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Heartbeats

Rhyin wakes up from a surgery that infused magic into his blood, and he's starting to feel the side effects.

Ketsler rung his hands together for the hundredth time as he threw a look around the room.

He caught Tehvlar’s disapproving frown, but he was too nervous to be able to sit still. Morning was pressing on into afternoon and Rhyin still had not woken up. It wouldn’t be so bad if he had been allowed to sit at his bedside and make sure he was alright, but his uncle had insisted he sit out here with everyone else as he explained the idea of the experiment to the leading masters. It would be impolite of Ketsler not to be there, but whether he was there in body or not he wasn’t there in mind.

He had forgotten to pay attention to what Tehvlar was saying a long time ago, but that didn’t matter all that much since he had already heard all the pros and cons. The method and expected outcome. He had been there when Tehvlar explained it to Rhyin.

All of the High Masters had come, all eyes were on Tehvlar as he stood in the center of the room and spoke of the future and what the success of this experiment would mean to wizard-kind. The masters nodded along slowly, captivated by his firm voice and bold gestures.

With his back to his patient’s room, it was Ketsler who noticed him first as he slipped around the corner and into the doorway of the common room like a shadow. It was Rhyin, but he seemed somehow less than his usual self.

Ketsler leapt from his seat, startling the old lady settled into the chair next to him. Ignoring Tehvlar’s sharp call after him, he half tripped, half ran across the room towards his cousin, checking his speed as he got closer.

Rhyin had a strange faraway look on his face, like he wasn’t quite awake yet and was still dreaming. His gaze swept over everyone in the room until it came to rest on his cousin.

“Good morning, Ketsler,” He said almost reflexively.

“Good morning,” Ketsler replied with a grin as cold relief washed over him. He was alive, awake, talking even! Maybe he was going to be okay after all.

His relief was short-lived as Rhyin’s attention seemed to wane as quickly as it had returned. The wave crashed in the pit of his stomach as he watched Rhyin’s eyes glaze over as some strange tension played about his face.

“Oh you look awful. Rhyin, are you okay?” Ketsler asked, gently prodding his shoulder.

Rhyin only half responded, his eyes slowly coming to meet Ketsler’s gaze. He stared at him intently, eyes full of pain as his mouth slightly parted into a grimace.

Ketlser threw a glance over his shoulder at the room full of people whose eyes were now on them. Tehvlar watched intently, pen poised over his notebook.

“Rhyin,” Ketsler said, leaning close to Rhyin’s face and speaking in a hushed tone so only he could hear. He put his hand firmly on his shoulder and gently shook it, trying to get some kind of response out of him.

“Can you hear me? If you don’t feel well you don’t have to come out here. Rhyin.”

He shook him again a little harder and Rhyin’s eyes snapped to meet his like he had suddenly woken up.

“I think you need to go back to bed.” Kester said gently, turning him back towards the door.

Rhyin put up no resistance.

Ketsler frowned.

He could hear the masters in the room behind them start talking quickly amongst themselves and posing questions to Tehvlar. He pushed away the resentment that nobody seemed to be taking this seriously. Taking Rhyin seriously. As a person, not an experiment.

They only managed to make it a few paces into the hallway before Rhyin came to his senses again. He blinked and looked around, eyes finally resting on Ketsler’s concerned face.

“Sorry I- I really am fine,” He said, hand reaching up to absentmindedly rub at his bandaged arm.

“Just a bit tired.” He looked up again with an unconvincing half-smile.

“You looked totally out of it,” Ketsler said with a frown, one eyebrow arching upwards.

He reached out for Rhyin’s arm and nudged him forwards again. There was a chair on the other end of the hall if they could just make it, but he was becoming increasingly concerned he might end up having to carry him there.

Rhyin followed his lead, carefully shuffling forward.

“You should at least sit down,” Ketsler continued, “It looked like you saw literal ghosts shaking you.”

Rhyin stopped walking and turned his head to squint at Ketsler.

“Do you see ghosts?” He asked flatly.

