[ She's about to say something else, almost certain to be a joke at his expense judging by her expression, when suddenly a cluster of stones the size of her head appear from thin air, form the rough shape of a fist, and slam directly into Nell, knocking her over the corner of the desk she was leaned against as papers and chunks of rock scatter about the office. ]
[ If the stones had originated further from her, or if Kostos hadn't been primed and waiting to dispel something more harmless, or if he'd followed through on the dispel instead of changing his mind out of reflex and casting a barrier, he might have been fast enough. But he isn't. The barrier springs into place as she's already falling, absorbing some of that impact perhaps but none of the stone's.
His move to get around the desk to her verges on scrambling, but once he's there he gets on one knee with some semblance of dignity, and his voice is quiet as ever. ]
[ Nell says nothing, though her mouth is open and her eyes follow him as he kneels. For a moment that's all she can do--look and try without success to gasp at breath, the wind thoroughly knocked out of her. It passes after a count of fifteen or so, finally able to inhale again, and she lifts a hand to cover her face and groan, her other arm curling protectively around her ribs. ]
Now we can be sure I wasn't hallucinating, [ she says, after she's gotten a couple breaths, ] that's something. Ow.
[ A reflexive denial, the hand not wrapped around her chest reached out to touch his knee, reassuring. And then a pause, mouth twisting rueful. She's made no move to get up. ]
But it might've broken a rib or two. Just give me a moment. Did you see anything? Hear anyone?
[ Saying the same thing twice means he’s upset, for the record.
The wisps—he looks toward the window. The wisps might have seen something. He moves Nell’s hand to her own folded arm and presses it there instructively. She doesn’t need him to tell her not to move, but still. Don’t move. He rolls up onto his feet and collects his wisps, but by the time he returns with them he’s already sorted through their tiny consciousnesses and found nothing. ]
There was no one.
[ He drops down again. Neither of them are healers. Why are neither of them healers??? ]
And explain to them that some invisible enemy has just escalated from haunting me to actual attacks? Why don't we know anyone who can heal? [ Nell makes a face. She'd sigh, but it would probably hurt. She holds out a hand. ]
Help me up. I want to make sure we haven't missed anything in here before we leave. There has to be something, this isn't possible.
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[ Theoretically. Knowing her neither personally nor carnally, he couldn’t say whether that would be her style. ]
But I haven’t, [ he concedes. ] If the opportunity arises I will try to get you an invitation.
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[ a heavy sigh, entirely affected ]
Does that mean you have slept with the Vashoth? [ does that mean something different with the prefix? she does not actually know or care ]
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[ Or in sappy ridiculous love. Whatever you want to call it. Anyway, women who could hold him down with one finger aren’t his usual type. ]
Would you like a list?
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Could you make one if I did?
[ She's about to say something else, almost certain to be a joke at his expense judging by her expression, when suddenly a cluster of stones the size of her head appear from thin air, form the rough shape of a fist, and slam directly into Nell, knocking her over the corner of the desk she was leaned against as papers and chunks of rock scatter about the office. ]
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His move to get around the desk to her verges on scrambling, but once he's there he gets on one knee with some semblance of dignity, and his voice is quiet as ever. ]
Nell.
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Now we can be sure I wasn't hallucinating, [ she says, after she's gotten a couple breaths, ] that's something. Ow.
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[ Maybe. If it caught her in the head. If she'd been at just the right angle. He lowers onto both knees. ]
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[ A reflexive denial, the hand not wrapped around her chest reached out to touch his knee, reassuring. And then a pause, mouth twisting rueful. She's made no move to get up. ]
But it might've broken a rib or two. Just give me a moment. Did you see anything? Hear anyone?
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[ Saying the same thing twice means he’s upset, for the record.
The wisps—he looks toward the window. The wisps might have seen something. He moves Nell’s hand to her own folded arm and presses it there instructively. She doesn’t need him to tell her not to move, but still. Don’t move. He rolls up onto his feet and collects his wisps, but by the time he returns with them he’s already sorted through their tiny consciousnesses and found nothing. ]
There was no one.
[ He drops down again. Neither of them are healers. Why are neither of them healers??? ]
You need to go to the infirmary.
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Help me up. I want to make sure we haven't missed anything in here before we leave. There has to be something, this isn't possible.