Sol stretched his hand forward, moving it slowly to reach over the chain on the ground. Just as his fingertips hovered over the chain, they instantly felt an intense burning sensation which quickly spread up his arm and into his chest. It was the same pain that he had felt moments earlier as the mage drained his magic, only now it was attacking him from the outside rather than emanating from his core. Barely containing the yelp that formed in his throat, he yanked his hand back to the relative safety of his prison.
The chain had created an invisible barrier around him, using his own magic to imprison him.
Sol clenched his fist, gritting his teeth through the burning pain that slowly dissipated.
He was not broken.
He would not fall to their games.
His body felt weak and empty, but he clung to each breath he took. They were playinghisgame.
Tonight was the last night.
Letting his muscles relax in his seated position, Sol closed his eyes. If he blocked the light of the small campfire, his vision would better adjust to the growing darkness in the forest behind him. He pretended to relax into sleep, but his ears remained alert, listening to every crackle of flame and rustle of leaves.
An owl hooted in the distance. Once. Twice.
Sol stopped his breath, waiting for the agreed upon signal.
Only silence.
He exhaled through his nose. It was just an owl.
A cool wind wrapped around his face, soothing his overheated body. Sol breathed in the scent of the fresh forest around him, willing his body to rest but refusing to let his mind relax into sleep.
Eventually, the harsh sound of the boasting voices around the campfire slowed as the soldiers drifted off to sleep.
The soft crunch of coals and light crackle of new flames told Sol that a fresh log had been thrown onto the fire. At least one Quotidian remained awake and on guard.
An owl hooted again. Once. Twice.
Sol inhaled.
A scream sounded from the main road, a small distance from the other side of the fire.
It was time.
Sol kept his face trained on the ground, even though every muscle in his body was ready to spring into action.
From beneath his half-closed eyelids, he watched the silhouette of the soldier guarding the fire. The Quotidian man straightened his back and swiveled his head, peering out into the darkness around him.
“Lox,” the soldier whispered, kicking a sleeping soldier on the ground at his feet. “Did you hear that?”
The sleeping soldier grunted.
Another scream sounded from the direction of the road, out of sight. “Give that back!” This time, the voice was very human, very feminine, and very distressed.
The guarding soldier kicked his sleeping comrade loud enough that Sol could hear the impact. “Something’s happening on the main road!”
The sounds of movement told Sol that most of the party had been awakened from slumber.
Sol immediately used the auditory distraction to start a slight hum in his throat. Slowly, he released the large breath he’d been holding, stringing together a low melody that was as familiar to him as his childhood.
A soft wind ruffled the loose curls behind his ear, tickling his neck. It wrapped around his body, cooling the heat of his muscles, and spiraled down toward the ground. The leaves around the chain rustled lightly as the wind circled the shape of the chain.
A third scream sounded.
“Let’s go see what’s happening,” one of the soldiers said. Sol heard the crisp sound of metal sliding from a sheath.
