They were gone nearly four hours. And it was brutal for Brian. Robert gave him no choice but to release some deep emotions. Deep anger, deep fears, deep insecurities, and things that he had carried with him a long time. Things that he had disciplined himself to continue to work in spite of but not truly deal with. And now, with marriage and fatherhood and massively increased responsibilities, it had all stacked up for him.
Robert had forced him to be brutally honest. Robert had stepped in where Brian allowed no one else and forced him to let go. When it was all overwith, Brian was completely exhausted. He had been sick repeatedly from the emotional strain. Robert had managed that for him but he had let Brian merely sleep the last hour.
In the time they were gone, Khaat was only asleep for perhaps a couple of hours. She woke and found Brian gone. He had promised to stay and he was gone. She tried not to read into it, but who truly knew where a wizard went, anyway? A wizard? She was married to some Merlin like man? It started to register with her, and it seemed very unreal. He hadn't done much magic around her. Only things, for the most part, that could be written off as conjuring tricks. Except for the travelling business. She couldn't write that off as easily.
She saw Jack was there with her instead of Brian. She sat up, looking for Brian. She had to believe he would come back. And soon.
by 
