He made himself stop then. He was angry that the prince could come in and strike at him like that, but Devin was all patience. Metal required it. A man who was impatient at the forge was a man who got hurt.

You see? Prince Vars called out, pointing a finger that was trembling in either anger or fear. He strikes at me! Seize him. I want him dragged to the deepest cell the castle possesses, and his head on a pike by morning.

The young men around him looked reluctant to react, but it was just as obvious that they werent going to stand by while someone as low-born as Devin fought with a prince. Most were still holding swords or spears that theyd been trying out inexpertly, and now Devin found himself in the middle of a ring of such weapons, all pointed straight at his heart.

I dont want any trouble, Devin said, not knowing what else to do. He let the hammer thud to the floor, because it was useless to him there. What could he do, try to fight his way out against so many? Even though he suspected he was better with a blade than the men there, there were too many to even try it, and if he did, what then? Where would he be able to run, and what would it mean for his family if he did?

Maybe theres no need for a cell, Prince Vars said. Maybe Ill take his head off here, where people can see. Put him on his knees. On his knees, I said! he repeated when the others didnt do it quickly enough.

Four of them came forward and pushed Devin down, while the others kept their weapons trained on him. Prince Vars, meanwhile, had picked up the sword again. He lifted it, obviously testing the weight, and in that moment Devin knew that he was going to die. Fear filled him, because he couldnt see a way out. No matter how much he thought, no matter how strong he was, it wouldnt change things. The others there might not agree with what the prince was about to do, but they would stand by anyway. They would stand there and watch while the prince swung that sword and…

…and the world seemed to stretch out in that moment, one heartbeat fading into the next. In that instant, it was as if he could see every muscle in the princes frame, see the sparks of thought that powered it. It was easy in that moment to reach out, and to change just one of them.

Ow! My arm! Prince Vars yelled, his sword clattering to the ground.

Devin stared back, stunned. He tried to make some sense of what hed just done.

And he was terrified by himself.

The prince stood there, clutching at his arm and trying to rub some feeling back into the fingers.