* * * * *
“Mother!” Mother!” Demetrius jerked awake. Ezria jumped from her bed where she lie awake in thought and ran to her son.
“Demetrius? What’s the matter?” She tried to hold and comfort him, but he was too hysterical. He sat straight up in the bed, roughly rubbing his hands down his face and rocking.
“I was wrong Mother! I was wrong. Father is in trouble!” he shouted at her.
“No. No. You don’t understand! I…I…”
“What is it Demetrius? Tell me!” Ezria pleaded.
“I told him that they would win the battle, but I was wrong. He’s in trouble now. And he needs me!”
“I wasn’t dreaming. I wasn’t even asleep! He’s in trouble! They all are!”
Ezria tried to coax Demetrius to lie back down in the bed.
“Calm down now. You don’t know these things that you are talking about. How could you? ”
“Demetrius, don’t be silly. You are not leaving this house! Besides, they are probably on their way back by now.”
“No, he’s not coming back. It’s too late. It’s already too late.” He lay back down and cried.