Ryson could hear a distant voice, but the calling of the drums overlaid it so that he couldn't understand --
"Need you!"
Ryson grabbed at the words, his hands moving and latching on to an arm, the grip so tight that he felt someone flinch. Callum.
"Don't leave without me," Kono said.
"Won't," Ryson whispered. "Be fast."
"Put the bar into place. You'll hear me coming back."
Kono left. Ryson almost lost himself to the drums again. Callum had sealed the door and gone strangely still, and Ryson stumbled across the room and caught tighter hold of him again, fearing that the drums would call him away.
"Callum, don't leave me! Don't let them take me again!"
"Hell! Why didn't you say they were the ones who held you?"
"Denial is a shield," he mumbled. The drums grew louder again, but this time his rage drove them away. "Careful. I must be careful and not draw them to me. Stronger than when I escaped. I will not be one of them."
"I will do what I can to keep you safe," Callum promised. He helped Ryson to the chair. "This should help."
Callum put a hand to Ryson's forehead. He almost jerked away -- he let no one touch his face.
"Be still, Ryson. I am not used to this yet."
"What --"
Magic.
Ryson froze in shock, which was probably better than forced cooperation. Callum had magic -- powerful magic that held no hint of harm.
A strong mage for the realm of light.
How the hell had this happened, and he never noticed?
Callum had just learned part of his own secret. They might have an interesting conversation about all of this at some point. This was not a time to reminisce about the changes in their lives. Callum had just put a shield around his heart, blocking that steady beat of the drums that were drawing him. His thoughts came with new clarity as well.
The locals were not the only ones who needed to get out of this town.
Callum leaned out the window and then drew on so much magic that his hands glowed. Ryson dared not move, but he felt the power of the spell and knew it was to give those escaping more strength and resolution to escape. It was quick, powerful, and Callum faltered so much he would have fallen out the window if Ryson hadn't caught hold of him.
"Grab whatever you can in food," Ryson said, and made a quick scan of the room. He looked out into the dark night. The street was far busier than he had expected, since the village looked so small.
Quick, light steps sounded on the creaking stairs and down the rug-less hall. Kono. Both of them knew that sound. Ryson threw the bar aide and jerked the door open. Kono almost fell into the room.
"Which one of you –"
"Callum," Ryson answered. There was no reason to draw this out. "We can discuss it on the run."
"None of us can run at this point," Kono replied with a look at the two holding each other up. "Maybe we should hide instead."
"We can run," Callum said. "Just not far. So, we must escape in a direction they don't expect. Run and then hide."
"You mean to run toward them," Kono said, her voice a whisper now. "That's insane."
Callum and Ryson looked at her.
"Let's go then," she answered, grabbing some bread and stuffing it into a pack with more viciousness than it deserved. "Insane. Suicidal."
"Do you have a better idea?" Ryson asked.
"Standing in the middle of the street and throwing rocks at them is the only insanity that would top your idea."
Callum nodded. "We might still get to that stage."
The drums were closer.
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