Chapter 14 : Bemio ek

Consciousness returned to Malnora like morning dew gathering on a leaf. Her eyes fluttered open to a world woven from living wood and filtered sunlight. She lay upon a bed crafted from impossibly soft bark fibers, suspended within the embrace of an ironized tree's mighty branches. The dwelling that surrounded her defied conventional architecture. It was as if the ancient tree had dreamed itself into a home, its living tissues gently coaxed rather than carved into graceful arches and sheltering walls.

Someone stood nearby, his presence both familiar and strange. In her fever-addled memories, she had mistaken him for her captain, but now his distinctly elven features were clear in the dappled light. His watchful gaze carried both concern and curiosity as she stirred. As if he wanted to introduce himself, he said : 

"Bëmio ek"