Chapter 6
Will stood with the reins in a hesitant grip and peered at the bay gelding and the saddle on its back with a dubious look. It had been so easy yesterday when the prince had told him what to do; now it just seemed like climbing a mountain. The horse sighed deeply and flicked an ear at him, as if it wondered why he was just standing there. Will glared back for good measure.
Piotry came up to him, riding his own dark brown mare, and Will was relieved when the redheaded sorcerer gave him a hand with the stirrups. "So, you up for this?" he asked when they were both mounted and Will had gotten some sort of control of the reins.
"Yes. But I'm not sure where I'm supposed to ride."
"You're up in the front with Aron. He said he wanted to keep and eye on you. I'll be somewhere in the middle and the brothers will be down towards the end of the line."
"Well, that makes sense." The sorcerers would be spread out but this way they would be able to protect more of the soldiers. Will's heart fluttered; his own position meant he'd be close to the prince the entire journey. He wondered what that would do to his concentration. He just knew Ashiná was laughing at him somewhere in the deepest corner of his mind.
Gods! She hadn't given Will a moment's rest the entire day before when he had returned to camp after the riding lesson with the prince. She had hardly let him go to sleep last night either; she'd been talking so damned much, giving him all sorts of advice that made him blush just thinking about it. Will had actually been relieved when he got his horse this morning, she had obediently retreated to the back of his mind to avoid scaring the animals and it had finally become a lot quieter.
Aron was discussing something with Henron, one of the sorcerers from the other group which would remain in main camp, when Piotry and Will rode up to him. Whatever they were talking about, rather heatedly, it was all over at a snapped word from Aron and the old sorcerer swung in the saddle with a grace that belied his old, thin body.
"Problem?" Piotry asked and looked after Henron, stalking away between soldiers and horses.
"Not really. He is upset because Aidon was hurt in the battle at the south crossing. He accused the prince and the commanders of negligence."
Will frowned. "That's not true."
"Of course not. He's just worried. I would be as well if it was one of you, it was a pretty bad wound and damned difficult to heal. Still bothers him."
The men around them were getting organized and soon they were on the road. That's what Will thought he would remember the most about this whole war when it was over; marching. Well, that and the battles, one couldn't really forget all the blood and death and screams of pain and desperate panic. Will shuddered.
Aron and Will rode on in silence at their place in the line, not far behind the prince and the commanders, when Piotry fell back to his spot in the middle somewhere. Aron obviously had a lot on his mind and Will was reluctant to try and engage him in any conversation when he had that stern look in his face. So Will kept to himself and tried to concentrate on keeping his horse from eating every straw of grass along the side of the road.
After almost an hour's march, a lieutenant came to ask Will and Aron to the front with the commanders; there were still loose ends and they were a bit nervous about the area they were heading into. Will realized just how nervous, when he saw the look on the prince's face and heard high commander Rión snap at even the friendliest word. Will wanted to ask Aron for details but didn't dare disturb him.
"The men will be too far spread out on that damned narrow strip of road!" Rión boomed at no one in particular. "The front won't even hear the end blare their horns!"
"The forest is too deep, we can't know when and where they'll attack," someone said.
"Our force will be severely decimated by the time we meet Jayce, and what good will we be to him then?"
Will gathered as much as to realize they would be riding through an expanse of forest, on a road that wasn't to their advantage and with raiding bandits setting up an ambush that would more than likely be their undoing. He sat in silence for a while and tried to work out the more complex details of what he had in mind, and to gather enough courage to speak out loud in this gathering of ill-tempered soldiers.
Eventually, when the prince and Rión had argued for long enough back and forth, Will reached out a hand and tentatively touched Aron's arm to get his attention.
"What, Will?" the old sorcerer snapped and turned a sharp eye to him, yanking on his reins in the process.
"Well, I would like to discuss something with you, if you want to hear me out."
The commanders around them began to fall silent and Will felt their eyes on him.
A muscle twitched in Aron's cheek and then he bit his teeth together for a moment. "Speak up, boy."
Will swallowed and glanced around. The prince caught his eye and gave him an encouraging wink. "We are riding into a forest, right?" Will asked.
"Yes." Aron didn't sound too patient. "Get to the point."
"Well, the marauders will be stalking us at first, to count our numbers and gauge our strength, won't they?"
Someone nodded sharply.
"We could give them false information."
