Lila waited until he had settled back slightly against the blankets, though his hands still trembled as he pressed them to his knees.
"I should tell my parents," she said softly.
He blinked, confused.
"Your parents?"
"Yes," she said, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face.
"They need to know you're awake.
They… they helped me bring you here.
And they should hear it from me first."
He nodded slowly.
Words were still heavy in his throat, but he understood enough to stay quiet.
Lila left the room and hurried down the narrow path that led to the larger hut at the center of their small village.
Smoke curled from the chimney, and faint scents of peat and drying herbs reached her as she approached.
She raised her voice gently, carrying over the quiet murmur of morning activity.
"Mother! Father! He's awake!"
From the doorway, Mara stepped forward first, wiping her hands on her apron.
"Awake, is he?" Her voice held cautious hope.
Brenner followed behind her, staff in hand, eyes narrowing as he approached. "Awake and… moving?" he asked.
"Yes," Lila said. "But… he doesn't remember anything. Not his name, not where he came from."
Brenner's gaze shifted toward the boy's hut, then back to Lila. "Show me."
Together, they returned.
The boy sat on the edge of the bed, still pale, hands fidgeting in his lap.
His blue eyes looked from Brenner to Mara, wide and uncertain.
"You found me?" he asked quietly.
"Yes," Brenner said simply.
"By the cliffs, among the wreckage. The sea did not finish with you."
"I… thank you," the boy said.
His voice was faint, hoarse.
"I… I don't remember… anything."
Mara stepped closer, placing a hand lightly on his shoulder.
"That's all right. You are here now. Safe. That is enough."
He nodded, swallowing against the lump in his throat.
"I… I appreciate it. Truly."
Brenner's gaze softened slightly, a rare crease forming at the corner of his eyes.
"Words are good, but living is better. We'll help you, as long as you need it."
Mara smiled faintly.
"And Lila can stay with you, to guide you.
You'll learn our ways in time."
The boy glanced at Lila.
She returned his look steadily, encouraging without words.
"You… can stay?" he asked.
"Yes," Mara said.
"If you wish.
Hearthmere is… quiet here.
You'll be safe."
He exhaled slowly, relief easing some of the tension in his shoulders.
"Thank you… all of you. I… I don't know my name, or who I was, but…" He hesitated, then nodded.
"I will try to… live here. To learn."
Brenner gave a short nod.
"Then let us start there.
With the living."
Outside, the wind whispered through the old wards, rattling bone charms gently.
Inside, warmth and the faint scent of peat and herbs surrounded them, a small, fragile sanctuary from the sea, from the unknown, from the world he could not yet remember.