The second Valen collapsed, the courtyard fell into a stunned silence that seemed to swallow every other sound in the palace.
The guards who had rushed forward froze where they stood, their eyes moving uncertainly between the two unconscious figures lying on the cold stone and the king who had not yet taken a single step toward them.
Kaelvryn's mind had gone completely blank, all he could see was the blood.
It stained the stone beneath her spreading slowly where her body had struck the ground. Her clothes were torn in several places, and bruises had already begun to form along the exposed skin of her neck and arms.
Then something inside him snapped.
"VALEN!"
He yelled a second time finally coming to his senses, he crossed the distance in seconds, dropping to his knees beside her with such force that the impact echoed sharply across the courtyard.
His hands moved immediately, lifting her head carefully into his lap as if afraid that even the smallest movement might break her.