"What are you getting at?" Rión asked with that booming voice.
"If we can hide parts of the troops then they won't know how many we really are, and besides, they can't attack what they can't see to begin with."
"Would you care to explain, Will?" Aron muttered. "I hate riddles."
"My master told me once about a special type of lizard that changes its color to match its surroundings when it feels threatened. It becomes nearly invisible, unless you know exactly where to look."
It took a moment for this to sink in, but then Aron burst out in laughter. "Smoke and mirrors! You mean we should do as the lizard."
"More or less."
"And I suppose you've already thought up a way to go about this." Aron's eyes narrowed curiously.
"The technique isn't that different from the reflectors we used at the river crossing. We just have to shape them differently to bend the light so it won't bounce off, but rather give the illusion of an empty road."
"You make it sound so easy," the prince broke in, but despite his skeptical words there was an interested sparkle in his eyes.
Will met his gaze. "I believe it can be."
Then the discussion began to decide where the false image would best be put to use and Will gladly fell back a few steps to listen in silence.
When they stopped for lunch the other three sorcerers were summoned as well to the council in the front. Will's idea was met with enthusiasm but also with thoughtful silence, as Piotry and the brothers contemplated the best way to go about it with their own individual powers. In the end, the brothers both nodded consent, but Piotry wasn't so sure he could do it.
Will set about to try and convince him of otherwise. He put a row of stones by the edge of the road and pointed out the places where the sunlight broke differently, seeping through the grass and casting shadows over the stones. Shadows were their ally; in shadow every color and detail was blurred and therefore easier to hide behind bright light and images. He pulled out a small piece of earth and used earthkin and airkin spells to fold and twist and polish it, until it reflected the light like he wanted it to.
"If you angle it like this, all you'll see is a new row of grass in the road where it shouldn't be. That error will only cause suspicion." Will gently moved his hand and the earth shifted around the stones. "If you angle it like this, the light will be reflected just like we did at the river crossing and the attackers won't see much else than bright light. It's a good defense but not the result we want." He angled his hand and once again the little shield moved around the stones.
Piotry gasped when the stones vanished and crouched down next to Will, staring wide-eyed at the empty spot, much like a child at a traveling fair seeing a flea circus for the first time. "But if you angle it like this, it will reflect the road under and beside out feet and it will look completely empty," Will said patiently, unable to hide his smile at his friend's amazement.
"A very useful trick, sorcerer." Will looked up and met the prince's gaze. "And what about the sound of hooves and boots, then? They may not see us, but they will be able to hear us."
"Yes. However, I believe they won't think further of it; the men still visible will be temptation enough to make them ignore the added noise. And once they decide to attack, they won't change their minds if they are the thugs they are rumored to be."
The prince held his gaze for a long moment and Will had to swallow. "Very well. In how large scale can you do it?"
Will thought for a moment. "I honestly don't know." He rose to his feet to look straight at the prince. "If all five of us combined our efforts we could perhaps hide the entire force, if they stood close enough in a small area. But it would take time to create reflectors that large and they'd be too heavy to move. One and one we can probably hide fifty or so each, if they ride close enough together and we don't have to go faster than walking pace."
"That's two hundred men hidden," the prince made a quick calculation. "Which leaves more than two hundred still out in the open."
"A large enough force not to raise any suspicions as to whether or not it is high commander Jayce's reinforcements," Rión broke in and Will realized just then the others had been watching as well.
"I'm still not sure I can do it, Will," Piotry said quietly. "You make it sound so easy, but I'm just not that strong with earthkin and airkin spells."
Will put a friendly hand on the redheaded sorcerer's shoulder. "I'll help you. We'll work it out."
"You have the rest of today to practice," high commander Rión said. "We won't reach the forest until tomorrow at noon."
Will nodded and made sure Piotry saw and understood the encouraging smile he gave him.
* * * * * * * *
Kell sat with his back to the tree just outside the sorcerers' camp and watched as Will and Aron guided Piotry with never dwindling patience. Well, Will at any rate; Aron sighed deeply more and more often as Piotry made some mistake.
The evening was nearing and the falling dark made it difficult to see what effect the reflector had on the surroundings, and eventually the sorcerers gave up. Piotry seemed depressed over of his failure and Will did his best to cheer him up.
"You're just not a warrior type, Piotry," said Will and gave his fellow sorcerer a warm smile that made Kell wish he needed comforting as well. "You're far better at healing and you should be proud of that, healing is the true power."