Alarmed, Ketsler looked around the hallway. He couldn’t see anything out of the ordinary, but there was no telling what the procedure had done to enhance Rhyin’s senses.

“No… do you?”

He looked closely into Rhyin’s face for the answer, but Rhyin only blinked.

He took the next few steps on his own, then eased himself down into the chair against the wall.

Ketsler waited with baited breath until he finally answered like no time had passed.

“No.”

Not comforted by the response, Ketsler walked up to stand next to him.

Partway through settling into the seat Rhyin froze, still leaned partway forward with his head cocked, it looked like like he was listening for something, his eyes focused on nothing that Ketsler could see.

Is he hallucinating? Ketsler wondered, carefully studying the air Rhyin was staring at so intently.

He looked back to his cousin. Tehvlar would want to talk to him and see how he was doing, but Ketsler was becoming increasingly sure that the only place Rhyin belonged right now was tucked in his bed, not sitting here in the hallway for the sake of appearances.

Just as he was making up his mind to carry him up to bed himself, Rhyin woke again. His whole body was still tense, leaning out from the back of the chair, his hands gripping the arm rests until his knuckles turned white. His eyes broke off from nothing and snapped to meet Ketsler’s.

Ketsler got the impression he was asking a question, but what it was and who it was addressed to he could only guess. He waited a moment to see if Rhyin would say anything, then spoke himself.

“You really don’t need to be down here you know,” he said gently, putting his hand on the back of the chair and leaning closer.

Rhyin’s eyes followed him through the motion while his body remained just as rigid as before. “You can go back to bed, nobody is gonna judge you.”

Rhyin looked away, seeming to make a conscious effort to relax.

Loosening his grip on the armrests he slipped himself back into the seat to recline comfortably against the chair back.

“I’ll be okay.” He said in an unconvincing tone.

Ketsler watched him closely, trying to control the worry he knew had made it to his face.

“Rhyin…”

Rhyin seemed to catch on. Stirring himself, he tilted his head to the side, his voice dropping to almost a whisper. Ketsler had to kneel down next to him to catch what he was saying.

“I guess… I never really knew it was so different. I didn’t really realize.”

Ketsler looked him over more closely. He wasn’t quite sure what Rhyin meant, but did this mean the experiment had worked? He had magic? What would that feel like? To suddenly gain access to an entirely new dimension of reality?

“What’s it like?” He asked out loud, settling down on the floor across from him.

“A lot.” Rhyin replied, reaching up to rub at his arm again. He shook his head.

“It kinda burns, but I guess that would be normal to you.”

“Yeah, I guess it would.”

Ketsler looked down at his hands. Burning. He’d never thought of it that way, the tingle and surge he felt through his entire body when he harnessed the power of the inness. It had never hurt though, which was what burning implied. Burning destroys, but using magic? That was when Ketsler felt the most alive.

“How does it not drive you crazy?” Rhyin asked, leaning forwards as his grip tightened on the armrests again.

“What do you mean?” Ketsler said, studying Rhyin’s face carefully.

Maybe… the experiment hadn’t worked, or, maybe having magic really was that different.

“Nothing.” Rhyin replied.

He sat back into the chair like the motion had exhausted him, his arms slipping from the chair’s to flop uselessly into his lap.

“I guess I’m just not very good at having magic.” He finished rather despondently.

Ketsler frowned. “Does it bother you?”

Rhyin was silent for a long time, staring thoughtfully at his hands resting where they had fallen.

“I don’t know, Ketsler,” he finally said. “Maybe I’ve been asleep all my life. Maybe this is what it’s actually like to be alive. Maybe it will get better, I just need to… to catch up to you.”

The old feeling of guilt jolted through his system and Ketsler looked away. It wasn’t fair. They were equals, even if Rhyin didn’t have magic. Even if he never had magic. He hated the fact that magic- something meant to be a blessing- could be twisted into such a curse for the both of them. Maybe Tehvlar was right though, maybe he had found the cure. Maybe… Rhyin could catch up to him.

