Garik, ever efficient, wasted no time. He stepped toward Lionel, placing a gloved hand on his shoulder.
"You should have gone for the head," he murmured. "That way, she wouldn't have suffered."
Lionel's body stiffened.
A chill crawled down his spine—not from the frozen air, but from the realization that he had hesitated.
And Garik had noticed. Next, he handed him some ropes. "Tie them up," he ordered, gesturing toward the two girls.
Lionel hesitated. "They're just children. Can't we—"
Garik's cold gaze snapped toward him. "Does that mean you won't do it?"
Lionel swallowed hard. His fingers trembled, but he forced himself to move. He stepped forward and reached for Lysara, but the little girl shrank back, burying her tear-streaked face in her mother's chest.
"No!" Elyse snarled, still struggling in Garik's grasp. "Leave her alone!"
Garik sighed, clearly losing patience. He turned Elyse toward him and backhanded her across the face.
