Darius gasped, his eyes widening in shock as the blade impaled him straight through the abdomen. Blood spurted from his mouth, splattering onto Garik's chestplate in crimson. His wolf howled in distress, skidding to a halt as its rider spasmed.
Garik exhaled. "But to take on one far more experienced is folly. You had potential, but you were ultimately a fool."
With a brutal yank, he pulled his greatsword free, the sickening sound of tearing flesh echoing in the cold. Darius slumped forward, barely clinging to life.
Adrian's heart stopped for a moment.
"Darius!"
His son turned toward him, his mouth moving as if to say something—perhaps a final word, a last plea—
But Garik swung.
Darius's head parted from his shoulders in one clean motion. His body remained upright for a brief moment before toppling from his wolf, crumpling onto the snow like a broken doll.
Evelyne screamed in horror.
Lysara sobbed into her mother's chest, her tiny fingers clutching Evelyne's cloak in fear.
