Garalt could not feel the passing of time, he simply slipped in and out of consciousness over and over, like reliving some terrible dream.  He wasn't sure if it was a dream he was dreaming, or if he was just going mad.  He could not say or do anything, his body and his mind were as two separate entities.  All Garalt could do was relive the events of the past weeks.  It all had started so innocently, going home after being given the title of knight.  And then to run into Jerren, the tainted paladin patriarch, and slinging him into a string of events of which he could not escape.  But of all the memories Garalt relived in his dream-like consciousness, the moment he lost his mentor Kullvox was the one that haunted him the most.  Over and over Garalt could see his comrade being devoured by the terrible beast he now knew has Tel'Karak Zrahl, the wind of death.  Seeing the look of pain and terror on his friend's face, over and over, Garalt wanted to scream.  But the only sound he heard was the echoing thoughts in his mind.  Ethelred was there, in his dreams, as well.  The evil necromancer always winning regardless of what Garalt did, turning him into one of the undead horde.

    Garalt slowly opened his eyes for the first time in what he could easily tell was a long time.  The light was so blinding, and painful, like needles shooting into his eyes.  Slowly, very slowly Garalt was able to focus on a figure sitting next to the bed on which he lay.
    "A...Alyia?" Garalt struggled.
    The Princess looked up from what looked to be a daydream and stared at the crippled knight.  Her eyes quickly began to swell with tears and her lips began to tremble.  She slowly got up out of her chair and moved closer to Garalt, who was reaching out his weak hand to her.  She looked at him as if in disbelief, holding her breath and looking him over, almost wondering if he were real.
    "Oh, Garalt!" Alyia sighed, throwing her arms around Garalt, "we thought we'd lost you!"

    "Where am I?" Garalt winced, his whole body felt like it was in a vice.
    "You're in Illana Castle, Garalt, in the Ikros Capitol.  You've been out for weeks..." Alyia sighed heavily.
    "Demonclaw... Greylen... are they all right?"
    "The soldiers only found you, Garalt, your armor was totally destroyed, but it protected you from the most serious blows.  They did find Wiegar and Liphon's shields and weapons though, but that was all."
    Garalt sighed heavily at the mention of Liphon's name.  The vile traitor paid for his crime, but Garalt could never forgive him for the death of Kullvox.
    "And... Garalt... things are really looking bad for Ikros..."
    "What do you mean?"
    "Garn and Moraine came back to the castle, told us of the dragon waking up, and the death of Kullvox..." Alyia was shaking, "since they found you, the dragon has been destroying village after village...  Father and Daravon tried to fight the beast but they ended up with some magical curse, and I'm afraid I might lose them too..." Alyia broke down in tears on Garalt's chest.  Garalt slowly wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.  He knew that he could not tell her of the plot against her father now, it would most likely destroy her.  Garalt knew he would have to secretly discover who else was behind the plot, so they wouldn't tip their hand early.
    "It'll be ok Alyia, I'll find a way to make everything right again... I promise..."
    "Oh Garalt, I wish it were that simple," Alyia sniffled, "the dragon... Garalt, the dragon attacked your home town..." Alyia burst into tears again.  Garalt felt his heart sink and his fingers grow cold.
    "My parents.... did they survive?"