The clapping sound overtook him and with a painful wrenching of his soul he realized the sound was the hammering of pain in his head, which thundered with every heartbeat.
Little by little all his aches returned to him. There had not been a serene thatch hut with flowers and perfumed air. That had been a dream.
He couldn’t believe he was alive at first, but the constant reminder of the thumping headache wouldn’t let him forget it. He tried to clear his mind so he could recapture even a hint of the comfort he had invented while he was passed out, but it was no use.
The sun bore down on him. Mud caked his face. Bruises littered his entire body and his feet were cold and wet, for they were still submersed in the river.
Based on the sun’s position, a couple hours had passed. No one had yet found him, but he knew the pursuit would be renewed after whatever injuries he had caused the prince’s man. Garinor hoped he had hit the guard so hard against the wall that he felt even half of the pain that Garinor now experienced.
Slowly, he fought and strained and pulled his feet out of the river. It felt like an hour passed before he was seated upright.
The world twisted and spun around him. He couldn’t imagine anyone could survive such pain as this. But he also knew he had to. He had not gone through all this just to stay at the bank of a river until he died. He needed to do something. Anything at all.
Garinor forced himself to shake his head to snap himself out of it. That wasn’t a good move, it turned out, but at least it kept him from nodding off. He flipped himself over and crawled to a nearby tree, where he grabbed the rough bark and dragged himself onto his feet. He staggered there a while, tears running freely from his eyes so that he couldn’t see.
Breathing was a challenge, yet he made himself do it. Soon he was able to let go of the tree for seconds, and then minutes, at a time. His body was fighting. He could soon keep moving.
Walking was another challenge, but he faced it. He stumbled a few times and nearly retched with the fresh surge of pain that ran through him.
He ground his teeth. Enough was enough. He didn’t care what hurt him anymore. He needed to get up and push on.
Muddled, aching, and a bit bewildered, Garinor decided he had a few things he could do.
Garinor should return home and seek refuge.