Since he was also hard of hearing, Mara's words had escaped him as well.

But not once during this long day did a word of complaint escape her lips.

He wanted to speak, but words couldn't escape the closed wall of his throat.

As the words escaped him he looked back at Mercy.

But he did not answer; no word escaped his lips.

Then he snapped his head up, and a quiet word escaped him.

"No." The word escaped her before she could take it back.

The word escaped her in a small explosion of sound.

She managed to shut her mouth after these first words escaped.

The words escaped and she looked around at the men.