Rhyin was still staring dejectedly at his hands, and Ketsler realized he probably needed to break him out of whatever moody thoughts he was starting to bury himself in.

“So what’s with the bandage?” He asked, lightly tapping Rhyin’s knee and gesturing to his arm. “Didn’t they use a healing spell?”

Rhyin broke out of his thoughts, shifting his hands to lace his fingers together.

“Father says he used one to seal it closed,” He answered, giving Ketsler a glance before looking back down to his hands. “He said the internal healing should come from my own stores. It burns though.”

Burning again. Ketsler frowned again, nodding slowly. He wanted to do something to make things better- Rhyin seemed so out of sorts and in pain- but he didn’t understand the theory behind the experiment well enough, nor did he want his interference to ruin anything and possibly make Rhyin’s condition worse. Tehvlar was basically inaccessible right now to ask for advice, and there was no telling how much longer he would be engaged in the meeting.

“Did he… give you any instructions?” He asked Rhyin hopefully.

“Not really.” Rhyin shrugged. “Told me not to try anything new without him. And don’t let anyone cast anything on me.”

Ketsler nodded, disappointed. Not much he could really do to help then. Except worry, which it seemed like he was the only person doing.

Rhyin’s gaze shifted to look over Ketsler’s shoulder and down the short hallway to the common room beyond. He only stared for a moment before his eyes glazed over again with that same strange, faraway look.

Ketsler turned to look as well, catching the rising sound of laughter from the room they had left.

He heard his uncle say something polite to calm the crowd, and that helped to somewhat sooth the boiling indignance that anyone could be laughing at a time like this.

He looked back to see Rhyin shift uncomfortably in his seat and frown, eyes still fixed on the masters that could be seen through the doorway.

Master Mylo was asking a question, Ketsler could see, with his wide gestures and loud voice.

Master Liala had the misfortune of being seated next to him; the poor lady was doing her best to avoid being clonked in the head by his waving hands.

Ketsler stood up from the floor, scooting off to the side before rising so he wouldn’t startle Rhyin by the sudden movement.

Rhyin seemed to not notice, however, and continued starting vaguely down the hall even as Ketsler came up beside his chair. He needed to get Rhyin someplace comfortable and quiet so he could rest. If he was this out of it, maybe he wouldn’t mind so much if Ketsler carried him up the stairs? It would be more gentle to float him up, but would that count as casting a spell on him?

He was broken out of his thoughts by Tehvlar striding down the hallway towards them.

He was smiling- beaming almost- and seemed to be emanating his pleasure like a patch of sunlight glowing on the floor.

Ketsler found it comforting that he seemed in such high spirits. Surely that meant everything was going to go well after all, and he was here to take care of Rhyin. He shifted his position to make more room for him to reach Rhyin, but he came up alongside Ketsler instead and bent to speak softly into his ear.

“Why don’t you take him outside, the fresh air should help him.” He said.

His face had grown more serious but there was still a smile in his eyes. “I’ll talk to him in a bit so we can meet in my study.”

Ketsler nodded dumbly, trying to not let his disappointment show.

Tehvlar didn’t notice, he was already looking back into the room he had come from.

After a quick glance over the scrawled writing on his notebook, he patted Ketsler on the shoulder then gave a nod in Rhyin’s direction.

“It will only take me a half hour to wrap this up, okay?”

He threw a bright smile to both the boys, then turned sharply on his heel and strode back down the hallway.

Ketsler could hear his voice rise with a greeting to the masters as he launched back into the rest of his speech, but he didn’t bother to hear the actual words as he struggled with his own frustration.

He didn’t even look at Rhyin, how did he know he was well enough to go outside?

Rhyin rose from his chair, catching Ketsler’s attention.

Ketsler watched, worried, as he got to his feet, leaning into his arms for balance, his legs trembling unsteady beneath him. He wavered for a moment, looking like a leaf trembling in the breeze.

Ketsler reached out and gripped his arm, worried he might fall.

