"It is easy. When your spirit tries to flee, you force it back."
"How?"
"See. Hear. Smell. Touch."
I blinked, confused. "What?"
"On the steppe, our senses keep us alive. You must learn to ground them, so they can be used as weapons or to protect you."
"You want me to focus my senses back in this moment."
"It is how you survive on the steppe. See. Hear. Smell. Touch."
The simple wisdom of his words settled into me. I studied him and did as he suggested, listening to his baritone voice.
I repeated his words silently. The spell faded faster this time as I took in the details of my surroundings. I sighed.
"You are back," he stated.
"Thank you, I think." I righted myself. "Where did the song take you?"
"To the steppe where I grew up. I will return one day soon."
"You'll probably have to escape here first."
"Escape?" he echoed. "I am where I want to be, ugly one."
The light-hearted response sent a chill through me. "You … meant to be caught?"
"Yes."
"You killed twenty of their men!"
"I had to convince them they captured me. I could not let their victory be easy. We do not surrender."
I wasn't feeling like me yet, but the memories were at the back of my mind and my chest slowly unfreezing.
"Who are you, ugly one, that you speak my tongue and that of the West as well?" Though far more controlled than his initial attempt to identify me, there was still an unmistakable edge in his voice.
"Why does it matter?"
"Maybe I came here to find you."
"Not likely," I replied, mind going to the princess the Mongols were after.
"Unless you fell from the sky."
I froze. It wasn't possible he knew anything about me just by my knack with languages. He was messing with me; he had to be. Deception was obviously a tactic of theirs. He was looking for something, and I had no idea what. In the meantime, he was toying with me.
Sensing my reaction, the warrior gave a grunt or growl of satisfaction. He shifted forward once more, far enough I was able to see him fiddling with the hands tied by rope behind his back. I had a feeling I was better off facing the attacking hordes than remaining with him.
I stood and moved towards the door.
"Do not go, ugly one. I am not yet free," he called. "It will be easier for me to take your head if you are close."
"Don't rush on my account," I replied and then faced the guard nearest me. "He's about to escape."