Z I O_&_S I M O N
Every instinct in Simon's body told him to lunge forward, to wrap his hands around this man's throat and not loosen his grip until the squirming ceased. He even went as far as to take the first step, jaws clenched and eyes dangerously narrow.
Of course, Roan was the more reasonable of the two. It had been that way since they'd met.
Simon had vowed never to raise a hand to harm his friend, and thus - even in his emotional state - he did not retaliate when the soldier stepped into his path. He did, however, direct a fierce glare at the boy. Part of him knew that Roan only had his best interests at heart, which ultimately overruled the part that said he was overstepping his boundaries.
"We need to bring him to the camp. We have been here for too long, it is not safe," Roan warned him, as if Simon had any time to worry about what manner of creature was watching them.
"This is our opportunity to save her."
Simon shook his head, eyes on the floor, and inhaled deeply. Casually, he placed a single hand on Roan's chest and with a gentle push, moved him back to his place.
"How could you?" he asked in a quiet voice. "She was your Queen... and you designed her a prison so foul, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."
Zio seemed to accept that, nodding slowly. His eyes held a sadness that the rest of his face failed to convey. "I followed an order," he offered simply, then huffed loudly. "I was a Solitary Fae, I had no love for your Queen... but Alec and I have a history." For the first time since he'd encountered this group and its varying additions, Zio's expression suggested he was growing rather impatient. He wasn't used to explaining himself or his actions, but even so, he parted his lips to begin again.
"Spare me the details," Simon spat back, then turned to the men behind him and - with one swift hand gesture - prompted them to climb atop their mounts and make for the camp. "Ambers, I suggest you find something with which to blindfold our 'guest', wouldn't want him making note of our location."
With that, he called forth his own stag, but did not mount it. Instead he allowed it to walk beside him as the group began their slow walk back.
Of course, Roan was the more reasonable of the two. It had been that way since they'd met.
Simon had vowed never to raise a hand to harm his friend, and thus - even in his emotional state - he did not retaliate when the soldier stepped into his path. He did, however, direct a fierce glare at the boy. Part of him knew that Roan only had his best interests at heart, which ultimately overruled the part that said he was overstepping his boundaries.
"We need to bring him to the camp. We have been here for too long, it is not safe," Roan warned him, as if Simon had any time to worry about what manner of creature was watching them.
"This is our opportunity to save her."
Simon shook his head, eyes on the floor, and inhaled deeply. Casually, he placed a single hand on Roan's chest and with a gentle push, moved him back to his place.
"How could you?" he asked in a quiet voice. "She was your Queen... and you designed her a prison so foul, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy."
Zio seemed to accept that, nodding slowly. His eyes held a sadness that the rest of his face failed to convey. "I followed an order," he offered simply, then huffed loudly. "I was a Solitary Fae, I had no love for your Queen... but Alec and I have a history." For the first time since he'd encountered this group and its varying additions, Zio's expression suggested he was growing rather impatient. He wasn't used to explaining himself or his actions, but even so, he parted his lips to begin again.
"Spare me the details," Simon spat back, then turned to the men behind him and - with one swift hand gesture - prompted them to climb atop their mounts and make for the camp. "Ambers, I suggest you find something with which to blindfold our 'guest', wouldn't want him making note of our location."
With that, he called forth his own stag, but did not mount it. Instead he allowed it to walk beside him as the group began their slow walk back.