Damoen sat confused and groggily. Goral came to his side. "Why I am here? Where is my mate?" he asked.
"We found you outside the wall on the rock, naked and unconscious, My King. Her Highness was never found. We searched the lake and the forest, but we didn't find her."
"Did you ask the creatures living in the forest?" he asked again.
"We didn't find any creature there, Your Majesty," he replied.
"Impossible," he said, clasping his head.
He slid from the bed and went to the window. He saw a different lake, not gray and dead but clear and alive. "We witnessed the strong whirlpool; all the poisoned water went inside the sinkhole, and then the hole disappeared, leaving only an empty lake. But early in the morning we heard the sound of running water, and we witnessed again the rushing water from the forest. Her Highness' maid tested it and found it clean," Goral said.
"Bring me the maid," he ordered loudly.
