The a week or so had passed by, and Bale was still short of breath as his lungs would not give out the fluid. According to Doctor Pesk he was actually doing very well as the cough had begun to subside, and after another round of in the imager, he declared his lungs on the mend. This gave Bale hope and fear at the same time, since he was more than tired of laying in bed all day, but apprehensive about continuing his journey. Ultimately he promised to himself that he would continue on, knowing that his home was out there somewhere.

During this time he had several visits from Albertous, and had learned a little about this place from him. Albertous was a fisherman and commanded a small boat he reckoned three times bigger than the room Bale was staying in. He told him all about where he had been in the world, and different types of fish he had caught, some smaller than his hand, others as big as his boat. Whenever Albertous made a grand claim it always amused Bale, imagining the sheer scale of the fish he was describing. Feats of daring aside Bale wished for the company of the old sailor, rather than the one thrust upon him. Doctor Pesk escorted an older man, also balding, wearing rich looking tailored clothing judging by the cut of the jacket, and the creases in his pant legs. A gold chain hung from a lanyard looped over his shoulder, and ended with a large medallion etched with various official workings. His black mustache twitched as the Doctor gave introductions.

"Bale this is Magistrate Balgred, the head man of Uriah. He would like to talk to you about your travels." Doctor Pesk grabbed a chair from near the window, and gestured the Magistrate to sit.

"Thank you Doctor." said the Magistrate in a sort cultured tone of voice. One that Bale had never heard in his village, but noticed it once when a traveling merchant came to his village last year. "Well son, I see you're beginning to feel better, or so I'm told. Do you find our accommodations to your approval?"

"Yes sir. The bed is quite good. Better than my own to be honest." This elicited a smirk from the older man.

"Yes well it's very good to be honest isn't it." He looked at the Doctor, who just shrugged and tilted his head seeing nothing wrong with what was said. "Now what I'm here for Bale, is to hear what you told Nurse Ephalia. I'd like to hear it, all the details down to the very last speck of dust if you please." Bale found the Magistrate to be overly serious, but reciprocated with as much detail as possible. He didn't omit anything, and emphasized the details he thought they were looking for. Magistrate Balgred kept nodding, humming and hawing over the details, interjecting a question or two. The whole ordeal seemed to take only a short time, although Bale felt it to be hours.

"So no large ships. Only two soldiers, and one of their fighters." stated the Magistrate as he confirmed the numbers.

"Doesn't seem like it could be a problem." said Doctor Pesk looking out the window at a bright midday.

"Maybe not, but where there's one, there's most certainly more. What troubles me is that we don't know where they really are." The Magistrate leaned back thoughtfully in his seat, nervously pulling at his mustache. "I believe I should at least let the senior ministers know that there were some Wraith spotted, although I believe I know what their response will be." The Doctor grunted his agreement from the window, as if they both knew the outcome of of the future, seen with an experienced yet cynical eye. "Well Bale, I thank you for your time. As I've instructed the Doctor, you're to stay here until you're fit to leave, at which point we shall find you a family to lodge with until you're of age to work."

"What?!" Bale nearly jumped up, but his shout sent him into a fit of coughing. "You can't do!...(cough cough)... Can't! …. (cough wheeze)... I won't!" The Doctor appeared at his side, calling for the nurse, to which Ephalia walked in apparently just outside the door. She took care of Bale, all the while nearly shouting at the Magistrate for such a callous revelation. She ushered them out, on the verge of shouting obscenities, but remaining firmly in control. Bale grabbed his sides as his coughing fit aggravated his chest. He lay there panting for breath, and only coughing occasionally as Ephalia sat down next to him, and stroked his hair as if his Mother was nursing him. "They can't keep me here." he said through rasping breaths. His throat was raw, which made him all the more upset.

"Is Uriah so bad?" said Ephalia. "You could have a life here couldn't you?" Bale responded by tightening up in a ball, which Ephalia took as a signal to be left alone. The rest of the day was spent plotting and scheming ways out. All was not lost, and he still had plenty of time to heal, which meant time to make his escape.

