Idem woke up to one feeling; the overwhelming, powerful, all encompassing urge to have sex. He grunted, a massive headache smashing into his head and momentarily blinding him, hunger tearing his belly apart. He took in his surroundings as colors bled into them from his headache that also caused him to close one eye.

He saw two female servants come to him and one of them motioned to the other who nodded and moved out. He saw that he was in his tent and was lying on his fluffed mattress. He suddenly felt bile and stomach acid rise but he swallowed it, grimacing. He tried to stand but could not feel his legs. Alarmed, he threw off the blanket that covered him to see that his legs from the knees downward were scorched, black and oozing a sweet odor like roasted meat but it was healing fast. He sighed in relief and noticed only then that the servant was dabbing his shoulders and the back of his neck with a towel dipped in cold water and the other servant had brought a platter of food and was placing it before him.

The food had barely touched the ground before he leaped upon it, forcing carefully roasted meat and berries with bitter herbs into his mouth. He choked and drew a large gulp of wine from the jug and went back to eating. In a few moments, the food had disappeared and he did not even remember tasting it.

"More" he said to the servant and drank a large gulp of wine. Some of his spirits returned and he saw that the servant who knelt beside him was actually a beautiful young woman clothed in a long brown robe which tried but failed to conceal her curves and the fullness of her breasts. She noticed him looking her over and a small smile crept into her face as she stood and started undoing the strip at her back but Idem suddenly remembered his little game and waved her down, gritting his teeth and closing his eyes to recollect his senses.

It had been a full year since he had been with a woman and he had begun to take pride in his abstinence and it soon became a game of will and discipline. He wanted to see how long he could go without sex before he lost his sanity. He looked at the servant again. Eruption! She was beautiful. Maybe... He shook his head, dispersing the thoughts that were coming together.

"Draw me a bath. I would be able to perceive my stench from a mile." He said and she nodded hurriedly, moving to fulfill his orders. He noticed that it was light out and he smiled. He needed the light and air. The memories of the battle started seeping in and he felt an involuntary shudder trickle down his back. The other servant brought another platter of food to him and he descended slowly on this one, savoring the taste. Funny how much better food could taste after a battle. He heard the entrance rustle and he tensed, reflexively reaching for his curse within him but it made his head swirl and he shuddered, groaning as he fell back on his mattress.

Elek walked in, handsome and tall, striking in his black trousers and red cotton shirt that fit loosely which was in itself a marvel as the man had a breadth of shoulders that would put a bull to shame. He had the scent of freshly washed clothes and new leather. He had shaved his beard off, making him look younger but there was still a tension and age in his brown eyes that shook Idem, reminding him that though he looked no older than twenty five, Elek was a three thousand year old man. He grinned at Idem and Idem felt a frown start on his face as he tried to put his thoughts together but failed due to the headache and fuzziness around his mind. Elek sat on a chair, leaning back and stretching out a leg.

"You reek, brother. Have you not been washed properly?" He said and Idem turned his eyes to him, scowling and Elek smiled, raising his hands in mock surrender.

"What you did yesterday with that Vineman and fighting a priest at your first battle....outstanding. we pushed them back up the mountains though we took heavy casualties but they would have been more if not for your courage and Tuli's intelligence. I'm impressed and I'm sure that father will be as well." He said and Idem's eyes narrowed, wondering why Elek who had ignored him perfectly before was suddenly unleashing streams of praise and seeming friendship. He nodded warily and Elek noticed his hesitation.

"I understand that I've been less than an ideal brother, eh?. But if you've lived as long as I have, you'll know to get the measure of a man from afar before drawing close to him. I have had many brothers before your time and I still do. Most of them have proven to be men of weak character but you...you've shown that there's Sand metal in your soul. I hope to know and work more with you in the future." He said and smiled. Idem searched his face and he saw that the man was actually sincere. He nodded and he saw Elek visibly relax. Idem finally moistened his mouth and spoke.

"That formless priest. You killed it easily...how?" He asked and Elek grinned.

"Trust me, it is never easy to kill a formless priest though sometimes it may seem so. Killing one breaks something in you. Something that can never be fixed. And as you must have noticed, the fastest...no, the only way to kill a formless priest is by taking it's heart. Takes centuries to master. Took me three hundred years." He said and Idem nodded, opening his mouth to speak again but Elek interrupted him.

"I have decided to appoint you a general in military rank. Of course, you'll not be given a company yet but you're a prince and a cursed and you've proven your skill and courage. It would be good to elevate your rank, no?" He said and chuckled. "Have your rest, Idem. We will speak later and...find someone to take care of that." He said, gesturing to the tent between Idem's legs. Idem closed his eyes in embarrassment as Elek chuckled and left the tent.

Idem washed himself in the hot water which filled the large bucket in his tent. He had refrained from letting the servant girl wash him. Best to let sleeping dogs lie. He did let her cut his hair close to the skin, stripping him of something that had taken years to grow to that length and he also shaved his stubble, leaving his face fresh and clean. He was oiled, scented and a fresh pair of black trousers and a brown cotton shirt was brought to him. He dressed quickly and walked outside with a cane, his legs having healed enough. The Prince's quarters were free of wounded but he could still perceive death and rot and foul medicine in the air and he was suddenly thankful for his accelerated healing.

He saw Iken jog toward him, clad in black armor and grinning. He felt genuine pleasure at seeing the soldier alive and gripped the man's shoulder, grinning.

"It is good to see you, Iken. Real good." He said and Iken grinned and bowed.

"You were like a god on the battlefield sir. It was exceptional. I have never seen anything like it, darkness." He said and Idem waved it off, smiling.

"Come, walk with me." He said and both men started off towards Tuli's tent, the surviving Tije among Idem's guarding falling into step with them.

They walked to the large red tent and the Tije there bowed to Idem and he motioned for Iken to remain outside as he walked in. He saw Tuli sitting on a table, swinging his legs, his eyes in a very large book that was propped between his knees.

"Mm, if it isn't my own brother. Mighty man in battle." He said and turned to grin at Idem who found it difficult to place if the man was being sarcastic. Tuli had a talent of treading the line between sarcasm and sincerity so perfectly, it could hardly be discerned.

" I wanted to thank you personally for saving my life, Tuli." He said and Tuli waved as if to swat the comment from the air.

"Ah,you will make a man blush, brother."he said, smiling. "Besides,you saved mine too and I would like to give you a gift." He said and Idem raised an eyebrow. Tuli giggled and closed the book, jumped from the table and handed the book to Idem who took it, frowning.

"A book?" He asked and Tuli frowned, looking at him as if he were stupid.

"What else could I give you? Gold? Silk? Please. Besides, you would be surprised what treasures can be gleaned from a good book." He said and winked. Idem nodded, sticking out his lower lip. He raised his eyes to look at Tuli who was observing a piece of paper as if considering wether to blow his nose with it.

"Tuli, how could you speak to me. To my mind. How did you learn that?"Idem asked and Tuli looked at him, an unreadable expression passing across his face before he spoke gravely.

"Like I said, treasures can be gleaned from a good book. Now, if you may...I have other...diversions to pursue." He said as a beautiful female servant walked into the tent. Idem raised an eyebrow then chuckled before he turned to leave. He looked at the title engraved into the leather cover of the book. It read; hidden reflections. He shrugged and walked outside, grateful for the breath in his lungs and the sun on his clean, shaved face.