The barrier cracks towards him and he jerks a step back, pressing himself to the wall again. He's still furious, of course, but there's a shiny fear returned to his eyes. He doesn't know what to do.

"Have you talked to any of them! There is no difference!" he insists, wrinkling his nose as he looks at the sword. What can he do--

The axe thumps behind him and he looks backwards at her. He can see the weapon, and the way her eye is so completely dulled out. He can't let her fight. That's the one thing he knows in this moment, and he bends down closer to her, taking half an eye off the Protector.

"Give me that. You need to rest," he says as gently as he can, a nervous tremor hovering in his throat.