As Yeremi Valence sat in the iron chair an hour later, he heard distantly:

I distantly heard Amrita's shouts above the animal roar of the crowd.

He heard distantly over the strains of violins the sound of the door chime.

He distantly heard her voice through the din, using a leather megaphone to yell orders to her troops.

She cried out, distantly hearing his groan, her name a rough entreaty on his lips.

Thomas wasn't listening on the channel at that end of the table, but he heard distantly, "athroom break."

I could hear distantly the sounds of my horse being tended to downstairs, and some lonely steps on the deserted stone street.

He bit it and distantly heard someone scream.

He dropped the sword, distantly hearing a clang as the metal thudded into the dirt.

The boy closed his eyes for a second, concentrating: he distantly heard the roar of an engine, smelled oil and hot pavement.