Repentance

Rudsis had sat both guards on the floor side by side, propped up by leaning their backs against the wall.

"How do we wake them up, then?" he asked.

"Slap them a few times," said Afena. "Sharply."

First, he slapped gray hair. It took three hits for him to open his eyes, and that was all the older guard could do. The man's head hung to a side because Afena's runes would not allow his muscles to obey the commands of his mind. 

"What's happening!" Gray hair demanded. There was a bit of relief from being able to speak still, but the paralysis of the rest of his body was upsetting.

"Hold that thought," said Rudsis. "Just a second." He moved to squat before red hair, who woke up after two slaps, which were administered more harshly than with the older guard.

"I can't move," said red hair. "What's happening? What happened?"