Piotry nodded and managed to smile, though it was a tired, miserable expression. He soon went to get his well deserved rest.
Kell tried to hide his delight when Will saw him and walked over to him under the tree. The young sorcerer was wearing the customary grey coat and breeches, and the color brought out the depth of his eyes. Or perhaps that was the darkening night. Kell got to his feet when Will stopped in front of him.
"My prince," Will greeted. "How long have you been here?"
"Long enough to know all of you deserve the money I pay for your aid."
Will shrugged. "We do our best."
"Will he be able to go through with it tomorrow?" Kell didn't want to ask, but he had his men's safety to consider.
"I don't know," Will answered honestly. "If he can join powers with me or Aron he could create and hold a reflector, but joint force is difficult to control. We'd do better on our own."
"So I shouldn't count him in, then."
"You shouldn't count him out either," Will ground out. "He just needs to get used to it."
Was Will angry with him? His tone of voice suggested it. Kell took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, but I have more men than him and his bruised ego to consider."
Will shot him a glare and turned away. "I know. I just don't like seeing him this unhappy."
"Me neither. Piotry is one of the most skilled sorcerers I've ever met, but as you told him, warfare isn't his strong side."
Will sighed wearily, concerned for his fellow and friend.
Kell reached out a hand to touch an arm and the sorcerer looked at him out of the corner of his eye. "You never cease to amaze me. But I suppose that's natural with men like you, sorcerer and all."
Will arched an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"You're by far the youngest sorcerer I've met and yet you seem to be the strongest one."
Will smiled faintly. "Brute force isn't always a sign of strength, my prince. If you want to match skills, Aron or Thomy would easily defeat me."
"Could be. But it's not their names that circle the camp."
The young sorcerer seemed a bit uneasy then, a small crease appeared between his eyebrows. "I don't want that reputation. I just do what I can to help."
"Sometimes help is enough. But you stepped out among the soldiers to fight beside them. How many other sorcerers would do that?"
Will didn't answer.
"Come." Kell touched the arm again and turned away from camp.
"Where are we going?" A little suspicion in Will's voice.
"Not far. Just away from every eye and ear."
"There could be enemies around, my prince."
"Good thing you're with me, then." Kell resisted the urge to turn his head to see if Will was following, but he didn't have to look; Will's soft footsteps were soon close enough to hear over the loud beating of Kell's heart.
He stopped out of sight of camp where he was fairly certain none of the scouts or guards would see them. Kell knew where they were all stationed since Rión had consulted him on the matter. Will gave him a questioning look, tilting his head slightly and his bangs fell down to veil a dark brown eye.
"Gods," Kell muttered and made a grab for a grey clad shoulder. Will stepped closer readily enough and their lips met in a heated kiss.
Kell had to restrain himself not to push the other man up against a tree and ravish him then and there, and this sudden surge of uncontrolled need made him tense a bit and his kiss to waver. Although judging by the hands encouragingly moving over his back, Will wouldn't complain overly much. Which made him just the more nervous that the young sorcerer seemed so willing to do so much more.
Kell pulled back with a trembling intake of breath and Will opened his eyelids to look at him, dark eyes just a little bit hazy and his cheeks just a little bit flushed.
"Something the matter, my prince?" A quiet, careful query.
Kell stared at him for a moment. Was there? He liked Will, liked him a lot, and had a physical need for him he hadn't had for anyone in a long time. Not in this insistent, adamant way. "I don't know…" he whispered. Then his heart thumped heavily as Will leaned closer and tickled Kell's bottom lip the tip of his tongue.
They kissed again, more gently this time, not as fiercely but just as passionately. Will's tongue flicked out and met Kell's, and he reveled in the sparring they engaged in. Kell broke for air and realized Will was smiling.
"That was nice."
Kell chuckled, his previous uncertainties forgotten at the younger man's simple statement of pleasure. "You learn fast."
"I do my best." Will leaned in again.
Kell met the kiss and then moved it down to nibble at Will's jaw line, before he continued down the small piece of bared skin above the collar of Will's coat. Will made a noise in his throat that sounded suspiciously like a giggle.
"That tickles," he breathed.
