Coera

After the destruction of Riel's army in the South, Deyvid awakens to find himself trapped beneath a dead horse. The horse is being pulled off by a hungry victor, who his sword slays. Not far way, the victors are gorging on Riel's body, and Deyvid rises to avenge him, but a hand stays him, and he hears the words, "Come! Flee! You must not die."

Deyvid is chased from the battlefield and skids off the edge of a cliff and into a deep lake.

When he wakes again, he is underwater. He struggles for a minute, thinking he will drown, but hands once again still him, and he hears, "Relax. Breathe the water. You are among friends."

Deyvid is with the riverfolk for an unknown amount of time. There is no talking under the water - just fishing, healing, and loving. Some of the riverfolk will surface to speak briefly with him, and he learns that they are very old, but not particularly worldly or wise. After he's completely healed and strengthened, Eva appears to him and takes him up the river to the spring where Beckari is bathing.