In his dreams he stood at the gates of the afterlife, listening to the feasting and celebrating of the warriors within the hall of the Winged Ones. Despite the welcoming light and the calls of his ancestors, he was barred from entry by the woman, Veranandein. She stood immovable, watching him without mercy and saying, "If you die now, it's your fault."

Nick didn't understand her words. Surely if he were standing outside the halls, surely if he were so close to dining with the Winged Ones, he was already dead. What strange punishment was he facing.

Unless he was not dead.

With that thought came a rising panic as he watched her, knowing he couldn't be stuck in limbo forever. Surely if he were dead he would reach the hall or be sent into purgatory. If he were alive, she should send him back.

Nick didn't want to be dead yet. He realized that if he was being barred entry, he had not proven himself a worthy, honourable warrior. If he was dead and not finding mead with his ancestors, he was to forever to roam purgatory with the cowards.

With that though, Nick gasped and sat up in bed. He blinked as he looked around at the strange surroundings feeling a well of pain from his side and a dull ache in his head. There was the taste of sea water and smoke on the back of his tongue as he croaked. "It is not my fault."

His father was suddenly at his side, placing a gentle but restraining hand on his shoulder, guiding him gently back down into the soft bed. "Calm, son. No one is blaming you. Rest... you'll need your strength, for I fear what actions I now have to take."

"But it wasn't Clairval father. It was Wulfshen. He murdered my men... he wants to start a war, please say you didn't listen to him." Nick winced as he pulled himself back up to sit, looking around the richly appointed rooms they had been given in the ambassador's quarters on the palace grounds. "He sent messengers to..."

"Hush, boy. The entire city knew it wasn't Clairval, the idiot did it in full sight of several of our own allies. I enlisted the Clairvalan Guard to have him arrested and their Admiral caught up with the merchant ship and returned last night with the messages he had sent. You've been asleep for five days mostly from the medicines. The healers couldn't keep you still enough to heal without knocking you out." His father was amused, in a way, but had a hard look on his face. "I have sent word to the Warlords and have advised my recommendations to removing the King from his current caretaker. Whether they listen, or whether I am declared a traitor, I do not know. And your men are alive, all of them."

"I... I remember the ship exploding. They were all restrained on the deck. I drowned. " Nick shook his head, wincing at the pain from the movement. The world shifted and spun as he tried to blink away the duplicate room that swam beside the first one.

"Yes. It did explode and you nearly did drown. But the men were rescued, as were you." His father said slowly, his look getting distant once more. Thoughtful, almost regretful.

It took his sore, confused brain a while to understand what his father was trying to say.

Nick watched him for a long moment, "Then I owe a debt to the Kingdom of Clairval."

His father laughed, giving him a look of bitter amusement."That would be easy. Much easier, I would think. No. You owe a blood debt to the Winged Feysha. As do your shield brothers. Honour would not allow you be released, until you save her life, three times over."

Despite knowing what a blood debt was, despite having been told the significance most of his life, it still took several long heartbeats for him to understand what his father was saying. When he finally did, Nick closed his eyes finally, leaning back against the wall and letting out a shaking breath. "Oh."

"And... another survivor was hauled from the water. It was the Feysha that had been adorning the front of your boat. She pulled her from the water after she had saved your life. She can undo the shaman's magic." Nick's father's voice was filled with trepidation and fear. "Which makes me believe that perhaps she isn't an outcast of her other people like Wulfshen surmised. At the very least I think that she is a powerful being. If she can undo the magic that was given to us by them... she is stronger than Wulfshen has given her credit for." His father patted his head gently, letting out a sigh.

Nick didn't respond, and after letting the words settle, his father continued.

"So I may be a traitor and executed and your life is sworn to protect a life that is opposed to the path of your people, your king. We make a fine pair, and I'm sure that our ancestors are choking on their ale..."

Nick rested back against the wall and lost focus as he tried to settle the thoughts in his brain. It wouldn't work for him, not completely, specific thoughts and conclusions beyond his grasp. He felt as helpless as a child as he tried to remember what he should be thinking or doing at that moment.

Then he opened his eyes suddenly and looked to where his father was sitting at a desk, writing. The daylight was slanting in through the windows differently from before, making him believe that a few hours had passed him by without his awareness. He had fallen asleep, or his mind was still labouring from whatever injury the blast had given it.

There was something else. He knew Wulfshen well enough that there was something else, though it was physically painful to force his mind to try and piece it together. Then the realization settled into his mind like a stone.

With a groan he pulled himself up out of bed, gritting his teeth against the nausea and the sharp pains from his side and head. The world shifted oddly beneath his feet as he croaked to his father moved to grab his arm. " Father. help me or leave me be. But I must see the Clairvalan King, immediately."

Wulfshen was as clever as any trickster. He wouldn't have acted unless he had all his plans in motion, plans beyond the message and the attack. Wulfshen had been almost arrogantly sure that he would be able to bring Lady Veranandein back to the King. Nick had lost five days being injured, but the fate of his very soul lied in ensuring he prevent Wulfshen's other machinations.

Whatever they were.