall into the river. His left side burned with the lingering pain of the magic bolt that had hit him. Another fit of coughing hit him, causing his whole body to spasm. He felt a firm but gentle hand steady him until the attack passed.
“ Easy mon...” a voice scolded him, the hands carefully laying him back down onto the small bed. “ Ya be puncturing that lung again if ya not careful.”
Daer’the opened his eyes, looking into the face of a troll woman. she nodded to him. “ My fatha and I found ya in tha river. Ya broke some ribs. But we pray to da spirits and da Loa and they set ya on tha mend.”
The swordsman took a steadying breath, grimacing with pain from the simple movement. “ Darkspear..?” he asked, hoping trying top speak wouldn’t send him into another coughing fit.
“ Ya mon,” she grinned, giving her a friendlier look. “ My fatha is a preist, I follow da path of da shaman. We live near da river. Ya lucky we found ya, crocolisks woulda had a fine meal from you.”
Daer’the tried to sit up again. but the shaman easily pushed him back. “ No mon, ya need rest. Let tha work tha Loa and tha spirits run it’s course. We ‘ave potions if ya in pain.”
“ I can’t sit here,” he replied, his voice halting. as he struggled to keep from another attack. “ Warlocks..they ataacked us, they took her..”
“ Dis Elenya?” the troll woman’s brow creased. “ Warlocks here?” Dis be strange. Why they take her?”
Daer’tthe recalled the dream, or was it even that? The name Enomea echoed in his mind. “ A sister..banished from her House, her family.” he rasped.” I need to get back to Silvermoon, to rally her kin.” another coughing attack hit him. The troll helped pull into a siting position, gently tapping him on the back to help it pass. He gasped for breath.
“ Ya in no shape to travel now.” she said. Ya need rest. My fatha is at Bambala, but he be back in da morning. We pray to the spirits and Loa again. Maybe they help ya more to save ya woman.”
Daer’the tried to speak, but he no strength. His eyes fluttered shut as the darkness took him again. Hang on...he thought of Eleney’a. I’ll find you..