Which was approximately three minutes and fifty seconds longer than anyone watching would have predicted.
When Chronus finally caught his movement pattern and his hand connected cleanly with Cassius's shoulder — not the full aging effect, a partial application — Cassius felt his arm go numb and his speed on that side collapse.
He went to one knee.
Chronus looked down at him.
"You bought her time," he said. "She's almost ready."
He looked past Cassius at Freda.
"Whatever you're casting, stop it," Chronus said, his voice losing the pleasant quality entirely for the first time. "I'll kill him if you complete it."
"Then kill him," Freda said, her voice absolutely steady. Her hands were moving. Her eyes were focused. She had fifteen percent mana left and she was spending it all on one casting. "He knows that. He came here knowing that."
She met Cassius's eyes across the plaza.
"I'm sorry," she said.
"Don't be," Cassius said.
