Ged's recovery

Ged lies ill for four weeks, blind, deaf, and mute. The Master Herbal tends his wounds, which are deep and evil. The shadow's touch has left him scarred and weakened. When he finally recovers enough to see daylight, he weeps. He is slow to speak and his hands falter at magic. He is a shadow of his former self. The other students avoid him, and he isolates himself in shame. He is no longer the brilliant, arrogant boy; he is a broken young man haunted by his mistake.