When Argurios came to his senses he thought it was night, then someone said something and light shown into his eyes. It burned him, but at the same time made him realise how weak he is. He could hardly move, he wanted to ask what just happened but was too tired. After awhile he began to put things together.
For one they were in a small boat on the river, in the middle of nowhere. He couldn't remember how they got here. Last thing he remembers was running with Brisa on his back. Second he realised what happened when he woke up. It seemed they were covered by something at the time. But it was too late to wake up from sleep. As Argurios thought about it, he remembered his dream, and all the dread he felt with it.
In his dream everything was foggy. He remembered the pain from his ankle and elbow, but then there was a pain that radiated over his whole body, and pitch total blackens that engulfed him, all negative feelings disappearing. For the rest of the dream was foggy, this scene was as clear as day. He was kneeling/sitting in front of a dark hooded figure, sitting on a throne made by muscles entwined and stretched by each other. Then the figure spoke something and offered its hand. Agurios wanted to take the hand, but something touched, shook and lifted him, and the figure disappeared.
Argurios was lost and alone in the darkness, but not for long. Feeling himself being lifted to his feet and pushed forward, Argurios simply gave in and tried to walk into the direction he was pushed. The tiredness and pain returned to him, and with that the foggy dream. As he was looking around he saw one man tear another man's head off. Then everything was dark again, but not like before, this time it was just like someone would put a blindfold on, with a couple of holes that enabled light to shine through. He wanted to move but was to tired and slowly the dream ended and now he woke.
Argurios was dazzled by the dream, and noticed he was in a very uncomforting position. It took him all his strength to readjust himself. He wasn't tired physically and he was slowly beginning to regain his senses more and more. No, he was tired in his spirit, soul, like some heavy feelings of guilt, anger, desperation, and all other dark emotions had been resting upon him for generations.
After awhile as he wanted to talk to Brisa he noticed how everyone was exhausted, and beaten. At first he didn't understand it, but then he noticed his ankle and elbow showed signs of damage as well. Now he realised what was going on, his dream was not a dream, but reality. Reality of how his companions tried their best and just managed to escape the grip of death. In their escape they did not forget him, and this brought a warm and refreshing feeling to Argurios. As the warmth flew through him, he touched his chest and remembered the amulet and the pain it gave. At first Argurios wanted to check the amulet and if there was any sign on his torso., but then he did not want to alarm others if there was something, and in his current state he was lacking the energy to do it. His decision made, he will check himself once they make camp and when he will feel more like himself.
Resting for the rest of the smooth ride, Argurios was slightly napping, recovering his strength. As the sun began to set Argurios woke up and looked around him. He still felt a tad tired, but not like before. With his energy back, Argurios decided to take the role of the leader of this company as he did while he and Brisa travelled to Loudwater. Only that this time he will do it better. Argurios could feel he wasn't like he used to be. The meeting with the dark figure changed him, the bitter feelings still there in his memory of emotions. He promised himself no one will have to go through the same experience as he, as long as he lives. To insure that, he decided to act more like a leader, more like the great war heroes, who lead the men in time of war, that his father told him about.
Looking at the sky and birds he got the necessary information. ''It will be dark in less than two hours. I recommend we make a small camp on land in those woods.'' Argurios spoke pointing towards a forest that was a couple of hundred meters away from the left bank of the river. '' We can carry the skiff with us, or preferably just hide it by the bank and return to it in morning. I think its better we travel by river a bit more. It allows us to rest as we travel and we cant get lost. Sooner or later there has got to be at least a village.