I stiffened to the point a single brush of wind might have broken me. Reason and caution told me not to intervene, but until I heard from Simon himself that he was associated with these people, I could not let him go. I reached for him, and my fingers snapped back from the sting of the lieutenant's eyes flicking to me. Wide and manic.
A shiver assaulted me. My limbs felt heavy beneath the boulders of her scrutiny. Sweat gathered and fell from my hairline. Even while yards away from the threat, the pressure, this ominous feeling was more critical than that of when I had fought Verena. I could not even take a step if I wanted to, or my legs would collapse beneath me.
When movement, courage, and resolve seemed impossible, Simon moved to the front of me, halving my view of the woman and pulling the dagger of her scrutiny from my chest.
