Feathers -eng ver-

Chapter 24- On the Stone Altar

With her heart beating wildly, Len stood up on her tiptoes and leaned toward Estel's face. «Just go. I'll be alright. I'll catch up with you in a little while.» She whispered to him, closing her eyes and letting their lips touch in a kiss as quick and light as the flapping of a butterfly's wings. She knew she had to turn back, to let her angel go and save Noya. That thought scared her, but she wouldn't do anything to hold the three men back a second longer.

«Estel, we gotta go.» Repeated Han in a stern, impatient tone.

Len nodded and smiled fondly and confidently at the younger man's worried face, whispering a soft "go" to urge him to follow the two Wizards. She wanted to believe in him, she wanted to believe that they would save their friend and bring him back home. She wanted to believe that he would get back to her safe and well.

Estel meanwhile had quickly run his fingers over the girl's fair skin, reaching up to her wrist and taking one of her hands. He liked the perfect way their fingers fit together, the way her hand was encompassed by his own.

He brought his tangled fingers between their faces and allowed himself a moment to get lost in the girl's green eyes. «We'll save Noya and I'll come back to you. I promise you, but you have to stay safe.» He whispered, a promise and a supplication lighting up the big mahogany eyes. He rested his lips curved in a sad smile on the smooth skin of her hand, inhaling deeply of her familiar scent. «I love you.» He whispered to her, then turned and vanished into the darkness of the hallway, leaving her alone.

Len stood still for a few moments, mimicking the words "I love you too" with her lips, and stretching her ear to hear the footsteps of the men hurrying away. She believed in them, she knew they would do everything they could to save the dancer. She closed her eyes and breathed deeply, smiling with conviction to reassure herself. Then she turned on her heels and ran back to Narith and Tanner.

They were going to make it.

          She arrived in a few minutes. The two men disguised as soldiers had grounded all the officers they came across, and now they were doing a damage calculation. On the ground were five people, including the old Healer who had volunteered to pull Noya out of that nightmare. One of the five was still moribund, but they did nothing to help or finish him off. The wooden floor was full of blood and there were some splashes on the walls as well. Tanner had a cut on his thigh and one on his arm, but it was nothing serious, Narith only had a few tears on his uniform.

Sighing to catch her breath, Len approached the two men trying to ignore the intense ferruginous smell and the dark red stains that glistened in the candlelight. She was not used to seeing all that blood.

Tanner had moved a few feet away and sat on the ground, panting from the effort and biting his lip to keep from making a sound while Narith knotted two scraps of cloth around his wounds to block the blood. Len stood beside him, moving his hair from his sweaty forehead as he pulled his head back and leaned it against the wall.

The dragon's hands moved with speed and knowledge, tearing off the sleeves of the uniforms to get bandages with which to simply and roughly medicate the wounds. Finished with the ex-soldier's leg and arm, he also took care of the girl, bandaging the wound Estel had been so concerned about.

After a minute to catch their breath, they got up and walked to the nearest exit. They were guided by Tanner and his familiarity with those corridors, while keeping a slow pace because of their injured leg. In a few minutes they found themselves in the gardens and under the starry sky.

Narith wasted no time: he found himself a spacious place and walked there with wide steps. The ex-soldier followed him with his eyes, wondering what the agile and untouchable boy wanted to do.