It takes a couple of seconds for anything Howl's saying to register; that the experiment worked - and moreover that he has a hand left at the end of it - seems to come as considerably more of a surprise to the Boy than to the experienced battlemage, so there is a stunned silence at first and then a delighted, relieved crow of laughter, a rush of exhilarated joy flooding the link between them. But there is no time to rest upon his laurels just yet, not while this... whatever Howl is (a beastman, maybe? Definitely a savage of some description) remains standing. It is not specifically defending the crystal which concerns him; as far as he is concerned, right now he's defending his life.

So he scrambles to his feet, left hand shielding the right against him (at least in part to reassure himself that yes, it really is still there).

"It is not my situation which should concern you; the guards will have heard that. No doubt they are en route as we speak." (though if that were true, then they should already be here; has this would-be assassin perhaps already dispatched them?) "Whether death comes at my hands or theirs, you will not leave here."