His mind poised, swooped, and remembered: the fight with the doppleganger, the struggle in the dark cell as the water rose higher around him, his rescue, and the journey through the dark tunnel to this place, wherever this place was. His heart was pounding as if it would beat its way through his chest. His chest… He glanced down, puzzled that he seemed to feel no pain from his wounds. “Easy, lad. lie easy.” Trandon pushed him down gently. “You lost a lot of blood.” Noph looked up at the silver-haired warrior, trying to find the courage to formulate his suspicions. Then, with a sigh, he gave up and sank back against something soft, warm, gently rounded. Long silky hair tickled his ear, and moist, gentle lips brushed enticingly against his cheek. “Sharessa!” Noph half-turned, meeting the dark, dancing eyes of the she-pirate. “Well, Noph, how do you feel?” Noph considered a moment. “The pain is gone.” He looked down at his chest, his ragged shirt revealing the flesh beneath clean and unbroken.
