VOICES, COMING AS IF from the end of some dark trail, gradually floated closer and closer. Almost she could see the people—even if she couldn’t recognize anyone. Which was too bad . . . her agonies increased unbearably the clearer things became.
“She’s coming to, Anetra!”
Thomi stirred restlessly, wanted to go back where the pain didn’t seem so relentless nor the nausea so persistent. She felt a hand in her left one, was aware of a familiar scent, but couldn’t place it. To her right, someone probed her again. She tried fending him off, but it just sent her back down the dark trail.
For how long she lost her way down that trail, she couldn’t guess. Too soon, though, she found her way out of it again. She opened reluctant eyes, blankly regarding whoever it was speaking to her now. The sam