The next day was bright and sunny again, with light clouds traversing an intensely blue sky. Nurse Helispeth told him he was allowed to go out in the courtyard for some fresher air for a while, once the morning chill was off. She had arranged for Ephalia to have lunch with him outside, as she was due to be home asleep for a time before her next shift. Once midday came Ephalia brought him to a table set in a corner of the yard, where the stonework walls of the building seemed to absorb and radiate heat. In this spot he was sweating a little, but it was good to be out where he could smell the air, which to his delight was salty. In the distance he could hear the gentle crashing of the waves on the coast, and the squawking of birds on the wind. Ephalia set lunch down on the table, and arranged herself to join him in act of nourishment.

"I can't stay Ephalia." was how he started.

"Oh?" was all she replied with. He looked at her sideways, annoyed by her brevity.

"You know I can't stay. I have to get back through the gate. I need to find my parents, my home." She took a bite and nodded, not looking at him. "Ephalia the Magistrate can't keep me here."

"Bale." The tone she started with sounded contrary to the smile she carried which made him pay attention all the more. "You're only a young man. Barely old enough to haul line or set trap." He wasn't sure what she meant but he let her go on. "If we put you out, back through the gate, how would you survive? What would that say about us here in Uriah? About me? How could I live with myself knowing that I sent you to almost certain death?" She set her sandwich down. Her face had soured, which was hard for Bale to watch. They heard a greeting shouted from across the courtyard, and saw Albertous idling up towards them as fast as his legs would go. Ephalia took a deep breath and called back a cheery greeting.

"Wha's goin on 'ere? A little lunch for th' young man?" said Albertous as he grabbed a chair from another table, and sat with them. "Reckon I shoulda had me own a'fore I left th' house."

"Well today is your lucky day sir." said Ephalia as she pushed her plate in front of him. He put his hands up to refuse, but she cut him off. "I didn't have too much time either way. You eat it and keep Bale here company. I'll be back in a little bit." And with that she walked off briskly, as if there was anyplace but there she wanted to be.

"Well now. Wha's tha' about?" He looked at Bale, curious. "Didja have a tiff?" Bale just bobbed his head a little, confirming the old mans assumption. "Well don't be to hard on th' girl. She's best lady 'round 'ere." He took a bite from the uneaten part of the sandwich and continued. "Wha'dya talk about?"

Bale told Albertous of the Magistrates visit, and of the mans directive to keep him in Uriah until he was old enough to be useful. Albertous sat back listening and chewing away, stroking absently away at his beard. When Bale had finished he tried to echo Ephalia's sentiments.

"They're right t'try m'boy. Whatevers beyond tha' gate be trouble."

"Whatever is beyond that gate could be where I belong." He was frustrated enough that he felt he should be shouting or pacing. Anything but sitting there not eating. "Why does everyone want to keep me here?"

"Y'want the truth?" Albertous grabbed his attention and tied it up. He wiped the crumbs out of his beard and took a pull from the still warm tea that Ephalia had left. "Ephi an I go way back. Her father was on m'crew a long time ago. Now she lost him to th' seas during a storm. Later on m'own son Jep got taken..." Albertous paused, his mouth suddenly dry. He took another sip of tea and closed his eyes before continuing. "M'boy was a few years older than you. He got caught up in some line off th' back of th' boat, and hauled to th' bottom." Bale started to feel awful. Albertous spoke with a shakey voice, bordering on crying. "I jumped in after him, and I watched him sink so far down, tha' I couldn't reach him. Jep and Ephi were in love, and they never got t'be together." They both sat there silent for a minute while the old man gathered his words and thoughts. Bale wanted to start crying, but he railed against this feeling. It's not my time to cry. Albertous looked up at him, a renewed intensity glinted away in his gaze. "When I pulled y' from th' ocean, I saw my chance t'do what I couldn't for me son. I imagine tha' what all th'loss Ephi's had, she saw th' same." Bale was guilty, but had to hide it, as Albertous looked at the sky in askance, as if looking for divine guidance to repair a sin he never commited.

"I'm sorry Albertous. I truly am." was all Bale could say. One deep breath later, and the old man smiled at him.

"Th' past is th' past m'boy. Fret not. And do give Ephi a wide berth on th' matter." Bale agreed and took some food. Albertous brought a small game board with him, announcing that he would teach Bale the age old game of 'Coral Reef'. Bale let his frustration fade as the old man made such embellishments about the royal nature of the games origins he couldn't help but smile, all the while thinking about the day he was to be released from the hospital.