“Do you need help walking?” He asked as Rhyin looked down at the hand on his arm, confused.

“I-” He took a step, his knees buckling under him but not crumbling, as Ketsler stepped up closer to his side.

“Yeah, I can walk.” He finished.

Ketsler frowned and slipped his shoulder under Rhyin’s arm. Now was not a good time to be stubborn.

“Come on,” Ketsler said, helping him take the first few steps.

“We only have to wait a half hour before Uncle can help you. You can just sit and rest.”

He wasn’t sure which of them he was speaking to more- Rhyin or himself, but Rhyin made no answer. They took the next few steps and made it to the door, Ketsler willing it open with a flick of the eyes. The door swung obediently on its hinges, freed from the latch, and the boys walked slowly out into the bright and beautiful day. The grass was lush underfoot and the sun was warm, but Ketsler found it hard to enjoy with the nagging thought. Was this going to be a mistake?

— — — —

Rhyin joked once they were both seated on the grass that Tehvlar's estimate of a half hour would probably end up being two, and as usual he was correct.

It was an hour and a half before Ketsler saw the masters leave, and another half hour that the boys sat waiting in his study. And the minutes crawled.

Rhyin seemed hardly to notice, drifting in and out of trances, and at one point falling asleep, although he insisted he had only closed his eyes.

Ketsler attempted to move off his extra energy, but no amount of aerial cartwheels seemed to have helped calm his nerves. This entire scenario just felt wrong, despite all Tehvlar had said to soothe him.

He sat on the edge of his uncle’s desk, swinging his legs counter to each other to gently thud on the wooden front in a soothing rhythm.

Rhyin was settled into a padded chair across from him, staring into the fire and occasionally dozing off. It was high summer, but he had muttered something about being cold, so on the fireplace went. Ketsler could tell the room was probably uncomfortably warm by now, but it felt good against the icy air emanating from his body, and Rhyin looked comfortable. If he could only calm his nerves, he could quiet this building storm of ice in his gut and not need the fire to counteract that.

The door opened quite suddenly, flooding the room with light from the hall outside and causing both the boys to startle.

Master Tehvlar slipped into the room with a smile, closing the door softly behind him.

“Hello, boys,” He said, his footsteps muffled by the thick rug that covered the study floor.

“I apologize for keeping you waiting for so long. Ketsler, get off the desk.”

Ketsler slid off the desk without a response, moving to instead stand behind Rhyin’s chair.

“Thank you,” Tehvlar said curtly, picking up one of his old notebooks from the desktop.

He opened the book and began flipping through the pages muttering under his breath, his back to the boys.

Ketsler watched Rhyin’s face as he looked nervously around the room, his gaze lingering on the table tucked into the corner.

Ketsler frowned. The neat rows of unlabeled bottles and cases of equipment had such a sinister feel to them, especially the jar of scissors and knives that glinted in the flickering orange of the firelight. He had not been allowed to be present for the operation, and with a shiver he realized that was probably where it had happened. Rhyin’s hands were no longer fiddling with the edge of his tunic, but sat still and folded in his lap.

“How have you been feeling?” Tehvlar asked suddenly, causing Ketsler to jump again.

Rhyin blinked several times as he answered haltingly, “Alright.”

Tehvlar turned fully around, leaning back against the desk and frowning in disapproval.

“Rhyin, it’s very noble of you to try and shoulder it with no assistance, but that won’t do. I can’t properly take care of you if you lie.”

Rhyin sighed and rubbed his bandaged arm.

Tehvlar waited a moment before speaking again. “So what are you feeling?”

He tilted his head to the side, squinting expectantly at his son.

"It hurts, I guess."

Rhyin made a pathetic attempt at a shrug, his gaze caught on the rug at his father's feet as though he couldn't look away. His eyes widened slightly and Ketsler could hear his breath catch in his throat.

Tehvlar continued as though he did not notice.

"You guess?" He asked, tapping his pen on the side of his notebook. "Think about it, you can give a more clear answer than that."

