A panicky cry awakened Barhan. He sat up immediately in alarm as Deneve tossed restlessly. Her eyes popped open, and she screamed in terror. Was she dreaming?

“Deneve!” He attempted to hold her, but she struggled against him for a few minutes before she ceased, shaking uncontrollably. Realizing Deneve was not awake, Barhan just pulled her closer to him as she wailed in fear again. This time it was different though, it was as if her scream had woken her.

Deneve looked up at him. Her dark ruby eyes filled with tears as she started to pull away. “I’m sorry.” She choked her voice husky after screaming.

Barhan just hugged her tighter. “It’s okay. Just stay here till you feel better.”

She nodded, “I don’t know why it happens. I don’t remember anything but having trouble breathing like I’m being suffocated.”

“That sounds terrifying,” Barhan replied consolingly as he smoothed down her hair.
After a while, Deneve smiled dryly, “Sirare used to care for me when this happened in Mediah.”

Barhan smiled. “It sounds like something he would do.”

Then she laughed humorlessly, “Believe it or not, Lord Red took care of me at one point, even when I had these night horrors.”

Barhan’s eyes widened at the information. “Really?”

“We weren’t always adversaries,” She explained. “We came here at the same time. The villagers of Tariff found us and took care of us until he recovered enough to take care of me. I don’t know what happened or why I was hurt. I think he knew, but he never said anything. In fact, he lied about his name, and his appearance was that of an old man.”

Barhan looked at her curiously, “But how then?”

“I think he made a deal with his Black Spirit to get his youth back. I can’t be sure of it, but after he destroyed the Spirit, he was young, and I recognized him from my readings.” Deneve added.

“So you remember him from reading?” He asked.

She chuckled. “My memory loss seems to be personal memories and anything related to traveling from world to world. I don’t remember my family, anyone I might have cared about. I have no memories of friends or loved ones. Lord Red and I were both respected researchers in our world for our schools of study. Well, he was until he ignored the Godr-Eyed Tier.”

“Wouldn’t Lord Red come after you if you got your memories back?” Barhan worried.

Deneve shrugged. “Maybe, but it doesn’t matter. He doesn’t understand how it works anyway. He was happy to use my skills if it suited him, but he didn’t want me to help anyone outside of him.”

“I see,” Barhan said thoughtfully. “I’ve seen you use your power to protect and heal. I do have an opinion if you wish to hear it.”

Deneve tilted her head curiously and nodded.

“You push yourself to exhaustion, which is most of the time unnecessary and worrisome.” Barhan explained gently, “The men and I appreciate your concern, but you don’t have to heal every scratch. Perhaps you could let minor injuries heal themselves instead of wearing yourself out by expending all your energy.”

“I feel good when I’m helpful.” She replied, looking like a lost child.

There was the chink in her psyche. For some reason, Deneve didn’t feel worthy unless she was helping. She was easily the most generous person he’d ever met. Deneve needed to set some personal guidelines. As it was right now, she didn’t have any. “At least think about it,” he added kindly. “It would be better for your health and for you mentally to have some boundaries.”

She furrowed her brow in thought for a moment before she answered. “Okay, I will. Think about it that is.”