He allowed the pain to settle, then tried again to look around himself, this time with success. Slowly, he turned his head toward the light. A single tallow candle burned on the bedside table, and in the chair beside it sat the man who had been more a father to him than his own. “You’d better not be here for my soul, Reaper, because I’m not done with it yet.” “Alan,” Brother Kenneth’s big voice boomed in the small chamber. “You’re awake.” Alan squeezed his eyes shut again, trying to still the chaos in his head. “Not so loud.” “I see surviving a close brush with death hasn’t changed you at all,” came a second voice. “Simon?” A wave of relief washed over Alan. He drew a stuttering breath. So he hadn’t left all his men behind to die. His chest tightened with gratitude. Simon had lived through the battle at Teba? Alan opened his eyes again and pushed himself up on his elbows regardless of the pain. He had to see Simon for himself and make certain his ears weren’t playing tricks on him.
