The hesitance that had come before was gone. Volen didn't so much as look at the blade as he settled himself so Wyl could work, leaning a little to the side so he had better access to that angry bit of iron. By the second, he felt the weight on his body shift as the elf blade cut through it. He didn't waste time, seeming to defy his sluggish exhaustion, before he was helping to pushing it off. Once Wyl pulled it away, it thudded heavily into the dirt. The sigh of relief was unmistakable, and his shoulders gently sunk forwards and relaxed. For just a brief moment, his eyes closed.<br/><br/>His heart said a prayer where his lips mumbled a thank you.<br/><br/>While it had taken months for infection to find his system vulnerable enough to attack, it had freshly started in leaving the man tired and sore. Even the gentle brush of Wyl's fingers over his back was met with a soft twitch, an animal flinch away from touch. Those cuts were red and angry around the edges, that terrible puffy swell starting to seep its way in. With the state his body was in, it wouldn't have taken very long to have done him in. Help could not have come a moment too soon. One moment more, and it might just have been too late.<br/><br/>Nodding, he gathered the clothes in his arms and snagged the boots before he was shifting himself to a knee. He'd gotten accustomed to having to push himself up off the ground by now, and he freed one hand to help. As his fingers splayed in the dirt, his gaze lifted in time to see the offered hand and, for a moment, those tired amber eyes focused on it. Now that was something he hadn't been accustomed to at all.<br/><br/>Reaching to take it, he braced for a moment before both tugging on the hand and pushing himself up. A little too hard, as Wyl had predicted. He was accustomed to having the weight of the metal working against him, and he was quickly gripping the hand out of surprise. Thankfully, with a grunt and a little bit of a sway, he turned his head to the side and took a breath. A moment later, and he was able to stay steady on his feet. He pulled his hand back and looked to him, a little bit of embarrassment found there- he should have taken to heart what he'd said, and he knew it. He gave a bowed nod of his head.<br/><br/>"Thank you."<br/><br/>For a murderous traitor, he sure never seemed to forget a thank you or a please when due.<br/><br/>Eyeing the rags behind him, the thankful stare turned cautious. He was afraid to leave it behind. That and the chains, but he didn't have much say at this point. They already were taking the mask, and he wouldn't overburden the man who had helped him this much. That would be far too unkind. Wyl had done enough.<br/><br/>Volen raised his head up a little and moved to stand near him, waiting for the half-breed to lead. Despite his state, he was quite sure that he could walk any distance for the promise of fresh water and a little bit of sleep. While his body was much in need of recovery, it was that mind of his that had been damaged far worse. Yet now he'd gone, in the course of a few hours, from wishing his eyes wouldn't open to having the smallest glimmer of purpose. And perhaps just a breath of hope. That alone could keep him steady on his feet.<br/><br/>"I can make it," he assured him. His gaze lifted to the darkness around. "East?" he wondered. From what he remembered of the area, that seemed the most logical direction to where any free-flowing water would be.