Standard disclaimers apply

Luckily, Gary showed up just then. "Alan? Raoul! What's going on?"

"I don't know." Alana said, trying not to panic. The trauma of the week was catching up. "He has a terrible fever."

Gary tried to arouse his friend. "Raoul? Come on, we've had enough drama for a while." He didn't move. "Aw man…" Gary whispered. "Alan, go get help. Now."

Alana rushed to find Sir Myles. "Ahh Alan. How can I help you?"

"I need you to come with me. It's Raoul."

Seeing the look on Alana's face, Myles questioned no further. "Take me."

When they found Gary he was still trying to wake Raoul up. Sir Myles seemed shock to see the boy in that condition.

"Where did he get that cut on his face?" He asked harshly.

"Wrestling." Gary said too quickly.

"Don't lie to me Gary." Sir Myles sounded tired. "That wound was afflicted by something immortal. It's dangerous."

"How do you know that?"

"Look at the color of it."

Both Alana and Gary peered at the wound. It was deep, and the bottom was an ugly gray.

"Now where did he get it?"

Reluctantly, Gary repeated to Myles what Raoul had told him before. Myles listened with a serious face, and Alana listened with interest as well.

"Maybe we should get him in bed now." Alana said.

"Yes, yes, of course." Sir Myles said.

The three of them managed to half carry, half drag Raoul back to his room.

"We need a healer," Gary said. "I'll go find Duke Baird."

The Duke came at once. "Sir Myles, you say thus wound was afflicted by an immortal?"

Myles nodded. "Can you heal it?"

"I have no idea." The Duke said honestly. "I can try."

He started right away, but it was obvious the magic had no effect.

"It'll kill him," Sir Myles moaned, falling to his knees. "Only an immortal can heal him."

Gary sat down hard and put his head in his hands. "That idiot. He can't die too." The boy's body shook. "He can't!" Gary sobbed, which was unlike him.

Alana put her arm around his broad shoulders. "Raoul's too stubborn to die." She said softly. "And besides that, I have an idea. I'll be right back."

Alana returned later with an armful of small tree branches. "They're from a cypress tree." She explained. "And a cypress tree is one of the symbols of the Great Mother." (A/N: I made that up…)

"Alan you're a genius!" Gary cried, jumping up. "Your grace, do you think that will work?"

"I do indeed. You're a smart boy."

Alana blushed. "My village healing lady taught me everything."

The Duke took the branches and channeled his magic through them. The wound started to close up without delay.

"What's going on here?" Gary and Alana turned to see Theresa standing in the doorway.

"Theresa, what are you doing out of bed?" Gary asked, alarmed.

"I felt better and I was bored. Now what's going on?"

Gary explained about the wound and Alan's bright idea of using the tree branches.

"Oh Alan, that's so smart! She smiled at him. "Raoul's lucky you were here!"

The Duke finished closing the wound. "The wound has healed. He should be fine. Sir Myles, a word if you will?"

The two men left the room, and the three children stood over their friend. Suddenly, his eyes opened and he sat up.

"Ah…my head hurts…" He mumbled.

Gary pounded him on the back. "Nice of you to join us. Stop doing stupid things."

"Huh?"

"Raoul, did you really see the Dark God?" Alana asked.

"Well…yeah." His hand flew to his face.

"That cut almost killed you." Theresa said, although now the 'cut' was a scar. "Alan found a way to save you. It was so smart!"

"Oh…" For some reason Raoul looked disappointed, but he had no reason to be, being alive and all. "Thanks Alan."

"Don't mention it. There's no way I'd let you die."

Raoul laughed. "Good thing."