Ah, a sensitive spot, he'd make sure to remember that. He wondered how many more he would find on the sorcerer's body. Will's hands were sliding up into Kell's hair braided down his back, fingers tangling in it, brushing the back of his neck in passing. It made his skin tingle and Kell pulled a shuddering breath. Then his hair was coming loose and Will's fingers were combing through it. He straightened to look at the sorcerer.
"I like it when you wear it loose," Will murmured. "I like the color. Like gold."
Kell just stood there and enjoyed the feeling of Will's fingers in his hair, Will's body against his and Will's deep, brown eyes on him and nobody else. Not even the most intimate night with one of the pampered, powdered, giggling ladies at court could measure up to this moment.
Suddenly Will tensed and looked out among the trees. "Someone's coming."
"What? How do you know?"
"My guardian." Will took a few steps away to give the prince proper space.
Kell looked over his shoulder at the sound of footsteps muffled by forest moss, and automatically straightened his dark leather jerkin. The guard stopped wide-eyed and then quickly bowed when he recognized Kell.
"My prince. I didn't know it was you. I heard voices and thought it best to check it out."
"Good thinking, soldier," Kell commended. "I'm inspecting the defense perimeter around camp."
The soldier nodded. If he thought it strange for the prince to be out here at this hour without his commanders or ample guard, seeing to a task meant for a lieutenant or a captain, he didn't let it show, who was he to criticize his liege?
"You can't be too careful nowadays." He was still a bit wide-eyed. "Should I escort you back to camp, my prince?"
"No need, I have ample protection." He gestured towards Will in the shadows behind him.
The soldier's eyes seemed ready to pop out of his skull when he realized just who and what the man in the prince's company was. He bowed deeply, gripping his crossbow a little more tensely. "I'll go about my business then, my prince." He turned quickly and trotted off back to his position among the trees.
Kell just shook his head. "Doesn't that say enough about what the men think of you, Will?"
The sorcerer was staring after the guard. "He is afraid of me," he said quietly, a concerned crease between his eyebrows.
"No, he respects you. There's a difference."
Will just gave him a quick glance before he turned and headed back towards camp.
Kell frowned and went after him. "Wait. You're going back already?"
"What's there to do out here where we could get caught any moment?" Will shot at him over a shoulder.
Kell shrugged even though Will didn't see it. "Well, couldn't you use some sort of magic to… you know…" he made a vague motion with his hand.
That earned him a snort and a narrow eyed look that said just about everything Will thought about that idea. Kell sighed a bit disappointed and hurried to catch up. "You can't blame me for trying, though." He gave Will a slow grin. After a moment Will smiled a bit too.
* * * * * * * *
Will and Aron rode at their positions in the front with the majority of the commanders and nearly a hundred of the soldiers hidden under their reflectors. The brothers Sernan and Thomy had taken up the rear with one of the captains to lead the other hundred men when the signal would come for them to engage in battle.
The number of riders that were still visible must have been bait enough to the marauding bandits stalking them, because the attack came sooner than expected. Will gasped startled as the battle cries began to erupt from among the trees to the right and then was answered from the left as well. The soldiers around him reached quietly for their weapons, but didn't draw them yet. Lieutenant Beyn raised his arm in preparation to signal for the reflectors to drop at the most opportune moment, revealing a force larger than the bandits had expected.
Will watched in tense anticipation as the first wave of marauders exploded out of the forest, as many on foot as on horseback, dressed in leather and odd bits of armor and chain mail. There was no apparent leadership among them, but they were organized enough to break through the first line of defense.
Then Piotry, who had chosen not to make a reflector, engaged in the battle with what offensive powers he had to command and there was a moment's hesitation in the onslaught. But the second wave attacked as well when they had all gathered their startled wits, and Will made himself ready.
The enemy was advancing, closer and closer, and when they were too close to easily turn and run, lieutenant Beyn slashed down his arm and screamed for battle. Horns blared up and down the line all the way to the front where Aron was with high commander Rión and the prince.
Will immediately dropped his reflector and reshaped his earthkin spells to send them as blunt projectiles into the enemy. Confusion was what came over the marauders then. Suddenly they had two hundred more soldiers to combat and that was more than they had bargained for. Those that could, fled.
But many were already engaged in battle and Will quickly found himself surrounded by clashing steel. His horse threw its heavy head to get more reins and spun its hind quarters into the bodies around it. Will realized he couldn't control the animal and jumped off, the horse would do more harm than good in its wild state. It set off up the line.
