He spun around sharply, giving a shaky laugh as Yrian reached him. "You're alive."
"I could say the same for you." Yrian grabbed his shoulders and gave him a shake. "That mermaid-I thought it had you. I was not looking forward to returning to the castle to tell them I managed to lose you almost immediately. Well done getting away from it. How did you manage to stop the sirens?"
Raffé's smile fell away. "I thought you had."
"No ..." Yrian frowned. "They must have gone into hiding because of us. I hope so, anyway. If there's something else they're scared of ... but it will have to wait, as much as I hate to say it. First, I want you to come with me. I think I felt something ... troubling, but I cannot be certain. Magic is not my skill."
It was not really Raffé's skill yet, either, but it
