Magnus launched himself down the slope and set his sights on the creature’s neck. The troll flipped over onto its stomach just as Magnus was reaching him and swiped with those hideous claws at Magnus’s feet. Magnus jumped and rolled away, narrowly avoiding the swipe. He landed on his hands and knees and leapt forward again as the troll began scrambling to its feet. The troll looked up in time to receive Magnus’s fist between its eyes.
Now they were grappling. They rolled and spun in the dirt, kicking up so much dust Magnus’s lungs screamed with the need to cough. He was trying to get his arms around the troll’s neck for a twist. The creature’s flailing claws brought back the memory of his fight with Azolirum and how poorly this strategy had gone last time. Luckily, the troll wasn’t as flexible as the Nozverak king had been. Magnus was at its back, one arm under its throat, legs wrapped around its front, limiting the range of its arms. He squeezed with all his might to choke the creature out. He couldn’t break its neck—it was too strong for that—but he could still suffocate it. The creature’s yellow pallor was turning ashy, its eyes bulging from its skull.
A few more moments. Just a few more.
Nadine’s cry reached him like a sword through the chest. Still holding on, Magnus shoved his face backward and tried to find her. Samar was dodging the light-haired Dokiri, using his agility against him as the other man tired from the swinging. He didn’t seem to notice Nadine being pinned to the ground beneath Arvid, an axe lying just beyond the reach of his straining hand.
Magnus roared. In another moment, his hamma would be dead. He only needed a few more seconds to kill this troll so he could rescue her. Just a few more . . .
Nadine kneed Arvid, catching him in the stomach. He coughed and abandoned his reach for the axe. Instead of reaching down to cover the place she’d hit him, he brought his newly freed fist down hard across her face. Stunned, Nadine fell back. She clutched his arm with a listless hand.
Magnus released the troll. He didn’t have to shove it off his chest. It was already rolling to vomit as Magnus turned to get his hands and feet beneath him. With a grunt, Magnus shot toward Arvid.
His friend picked up the axe. Nadine still lolled beneath him.
“Arvid!”
White eyes looked up just in time to bring the axe up to bear.
Magnus crashed into him, sending both hands to the neck of the axe to shove it up above Arvid’s head. They went flying off Nadine’s prone figure and landed in the gravel with a huff.
Magnus was up and throwing fists at Arvid’s face before he had time to think. The axe lay in the gravel beside them. Magnus ignored it. He unleashed all his fear and rage into blow after blow upon the body of the man he’d once called brother.
Arvid put his arms up. It was too late for that. His face was a mess, and his head wobbled between his shoulders. He made a weak attempt at rolling out from under Magnus before settling back to the ground to take another blow.
“Magnus!”
Nadine was gone. She’d taken the axe and was down the slope where he’d left the troll. It was back on its feet, squaring off with his bride. The creature’s reach was too long, and the axe was not a lancet. She couldn’t get close enough to take it down. Not without losing her head.
He released Arvid who slumped back with a sigh. Magnus rushed to Nadine’s side. He motioned for her to go behind the troll, who watched them with a dull, darting gaze. It grunted at Nadine and tried to turn in her direction, but Magnus roared at it, drawing its attention just as Nadine slashed it in the rear. It arched its back on a howl, and Magnus yanked it down the slope while Nadine shoved. It sprawled into the rubble. Magnus plucked the axe from Nadine’s hands and took the skinny troll’s head off in a single, bone-crunching cleave.
“Magnus?”
He turned. Nadine was there. He pushed a stray lock of hair out of her eyes where fresh blood was spilling from her temple. “Are you all right?”
She nodded, glancing at his shredded fists. “You?”
Magnus swallowed, and they both turned back up the slope. Samar had an axe in one hand and a knife in the other, the light-haired Dokiri lying still behind him. Arvid was right where Magnus had left him. That’s where Samar was headed. Magnus sprang forward. “Get away from him!”
It must have been the sheer malice in Magnus’s voice. Samar stopped. Nadine sprinted to catch up. Magnus squatted beside his friend. He was still, his face a swollen piece of meat. But he was breathing. Magnus looked to Nadine. “Where did you strike him?”
Nadine shrugged, her expression tight.
“Does it matter?” Samar spat. “Kill him and let’s go.”
“No.”
Samar jerked back. “No?” He looked to Nadine, who said nothing, only kept her gaze on Magnus.
Magnus clenched his fists. He didn’t need to explain himself to this raksa. But to Nadine? Then again, did she really need an explanation? She understood his dilemma. Knew why he couldn’t kill the man lying at his feet. What was more . . .
“I can’t leave him.” Not when he’d come this far. Not when there was still hope. The Eye was here, under this mountain. He knew who held it. He could stay behind. Take Arvid and hide him. Hide them both until he could find Azolirum and work something out.
Nadine stayed quiet. She didn’t even blink. Samar scoffed without humor. “He’s mad. Let’s go, Nadine. Before they catch us.”
Magnus looked to Samar. This man, who’d already betrayed his bride once. Who’d robbed her. This man who’d stop at nothing to possess Nadine. This man who’d throw her life away before letting her choose someone else. Was this the man Magnus would entrust his bride to? Was this the extent of his devotion?
Arvid smacked blood-caked lips together, then turned his face toward Magnus. He cracked open silver-white eyes.
This was not Arvid. This hadn’t been Arvid since the day he was pulled from the pit. This creature, with its silver-white eyes that glared up in empty malice, was a mere puppet. The Soul Thieves had used Arvid’s body as a worthless plaything. A strangled cry rose up in Magnus’s throat.
Clarity struck him, pure as the light in those lifeless orbs. Magnus could stay in this abyss, clutching his friend’s corpse, and it was just a corpse. He could do it in the name of devotion. Or he could accept that he’d failed a brother and devote what remained of his life to serving his own bride.
Magnus could reclaim his honor.
Samar, knife in hand, reached his arm out to wave Nadine back. Magnus shot out to take him by the wrist and used his other hand to block Samar’s axe arm, which automatically lashed out to strike. “Give it to me.”
Samar hesitated, not immediately understanding. Then he blinked and hesitated long enough for Magnus to pluck the iron dagger from his sweaty grip. It was a short knife. But long enough.
Magnus turned to Arvid, and his head went light. He sunk from the squat to his knees, desperate for more grounding, and scooted up to Arvid’s shoulders. His heart was pounding.
Helig, help me make it painless. Arvid, forgive me.
He tried to swallow, but his tongue wouldn’t cooperate. His hands were shaking as he reached to push Arvid’s untrimmed beard aside.
“Magnus, wait.”
He gasped at his hellcat’s soothing voice, and his body shook as he turned to meet her hovering gaze. She opened her mouth to say something. The words stuck. Her eyes drifted, then widened. Her whole body tensed.