Wayte, in a surprisingly forthcoming mood told them, “My wife and I came to France, to get away from family troubles. Then Agincourt happened as King Henry was leading the soldiers back to England. I wasn’t sure how safe we’d be here, but the Lord Draycott took control of the town. In order to keep my wife from harm and to provide some income, I joined the guards. My wife didn’t like it at first, but then she relented,” he finished.
“Why didn’t your wife want you to join?” asked Dmitri curiously.
“She didn’t-“ started Wayte, but then his face changed, his eyes lost focus and he was distant again. “Who asked you to question my life?” he snarled and backhanded Dmitri across the face, sending him sprawling across the room. “Next time,” continued Wayte, “you can keep your damned mouth shut!” He stormed out and slammed the door closed behind him.
Claudia went over to Dmitri and helped him up, “I think you hit a sensitive spot.” She said.
“You know,” replied Dmitri shaking himself off, “I think you could be right. It almost seems as though certain phrases or thoughts trigger him off. We’ll have to try it out next time he drops by.”
Claudia raised an eyebrow, “And take another hit like that? Are you sure you’re ready to do that?”
Dmitri gingerly touched his jaw and worked his mouth open and closed, “Well maybe not tonight.” He said. “I’m not sure how I’m going to eat this now,” he finished, indicating the tray that Wayte had brought in.
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Claudia sighed, “If I had my supplies, I could make up a poultice that would sooth it and help the healing. How is your head? We could try some more linking if you like? If you can focus that is.”
Dmitri nodded, “My head is fine, it is just my jaw that’s the problem at the moment. It is extraordinary how much I could use my magic when I can’t reach it. I could heal this in an instant.”
“That is just another reason we should get spirit linking working. Once we combine our power, we should be strong enough to work around the barrier.”
Dmitri agreed and they pushed aside the food, sat crossed legged on the ground across from each other and closed their eyes. Dmitri imagined himself in a world of white, extending into nothingness. Into this, he reached out and took hold of his magic and brought it into this world. The world of white sparked with the rainbow of colours that represented his magic here, so much light and life! Once he had reached this situation, with no appearances from rogue demons, Dmitri reached out once more, but this time to Claudia. In the real world, their hands touched and a spark seemed to pass between them. Into Dmitri’s white universe stepped Claudia, her spirit form radiated beauty, but surrounding her was a pulsating purple aura that Dmitri was able to recognise as pain and suffering. He reached out to her in this world to try and take the pain away, but she jerked away in both worlds, as if feeling the pain anew. The contact broken, she faded from his world. The shock of her actions startled Dmitri and his white world shattered and fell to pieces around him and he was once more in the dank dungeon with torches crackling overhead. Dmitri blinked a few times, clearing the white spots from his vision. Claudia was huddled in front of him, sobbing. He reached out and arm and put it around her to comfort her. “It’s ok,” he soothed, “I don’t need to know what is wrong, I just want to help you.”
Shuddering back another sob, she looked at him, “It is alright. I will tell you so you can understand it all. It is the end of my tale anyway.”