Rhyin broke his gaze away with a frown and glanced up at his father, quickly looking away again.

"I don't- really know what to call it," he replied haltingly.

Tehvlar leaned forward slightly.

"Does it hurt?"

"Yes," Rhyin replied, but hurried to add to the statement. "but it's not unbearable, I'll be fine."

Ketsler's grip tightened on the back of Rhyin's chair. He was in pain. Surely this wasn't a good thing. Awakening his sleeping magic shouldn't hurt …right?

He knew that being calm and thinking rationally about the situation was the best way to ensure everything went smoothly for Rhyin. That he needed to control his emotions because letting them free in this situation would be selfish.

He bit down on the inside of his lip and clenched the chair harder. He could feel the temperature drop in the air around him, but he focused on taking deliberately normal breaths. He needed to keep calm, for Rhyin.

Tehvlar opened his notebook and shifted to a position more convenient for writing.

"Where are you feeling the most pain?"

Ketsler looked down at Rhyin to see his response, but there was none. His eyes had glazed over, mouth opening in a silent gasp.

Tehvlar stiffened as Rhyin doubled over, clutching the sides of his head.

Ketsler slid around to the front of the chair and began gently shaking Rhyin's knee.

Stay calm, stay calm, if he were in actual danger surely Uncle would intervene.

"Rhyin. Rhyin," he spoke gently but firmly, trying to keep the edge of panic from his tone.

Rhyin was trembling all over, shaking his head slowly from side to side.

Ketsler moved one arm to support his back, the other to his arm.

How much pain must he be in right now?

Tehvlar watched, rigid, as Ketsler continued shaking his shoulder and calling his name.

"Rhyin, please. Please answer me."

Something changed in Rhyin's demeanor, and Ketsler watched as the tension slowly relaxed and he opened his eyes.

"I'm okay," Rhyin mumbled thickly before he was fully recovered.

His eyes came back into focus, meeting Ketsler's gaze as he stared anxiously up at him.

Ketsler could see the pain- fear- still behind his eyes even as he assured him he was alright.

"No, I don't think so," he said gently.

Maybe Tehvlar didn't realize how serious Rhyin's condition was. He had hardly seen him at all since he woke up. He couldn't claim that Rhyin was fine if he didn't understand why Ketsler was worried.

He turned abruptly to face Tehvlar.

"Things like this have been happening all day, though not this bad."

He expected Tehvlar to ask questions to clarify Rhyin's symptoms, but instead he gave no sign he had heard Ketsler speak at all. He continued looking down at his son sadly until he shook his head and turned to write in his notebook again, muttering under his breath.

Ketsler clenched his fists to silence the surge of indignance that crackled up his spine. He had to trust his uncle. Maybe he had heard him, he’d just forgotten to actually answer him again.

Rhyin shifted slightly in the chair.

"I'm jus-" he began, but Ketsler cut him off.

"No listen, we can't help if you keep pretending it's not an issue."

He instantly regretted how sharply he had said that, but Rhyin still seemed unconvinced.

"I was just gon-"

Tehvlar interrupted this time, turning back around to face the boys.

"What was bothering you?" He asked.

Rhyin grimaced, looking at his father without seeming to really be looking at him.

"I don't know." He said. "It's like...the world was screaming."

Ketsler felt the pulse of the air around him. The heartbeat of the planet's core reverberating through the layers of rock and dirt. The ocean pulled in and out from its shores like the air in his lungs came in and out. Particles of water danced in the air around him with the threads of gravity lacing it all together. He wouldn't have thought to describe this sensation as “screaming”. He couldn't even stretch his imagination to describe it as screaming. There had to be something wrong.

Tehvlar was continuing his conversation, regarding his son coolly from the other side of the room.

“How is your arm?” he asked, setting his notebook down on the desktop.

“It’s been stinging,” Rhyin gave it an apprehensive glance as he replied.

How many times did Tehvlar need Rhyin to tell him he was in pain before he would listen?

