"I think so." Janius gave a reassuring smile. "You go ahead and see the elder. We can take care of ourselves for a little while, right Julan?" He looked to Kaj-Julan. His unspoken hopes that Julan was not feeling too anxious about this whole visit was wearing thin.

[hr]
Rhazii's reaction was automatic. He stepped out of the sword's reach and stepped back in to uncurl his own cut against the side of his opponent's neck. Rhazii felt hot red droplets land on his ear and shoulder after his flourish. When he backed away from the bandit, still in a guarded stance as the man crumpled to the ground, he realised the damage he had done. The life faded from the bandit's wide, glassy eyes like an animal.

Rhazii lowered his bound sword. His quivering hand lifted up to feel at the liquid on his ear and he looked at his fingers to see fresh blood. He was not panicking, but he was having trouble breathing. He stared at the corpse in the growing puddle of blood before him and could not look away. Soft, invisible ropes felt like they were tightening around his chest and his stomach. It felt wrong. Everything smelled wrong.