“You fool!” The Princess was cradling Harran’s whiskery head.

Harran blinked awake. “Wha—? Where am I?”

He could barely breathe, but that was because the Princess was smothering him with kisses.

“Hey, let me up for air!” he grunted, trying to get up.

“Stay down, Harran, please. You’ve been through a lot.” The Princess smoothed his brow and laid a cup of cool water against his lips.

After he had drunk his fill, Harran blinked, taking in his surroundings. He was in the ship, on the same bed they had enjoyed earlier. “How long was I out?”

“A week, Harran!” The Princess was close to tears. “I was so scared for you!”

“What happened?”

She looked at him with an expression of such tenderness that Harran was taken aback. “You were so brave. Risking life and limb for us all.”

“Us?” Harran had an itch on his nose and reached for it with a bandaged stump. He emitted a bloodcurling scream. “My hand! My trusty ax-wielding hand!!”

“You shush, Harran, and I’ll tell you what happened!”

“Yes Princess… MY HAND!!!”