Tehvlar crossed the space between them and crouched down in front of Rhyin’s chair.

Ketsler slipped out of his path, taking up his place again at the back of the chair.

Gently, Tehvlar unwrapped the bandage around his arm. Ketsler drew in a sharp breath at the sight.

Rhyin’s entire inner forearm reaching up to his elbow looked alive with some kind of vivid infection. The discoloration was reminiscent of a bruise, but unlike a bruise, the veins in his arm stood out vibrant orange against the deep blues and purples.

Tehvlar brushed his fingers over the surface, gaining a wince from Rhyin. He muttered something to himself as he stood, quickly turning to select a small, square jar and a roll of fabric from among a collection of items on his table. He returned, taking the lid off from the bottle as he slipped into a squat again.

Rhyin sat completely still, staring down at his arm almost mesmerized. Ketsler bit down on the edge of his lip.

With two fingers, Tehvlar began spreading the contents of the jar over Rhyin’s arm.

“Have you tried any spells?”

“No, you said not to,” Rhyin replied almost mechanically, tensely watching the pale cream cover over the dark blue.

"Hmm, yes I did. You'll need to sleep more."

Tehvlar wiped his fingers off on the used bandage, then began re-wrapping Rhyin’s arm.

Rhyin made no response after this. His head tilted slightly to the side, his gaze moved from his arm to stare vaguely at the floor at Ketsler’s feet.

“So, something is wrong?” Ketlser ventured. He wished his uncle would be honest with him, instead of brushing him off with half-effort lies.

"Something could be wrong if he doesn't take care of it right. Just like anything else."

He could tell from the tone of his voice that he was pushing Tehvlar’s patience, but that still was not an answer in either direction.

“Did something go wrong?” He pressed. His arm slipped from the back of the chair as he stepped forward.

Tehvlar tied off the end of the bandage and gave Rhyin’s arm a pat before looking up at his nephew with a short sigh.

“Ketsler, calm down. You don’t have to worry, I’m taking care of him.”

Still no definitive answer. The fact that he was dodging the question now that he had actually examined Rhyin was making it clearer and clearer that his intuition was correct, and Rhyin was definitely not okay. Tehvlar said he was taking care of him- but was he? Was he really? He couldn’t help the look that slipped to his face, but it didn’t matter. Tehvlar was ignoring him again.

He continued talking, but this time it seemed more to himself than to his nephew.

"You're looking for trouble really. He is recovering, of course he is.”

“Are you sure about that?” Ketsler said.

He felt a jolt of red-hot adrenaline from challenging his uncle directly. He didn’t want his anger right now, but it was there just the same.

“From what I’ve seen, ever since he woke up he’s only been getting worse!”

Tehvlar opened his mouth to respond but the words kept tumbling out of Ketsler's mouth.

“You can't tell me I'm wrong, because you didn't see how he was doing hours ago when he first woke up. He's getting worse, and he's in pain! I don't think it worked right-”

Tehvlar cut him off by firmly placing a hand on his shoulder. The look in his eyes was scary, and Ketsler looked away.

“Ketsler, this really is uncalled for. You don't know anything about this process or what is best for Rhyin.”

It had already started. All the emotion he had been keeping in all afternoon was creeping out through the cracks melted by his frustration. Ketsler curled his hands into fists. Snowflakes started in the air around his hair as a molten ball churned in the pit of his stomach.

He knew he'd said enough- he'd already been rebuked twice in this one conversation. But he wasn't done, even if he wasn't brave enough to look his uncle in the eye as he said it.

“I think you should ask Master Thay to look at him. She knows more about healing people than you do.”

He really wasn't sure if the relief of speaking his mind outweighed the horror of realizing what he had said out loud.

The moment of silence from Tehvlar froze over the last of the fire in his chest. He could feel the temperature drop with the rapid swing of his emotions.

“Ketsler. Take a seat.” Tehvlar pointed across the room at the table tucked into the corner.

Ketsler was there a second later, words rushing out of him as quickly as the layer of frost that glazed over the table from his hands clenched onto the edge.

