They were going far too fast, being rushed along at a dangerous pace out of proportion with their strides. Worry twisted through the bard's excitement at their adventure and he tried to slow down - to no avail. Grimly he turned his attention to watching their road and staying ready to duck, dodge or jump any obstacles or traps that might hinder them, but even so he almost didn't see the crumbled stone until it was too late. "Amalia, watch out!" he cried, using his momentum to push himself over the chancy-looking stone, and coming to a deft halt on the other side, relieved to find the unsettlingly unnatural speed had left him.
The first thing he noticed was that Amalia had not landed beside him, and he spun as Isuma dug her talons into his pack, squeaking frightened protest at his sudden spike of fear. The glow from her lantern and antler, reflecting up from the hole, let him see her hand on its edge and he quickly dropped to his knees, setting his lantern down and reaching out to steady her wrist with both hands. "Toss the staff up and grab on," he urged her. "I'll steady you and pull you up, if you can get a foothold!" It would have been nice to be a fairy tale hero, lifting the lady easily in his muscular arms and setting her daintily upon the ground, safe and sound - but Jigano had never had strength like that, even now when his lack of magical equipment had forced him to train his body the old fashioned way. At best, he could brace his slightly greater weight as an anchor and provide, he hoped, enough extra pull for Amalia to get herself out.
Where the star guide was just then he neither knew nor cared, focusing all his efforts on getting his companion back on solid ground.
The first thing he noticed was that Amalia had not landed beside him, and he spun as Isuma dug her talons into his pack, squeaking frightened protest at his sudden spike of fear. The glow from her lantern and antler, reflecting up from the hole, let him see her hand on its edge and he quickly dropped to his knees, setting his lantern down and reaching out to steady her wrist with both hands. "Toss the staff up and grab on," he urged her. "I'll steady you and pull you up, if you can get a foothold!" It would have been nice to be a fairy tale hero, lifting the lady easily in his muscular arms and setting her daintily upon the ground, safe and sound - but Jigano had never had strength like that, even now when his lack of magical equipment had forced him to train his body the old fashioned way. At best, he could brace his slightly greater weight as an anchor and provide, he hoped, enough extra pull for Amalia to get herself out.
Where the star guide was just then he neither knew nor cared, focusing all his efforts on getting his companion back on solid ground.
