When the Earthen barrage unfurled, Caius fell to the ground with a thud, looking fairly battered with a thin trail of blood dripping out of the side of his lips. Fair recompense for the many bruises Duncan had all over after so many successful strikes to his body.
Gareth stepped forward then, his hand on the handle of his sword. The Imperial Guards who had come with Duncan noticed the movement and inched forward as well.
"No," Alexia told Gareth with an arm stretched out to keep him back, "Stand down."
"My Lady…" Gareth started to insist.
"He's fine," Alexia said and reiterated her order, "Stand down."
She didn't just say that either. She could tell. With all her senses trained on Caius, she knew for certain that he was fine. The barrage of a Fifth Circle spell hadn't downed him.
Caius was on one knee and raised his head to look at Duncan as he wiped the thin trail of blood off the side of his mouth.
"What took you so long?" He asked.