“I'm just really worried, and I think getting a second opinion would be wise! What if he goes to bed and gets even worse after sleeping, or doesn't even wake up again-”

“Ketsler!” Tehvlar said sharply. “That's enough!”

He couldn't stop it. It was spreading faster now, snowflakes collecting in his uncle's hair as the frost raced down the table legs and across the rug.

“I'm sorry, I can't!”

He was sorry. He wished he could gather up the words he'd said and the emotions released with them and shove them back into his chest.

He watched with horror as the ice spreading across the room reached the foot of Rhyin's chair. Rapidly picking up speed with his panic, delicate fingers of frost laced up the wooden chair legs and over Rhyin's ankles.

No, no, no, get it together, Ketsler, calm down!

Rhyin sat motionless, entirely oblivious to the commotion on the other side of the room. He gave no outward reaction as his bare feet glazed over in ice.

Ketsler tried to remember what Master Teth had told him about controlling his breathing, but it wasn't helping. Rhyin was now reaching his hand out into the space in front of him, closing his fist on nothing. He was hallucinating again, and Ketsler was making it worse.

With an exasperated grunt, Tehvlar crossed the room in two quick strides and intercepted Ketsler's view of his cousin.

Taking him by both shoulders, he shook him firmly.

"Calm down, you hear me?” He said in a raised voice.

Gesturing to the room behind him full of swirling snowflakes, he continued.

“How is this going to help at all? Freezing his legs will make it worse."

"Ketsler-" It was Rhyin, speaking up from the other side of the room. There was an edge of despracy to his tone, but he then continued more even and controlled.

“Ketsler, it's okay. Please unfreeze my feet.”

Relief flooded through his system, causing his anxiety to melt along with the ice and snow hanging in the room.

“Sorry,” he said, his heartbeat still racing. “I was just… worried.” Rhyin was okay. For now at least.

Tehvlar released his shoulder, turning his back on him to regard Rhyin, giving Ketsler the space he needed to breathe and rub a hand up his forearm.

“Thanks,” Rhyin said. He lifted one foot from the puddle around his chair and shook the excess water off.

"Do you feel better now?” Tehvlar asked him.

"Yeah. Like I said earlier, I really am fine. If anything, I'm dizzy.”

Tehvlar nodded as Rhyin continued in his usual monotone voice, “But I also haven't eaten today. So Ketsler you can stop worrying.”

“I did!” Ketsler objected from his perch.

Rhyin raised an eyebrow at him.

Ketsler frowned and crossed his arms. "Well okay, but in my defense you said that earlier right before you zoned out.”

He hunched over into himself, hugging his arms against his chest. He hated the queasy feeling in his stomach that was always there when his uncle was angry with him.

"Ketsler, go help him get some soup.”

Ketsler perked up when he heard his name called, but Tehvlar wasn't looking at either of the boys as he spoke. Absentmindedly fidgeting with his hand, he was staring out the window, engaged in his own secret thoughts. He came out of it, giving Ketsler a pointed sidelong look as he continued. “You can make sure he doesn't trip on something if it makes you feel better.”

Ketsler flinched and nestled his chin between his knees. He had been acting like a fool, actually.

Tehvlar turned suddenly to address Rhyin in his usual stern tone, "After you eat I want you to go back to bed."

"Yes sir.” Rhyin stood from his chair. Holding his robe close to himself, he stepped carefully across the wet stone floor, making his way towards the door.

Ketsler slipped from his perch and gingerly crossed in front of his uncle to join Rhyin at his side.

Rhyin paused as he opened the door, turning to glance back at his father. Ketsler followed his gaze.

Tehvlar stood before the fireplace, outlined in orange as he watched the flames dance. He was holding his notebook again, rhythmically tapping his pencil across the cover.

Ketsler thought it was odd, as Rhyin pulled the door shut and the two turned to go, that Tehvlar didn't even spare his son a second glance.

Next part, same scene from Rhyin's POV!

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