The protagonist struggles with insomnia, as sleep eludes him, akin to a bat that hovers close yet never settles down. Every time he nears the realm of dreams, he's jolted awake by vivid memories of the wood at Carryarrick, which provoke anxiety and reminders of his past experiences. This tension reflects his inability to escape his thoughts and the emotional weight tied to his memories.

At just sixteen, he was filled with eagerness and anticipation for his first campaign, a time when excitement overshadowed any fear. Now, those memories haunt him, keeping him alert rather than allowing him to find solace in rest. His heart races, a physical manifestation of the turmoil within him, emphasizing the lasting impact of those formative experiences on his current state of mind.