Fifty-nine minutes after time had frozen, it finally began to move again.
Lia, confused by the fact that Nol was carrying her, was told that she had fallen asleep. The young girl accepted the explanation easily enough.
Azriel and Nol made their way back to the count's estate, and when they arrived at the open adjacent gate, neither of them stepped any farther.
"Master... this smell..."
Nol's face had gone pale with nausea as he stared toward the estate, where everything before him felt eerily empty and silent.
"...You should take her with you to [White Haven] until it's safe again."
"...!"
Nol looked at Azriel in shock.
"What!? No, Master, there's no way I'm doing that!"
Azriel stepped in front of him and placed a hand on Nol's shoulder, offering him a warm smile while Nol held Lia in his arms.
"That smell behind me... is not something you should experience."