Will didn't have the time to see if it made it safely away, he flung out an airkin shield to avoid the sword that came crashing down over him from above. The man who had attacked so brutally landed somewhere among the trees and his ragged mount fled. Will held back a little in his next strike; he didn't have to maim and kill, just survive and protect. He left the killing part to the soldiers.
When the faint but steadily growing buzzing sound of arrows warned him, he tore up a shield of earth to protect the men around him and there were shouts of surprise and even gratitude towards him. The enemy once again paused in their assault, both because of the forceful use of magic as well as the close vicinity to the sorcerer that had wielded it, and more of them fell when the prince's soldiers gathered their wits faster.
The fighting didn't last long. The marauders were fierce in battle but they couldn't compete for long with the organized and methodical fighting of the soldiers. Many turned and ran and those who weren't fast enough or smart enough to admit defeat, were cut or shot down.
~LOOK OUT!~
Ashiná's warning came one moment too late and Will toppled to the ground by the sheer force of the hit. It took a moment of baffled surprise when he tried to get back to his feet, before his body realized it was hurt and then the pain coursed through him. Will gasped desperately for air as pain blinded him and shut off all perceptions. He screamed then, or thought he did, he couldn't really tell.
~Will! WILL!~ Ashiná was screaming in his head, terrified.
~It hurts!~ he cried.
~You're alive, but you have to get up or you'll be trampled to death!~
~I can't. I can't move. Gods, I can't breathe!~
~Will! Don't pass out!~
But Ashiná's voice was fading.
* * * * * * * *
Pain brought him back to the world. Hands were on him, he realized, and he struggled to see, to breathe, but it was like a fist had lodged in his throat and prevented air from reaching his lungs. He coughed instead and something wet and warm welled out between his lips.
"Stay with me, Will!" a voice was telling him. "Gods of mercy! There's so much blood. Where is that damned sorcerer!"
Will pulled a shallow breath and forced his eyes to focus. He saw the underside of the prince's jaw line, his chest and the foliage of a tree above him. Was he lying down? It was such an odd angle to see someone from. The prince looked down and saw he was awake.
"You're awake! Will, you have to stay awake."
"What happened?" he whispered, but it was hard to speak and the words were barely strong enough to leave his lips.
"Don't speak now. Just concentrate on staying awake." Those wonderful, blue eyes were wide and white rimmed with fear.
"I can't breathe…" Will coughed and pain shot through him again, made his body tremble uncontrollably.
The prince held him tighter to his chest. "Ssh," he hushed. "Don't speak."
"Kell…" Will wanted to say he was sorry for failing, but not even air passed his lips anymore. Darkness claimed him.
* * * * * * * *
The enemy had attacked out of nowhere, sooner than expected and with more force and determination than they were thought to be capable of. Kell quickly found himself immersed in frenzied battle, the marauders were upon him like flies on a corpse, but it was not himself he was concerned about.
Kell couldn't think straight, he only knew he had to get down the line to where he had last seen Will. His heart had started pounding wildly when he saw Will's bay gelding galloping away from the battle without its rider.
Urging his charger forward, he slashed a path through the enemy trying to block his way and take him down, and commander Rión shouted for him to wait. He couldn't wait, he couldn't stop. He must find Will now!
Then he saw lieutenant Beyn locked in battle with two of the enemy and hurried to his aid. Beyn would know where Will was.
"Where's the sorcerer!" he shouted at Beyn and the man pointed down the line with his bloodied sword.
Kell searched desperately for a moment and then he saw a familiar figure. Will was still on his feet and seemed fighting able; he just sent a number of men stumbling back off the road to give the soldiers room to breathe.
Then came that terrible moment that had etched itself into Kell's memory with vivid clarity. The deep, buzzing sound of a crossbow firing an instant before it hit. Will fell and Kell couldn't see if he was hit or not. He screamed for Beyn to follow him and kicked Runner forwards through enemy and friend alike. Those who had the chance to look up in time to avoid being trampled by the large horse's hooves would never forget the look of wild-eyed panic and terror on the prince's face under the edge of the helm.
Kell roared and slashed with his sword to make the bodies around him move and there was room enough to get off the horse. Lieutenant Beyn shouted for him to get back in the saddle when he so thoughtlessly put himself in harms way, but then fell silent as he realized what the prince was reaching for.
