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.Even from this distance Kestan could see that the back of Aedyn's nightshirt was stained crimson.The boy was moaning and whimpering softly, as if he didn't want anyone to hear.One of his arms was at a strange angle, almost bent backwards at the elbow.Kestan rushed over to untie the ropes binding him.It was then that Kestan saw the iron collar and cuffs around Aedyn's neck and wrist: iron impeded magic.Aedyn was a mage! One who hadn't been through the trauma of having his magic ripped from him.Grunhall knew his nephew was a mage; why hadn't Grunhall gone to the authorities? Aedyn could have been impriosned for still having his magic intact.But even being a mage was no threat to his inheritance, Aedyn would still have been the Duke of Sapphire Lake after his father.No, the only way for Grunhall to inherit was if everyone thought Aedyn was dead.Kestan was just surprised Grunhall hadn't resorted to murder in his greed.Aedyn screamed, unaware of who was behind him as Kestan tried to free him."Please! No! I'll be good! I'll be good!" He was sobbing and shaking as Kestan did his best to untie him, a task made more difficult as Aedyn struggled against his bonds."Ssh, Aedyn.It's Kestan.I'm going to get you out of here.""K-Kestan?" Aedyn tried to turn his head, but even that seemed too much of an effort and it slumped forward onto his chest, softer whimpers still escaping him.The knots took a while to undo and when Kestan finally did manage to free Aedyn's hands, the boy winced and cradled his left arm with his right.Kestan suspected it might have been sprained.As Aedyn turned, he saw that there were more bruises marring his face and his left eye was almost swollen shut.His lip was cut and split at the left corner as well."Can you walk?" Kestan asked, helping him up from the floor."I think so," Aedyn mumbled through his split lip.Kestan supported him all the way back to his room before setting Aedyn down on the bed.He then began hunting through his clothes for something for Aedyn to wear.None of Kestan's clothes would fit properly, Aedyn being that much smaller than him, but they'd have to make do.With Aedyn's sore arm, there was no way he was going to be able to dress or undress himself and Kestan knew he was going to have to help him."I'll have to take off your nightgown, Aedyn.Is that all right?"Kestan had never imagined that he might see Aedyn bare-chested in such circumstances.This was no fantasy, but a reality too reminiscent of a nightmare.Aedyn nodded.The unbruised parts of his face were almost as pale as the garment he wore.Kestan first gently pulled the nightshirt away from Aedyn's back, the material had been sticking to the wounds and Aedyn grimaced, but didn't make any other sign of his distress.Kestan was not at all sure how to deal with the wounds he discovered marring the young man's back.There seemed to be so many."What did he use?" he asked instead."A whip.He likes to whip me," Aedyn said breathlessly.Kestan mopped up some of the blood with Aedyn's nightgown, knowing they wouldn't be using it again.He tore off the sleeves and made makeshift bandages out of them, wrapping them around Aedyn's torso in order to stop the worst of the bleeding and prevent the blood seeping through onto the new clothes.Kestan wasn't a healer, he had no medical training whatsoever, he didn't even know any of the usual healing spells.He'd been a battlemage; he had no affinity for healing magic.Kestan didn't know if he would in fact be making things worse.He had some laudanum which he used to help him sleep sometimes and he offered some to Aedyn; it was the only thing he could think of to do.Aedyn took a sip and thanked him."You can't stay here any longer.We're leaving, now.Tonight."Kestan had no idea where they were going to go but he could not allow Aedyn to spend another second in this house with that awful man.One day, Grunhall would end up killing him, Kestan could almost guarantee that."I can't leave," Aedyn said softly."He's always hurt me more when I've tried to run away.""We'll go somewhere where he can never find you," Kestan swore."He will not touch you again.""You promise he won't be able to find me? That he won't hurt me again?""I promise with all my heart
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