Just as his control began to buckle, the bog-waithe's wail reached a crescendo and then fell
silent. On the Plains of Spirit, the bogwaithe disappeared; in the mortal world, Tris saw the darkness vanish. With the last of his power, Tris willed himself back to his body just as Fallon dropped to her knees beside him, a look of panic on her face.
"He's not breathing!" she shouted.
Tris's spirit returned abruptly to his body, and he lurched. His back arched and he gasped, desperate for breath. His heart pounded as blood surged through a body that had been freshly dead. Shock and recoil of powerful magic overwhelmed Tris, and unconsciousness took him.
Tris heard Esme's voice, faint arid distant. Blood pounded in his ears, and his head felt as if it might split open from the pain. His body felt leaden, and he doubted he could find the strength to move. It took an effort of will just to open his eyes.
Tris was lying in the back of the healer's wagon. Esme knelt next to him, Soterius opposite. "What the hell did you do?"
"I couldn't fight the bogwaithe in the mortal world. I had to fight it on the Plains of Spirit."
"You almost didn't make it back in time." Esme's voice was stern. "Another minute and your body might not have responded."
"Where are we?"
"We've pitched camp for the night," Soterius answered.
"How did you kill it?" Esme leaned over Tris, putting a warm cloth on his head to dull the throbbing ache.
"I had to destroy it where it came from, on the Plains of Spirit. Magic didn't work against it here, but it was vulnerable there." Esme held him up so that he could sip water from a cup. "Most of the time, I can be in both realms at once. But not this time."
"The siege is pointless if you die. Try to keep that in mind next time." Soterius looked both angry and relieved.
"I promise." Tris could feel Esme's medicines begin to work, dulling the headache and drawing him toward sleep. "Where's Fallon?"
Esme felt for the pulse in his neck, counted silently, and seemed satisfied. "She's out with the mages, on watch in case something else comes out of the forest."
"Speaking of which, I'd better let the troops know you're all right before they panic," Soterius said. "You looked pretty bad when we carried you in here."
"Rest," Esme commanded as Soterius slipped out of the wagon. Tris heard cheering outside as Soterius shared the news of his recovery with the soldiers.
"When Fallon returns, send her to me," Tris murmured. "There's something wrong with the magic here… something that called the bogwaitbe. Those woods have never been haunted before."