Caged Birds

"Get up, you two," said Li, and the two brothers obliged, shakily getting themselves up.

"Are we…are we alive?" asked Mason. Mercer nodded in support of the question as he went to Mason's side.

"Yes, you two are alive. Although you-," said Li, pointing to Mercer. "Barely. Were I to have been half a second late in saving you, you would not have the luxury of rubbing your bruises. You would be a pile of dust, perhaps even less than that." 

The two brothers gave slow, lingering nods, dazed and utterly terrified at the same time. Mason's longsword, or what remained of it, lay loose in his hands, and Mercer had long since dropped his daggers.

"Now then, witnessing this, do you two truly believe you are worthy of leaving?" said Li.