Kael
The circle was useful.
Aiden was standing inside it.
So was the front wheel of his cart, which made the problem heavier without making it more complicated.
I had reached the inner flat with enough room to set my feet. Draven stood between me and the lower descent. His shield carrier held the approach farther to my right. Beyond them, the carts waited on the raised path.
Ten meters around me would catch both defenders.
It would also push Aiden down beside a loaded wheel.
I kept the formation closed.
The flat ground gave me the base Veylan had kept making me find in practice. I could feel where the rear foot wanted to settle and where the damaged side would begin to complain if I turned too far.
That had been the difficult part on an empty court.
Here, I had reached a usable position while the people I needed to protect were still inside the effect. The same pressure which might hold Draven would catch Aiden whether I liked him or not.
