“Enough talking! Follow my orders or I will have no choice but to use force. Consider your circumstances.”
“You're in the same circumstance, mate.” Bran had a spear of light in his hands now. Cal held a sword of fire. “We're armed too.”
“Your weapons are made of magic. They'll disappear long before my arm gets tired,” the mage warned.
“I'm willing to wait it out,” Cal said with more confidence than he felt. He knew that he was reaching a dead end. “But there is no reason that we can't leave here as friends. I have no shortage of funds.”
“You don't need to bribe them.” Bran's voice was different than Cal remembered. “Cal, you need to disable your weapon and go with these men.” Bran's weapon was pointed at Cal now.
“What are you doing, Bran?”
“They won't hurt us. They have orders to bring us alive.”
“They would say that. You know better than to believe them.”
“You trust me, mate. Disable the weapon.”
Three weapons were pointed at Cal now. He had no choice but to obey. The weapon disappeared. Three sets of hands gripped Cal's arms.
“I trusted you, Bran. Is this how you repay your friends?”
“I'm saving your life, mate. That light isn't from a spell. It's from a person.”
Bran showed his friend the source of the light. It was a young woman with dark hair. Light and magic flew from her. She was barely conscience.
“What is this?” Cal asked in awe.