The world narrowed down to that grey clad and dirty body before Kell's eyes. He no longer saw or heard the men around him, even when Waunban soldiers scrambled to protect their liege. All he could see was Will's pale face and the crossbow bolt sticking out of his chest. All he could hear was his own heart's frantic thudding.
Will's body was a limp and dead weight in his arms as he fought to lift him off the ground and away from the fighting. How he did it with the added weight of chain mail and armor he had no notion, he just knew that he had to get Will to safety.
"Get out of my way!" he screamed and the soldiers gave him room to move, though they stayed close enough for protection. He made it to the line of trees off the road before strength left his legs and Kell sank down on the ground with Will in his lap. Impatiently he tore off his helm and stared down at the pale face for the smallest sign that life was still there. Will coughed weakly and dark blood dribbled out of his mouth.
No no no no no no no! Kell's mind began to wail, terrified.
"Stay with me, Will!" he moved his hands on Will's body and they came away red, his own tunic was soaked with it. "Gods of mercy! There's so much blood." He looked around for Piotry's red hair. "Where is that damned sorcerer!" He hoped – no, knew – Piotry could save Will.
There was a slight movement in the body against his chest and he looked down. Will was looking up at him. But Gods, his face was so pale and his eyes dull and glazed.
"You're alive! Will, you have to stay awake," he told the sorcerer, but didn't know if he even heard him.
"What happened?" The whisper was so faint Kell nearly missed it even though he saw the lips move. Breath was shallow in Will's throat and there was a bubbling sound from his mouth.
"Don't speak now. Just concentrate on staying awake." Kell could hardly speak, his throat was so tight with fear.
Somewhere a voice shouted for Piotry.
"I can't breathe…" Will whispered and a cough sent a new wave of blood out between his pale lips. His whole body began to tremble and Kell desperately hugged him closer to make it stop.
"Ssh. Don't speak." If Will would only be quiet and stay awake until Piotry came, everything would be alright.
"Kell…"
The prince felt tears fall then; Will had said his name so softly. He suddenly realized the body in his arms wasn't moving anymore and he stared down in shock.
"Will?" He moved his fingers to the throat to search out a pulse, but he couldn't find it.
"No no no no no nooo!" Was that his voice? It sounded so far away and so very small.
"Prince Kell!"
"Let go!"
"My prince. You've got to let go now."
Voices were talking to him and hands were prying at his arms to take Will away from him.
"No!" He tried to shrug off the offending hands.
Large, strong hands shook him ruthlessly and he looked up at Rión's grim face. "Let go and let the sorcerer do his damned job!"
Kell blinked away tears and his body complied.
Piotry was there and Aron was, and then Rión and Beyn were helping Kell to his feet and leading him away from Will. But not far and he didn't have the strength to resist when he was lowered to the ground.
Thomy's face appeared in his vision. "Are you hurt, my prince?"
Kell shook his head absently. "No."
Hands prodded him anyway.
"Is all that the sorcerer's blood?" Rión asked from somewhere far away.
"I'm afraid so," Thomy answered. "Make sure he doesn't get in the way, commander." Then Thomy went to see to the other wounded.
Kell hardly noticed, he was like in a haze. It was so unreal. Will was hurt, bleeding; judging by the strained look on Aron's face as he knelt next to Piotry, perhaps even dying. No, Will couldn't die.
Kell struggled to his feet and Rión grabbed his shoulder. "Let go, commander."
"The sorcerer told me to keep you out of the way," Rión said resolutely.
"I won't get in the way." He twisted his arm to try and dislodge Rión's grip.
"You don't want to be there right now, my prince. The powers in working are far too strong for mortal men to endure." Rión's grip hardened when Kell continued to struggle.
"I don't care. Let go!" He had to make sure Will was alright.
He mindlessly raised a fist to fight his way free of the body crowding too close to his, and a whimper broke free from his throat when he realized a strong fist clamped down around his wrist. His heart thundered in his chest as panic spread adrenaline in waves through his body, and his vision was quickly blurring around the edges. When Rión firmly grabbed his other arm, he cried out in desperation and dread, and began to thrash wildly. Voices spoke to him but he couldn't hear them over the roaring in his ears.
And then suddenly there was this incredibly warm, deep voice singing gently in his head, murmuring calming words. Affection wrapped around his every limb, soothing his trembling, fearful heart. His body went still in Rión's grasp and Kell could do nothing but listen.
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