Emberwood branch-waving

"tell them? tell them wh-what — oh dear. no. no no. not at all," lestan hastily laughed, nervous for so many reasons he could barely keep his head on straight. "it's — w-well, it's swiftcurrent b-business. y-you don't need to h-handle that. deepest g-gratitude," he rushed, hazarding now a glance into the impossibly dark eyes which watched him with divine curiosity.
ritualist felt too close to witch. immediately discomfited by his own birthright, lestan began to slowly slither backward. "y-you c-could come with me. as a w-witness."
it was at once more daring than lestan had ever managed in his entire life. his heart celebrated by souring his belly into flipflopping somersaults he could barely manage.