I discovered this when absolute silence drew me back to consciousness. Where was I? I saw only a slate gray solidness through my slitted eyelids. My sense was at rest so I knew I was no longer in danger, yet there was still a mild sense of unease. And pain. There was a lot of pain. I quickly made the pain relieving gesture but it wasn’t very effective. My hands were still numb. A swishing noise sounded to my left so I opened my eyes completely and carefully turned my head. Strange, lengthy forms floated past, most peering in at me. “How are you feeling?” Afton said, arresting my movement. He sounded strange, and I soon realized why. He was surrounding me. “Where are we?” I queried. “You are healing,” he responded. “Ahh, so it is true,” I muttered. The Mothers had spoken of the waters of Lake Feidlimed saving lives when Meab were critically injured. I realized then that I was underwater and that Afton was using the lake’s power to keep me alive and to heal me. “Where is Yewsy?
