"Oh my god, she's awake!" The voice was high, tinny and very excited. "Aishe, the elixir!"

Cool glass parted my lips and liquid trickled down my throat.

"Swallow," said a soft, male voice.

Because my brain couldn't yet tell from right or wrong, I did as I was told. I felt the liquid run down my gullet and splash into my belly. Something felt odd. Then I remembered the last sensation I'd felt - a prickling, burning sensation, like I was burning at a stake for making love potions.

Then the last face I saw popped into my head.

"Tem," I rasped. My voice came out half-baked. I repeated it again, my second attempt just as feeble as the first.

"He's all right," said the girly voice. "He's back in Aragonia now. Or at least Aishe said so."

"He is," said a firm, woman's voice. "As are the others you have saved. If you don't believe me, look at the panels."

I moaned.

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"More elixir," said the woman. "Drink up." The glass touched my lips again, and I swallowed. As it settled in my belly, the aches in my head went away.

"It's a miracle," said the woman, whom I vaguely remembered was named Aishe. "She's healing."

I flexed my fingers, brushed it against the soft material I was laying on. It felt comforting.

"Thank the stars," said another male voice. "You scared us to death. When you're healthy again, you won't hear the end of how insane you were to -"

"Shh," chided the girl I remembered was Marylea. "Not now."

I opened my eyes. The world was fuzzy. I saw three round heads staring at me. I blinked and the fuzziness cleared slowly, like eyes struggling to focus in blinding light after darkness. Their heads came into focus, and the sight of the three faces made me smile.

"Is this a hallucination?" I rasped. "Did the Serpeople get me?"

"She remembers them," said Marylea wondrously. "She must be all right."

"I am truly amazed," said Aishe. "No one should've survived diving into the water like that."

Fabe shook his head disapprovingly but said nothing. Next to him, Keenan's eyes appeared red and watery.

A horrible thought flashed across my head and my hands shot to my face. "Am I sixty years old?" My fingers ran across my cheeks. I didn't feel any wrinkles.

"You look like you never jumped into that river," said Aishe. "That's what amazes me."

A hand stroked my hair. "Have I told you you're insane?" asked Keenan.

"Are - are the others..."

"We rescued the others," said Fabe. "Aragonia is well."

My lips curled into a smile. "Good..." I yawned. "I - I feel... so tired..." My eyelids drifted together. I struggled to keep them open.

"Rest," said Aishe. "You deserve it."