William saw friends and loved ones, both living and passed, when, in a flash, he awoke. Out of reflex, his hand went to his sword. It was there.
"Good, you are awake! I have food prepared for you." Abdul was squatting next to a fire. William caught a whiff of something that smelled quite good.
"You! You used magic on me!" William spat.
"I did," Abdul responded. "I beg your forgiveness, but you seemed very ill and in fact, you were."
"Were?"
Abdul smiled as he replied, "yes. I healed your arrow wound. It was infected. You also had a case of pneumonia, but to heal that compleatly you must drink this." Abdul handed a cup to William.
"What is it?" William asked.
Abdul replied, "an herbal tea."
Abdul watched as William sipped the tea. "Very good. When you are finished, the meat will be ready," he said. He handed William half of a brown ball. "It is called a coconut. The inside is edible."
It tasted sweet as William ate and drank his tea. When he finished with the coconut, Abdul handed William a small, brown bowl containing bits of meat and sat quietly as he ate.
When William finished, Abul asked, "may I be of further service to you?"
"No." They sat quietly for a time, each watching the other. "You do not eat?" William inquired.
"I do not eat meat."
"Why did you help me?" William asked.
"The True One would be displeased if I did not." At that, Abdul rose and left the tent.
William prayed as did every night, but he felt no connection to Arhus. This concerned him greatly. What had happened? The next morning, William woke to the smell of meat cooking. He sat up to see Abdul cooking over a small fire.
"What are you cooking?" William asked.
Abdul replied, "the same as yesterday. I believe it translates to 'stone serpent'."
"Snake?"
"Yes," Abdul replied.
"How is it you speak my language?" William inquired.
"I find it helpful to know different languages in my service to The True One."
"Again with the True One," thought William. Abdul smiled and handed William a bowl.
"You are Kuzoman?" asked Abdul.
"Yes."
"I have met a few of your countrymen in my travels. What brings you to the Macau empire, my friend?" Abdul asked.
"It's none of your business, and I am not your friend!" snapped William. "What do I owe you?"
Abdul replied with a smile, "I do not perform my duties for The True One for personal profit. My service is my reward."
"Then why? I am a stanger!" William snapped.
"You were in need of help. That is reason enough." Again he smiled. "May I ask, who is Areial?"
William's mind flew into a white-hot flash of anger. He drew and leveled his sword at Abdul and shouted, "How do you know her name?"
Abdul did not move. He simply stated, "you called out her name several times while you were sleeping. I meant no offense, I was only concerned that someone else may be with you and lost."
William was shaking, he was so angry at hearing one of them speak her name. Without thinking, he said, "she was my Wife."
"She has departed this life?" Abdul asked softly.
"Yes, she is dead! Killed in this god-forsaken land by your stinking people!" William spat with hatred and venom. Abdul's face fell and a look of sadness and pity spread across his face. William was shocked by his reaction.
"I am at a loss for words. I beg your forgiveness for upsetting you," Abdul said in a soft voice.
William found himself at a loss for words. The man who only moments ago he was close to killing was now close to tears himself. William relaxed his stance.
"I would not have harmed you," William said with a hint of shame in his voice.
"I had no fear you would," Abdul replied. "I must ask, as a priest of The True One, what happened? You, of course, do not have to answer."
Tears welled in William's eyes as he began to speak.