(his wrist is caught before the stone can cut into his palm, and the surprise of it is vocalized in a short gasp inward. eyes strain at their corners until his face catches up with how quickly they've darted to look at the one who's touched him. recognition doesn't come from staring up into quetzalcoatl's face but from hearing her voice and feeling the warmth of her fingers.
the stone is dropped, coaxed out of his grip by her gentler one.)
YouβQuetzalcoatl, (voryn says, winded from being startled. he swallows, glancing away as he adds to the stack of hands with his. patting several times in quick succession to reassure her, he greets the next curious meri. ally intervention is the random element he should have factored into attempting something subversive in a crowd.) And John. No, this isβnothing is the matter.
I am not mad, (he adds quickly,) I am possessed of great clarity of mind.
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the stone is dropped, coaxed out of his grip by her gentler one.)
YouβQuetzalcoatl, (voryn says, winded from being startled. he swallows, glancing away as he adds to the stack of hands with his. patting several times in quick succession to reassure her, he greets the next curious meri. ally intervention is the random element he should have factored into attempting something subversive in a crowd.) And John. No, this isβnothing is the matter.
I am not mad, (he adds quickly,) I am possessed of great clarity of mind.