The voice sounded almost like a berceuse to a worn down and sleep-deprived Marius, and finally he let his tiredness and exhaustion envelop him, and the other man's rhythmic assurance lull him to sleep.

He sagged against the wall, his head tilting slightly to one side. Just before Somnus took him, however, he cracked one eyelid open and glimpsed a half-blurry outline resembling Joly through the tiny slit. An infinitesimal smile formed on his face, and he managed to murmur an almost inaudible "Thank you," before his eyelids closed themselves and he drifted off to a welcome and dreamless sleep.