Marius squeezed his eyes closed in response to the sudden red light, and he rubbed his eyelids with the back of his hand before slowly prying them open. It was only the familiarity of the voice that prevented him from calling for help, truthfully, and when the blurs faded from his sight his eyes grew round in recognition.

"Ian!" He slapped his hand over his mouth, realizing that he had all but shouted the boy's name in his surprise and relief. And, in a lower voice now that still possessed a mild tremble at the end, "Forgive me; you had me startled."