Baylin watched from the ground as his uncle cleaned the sword blade on the sorceress’s dress.
Pain seized in his chest where the arrow tore through flesh and bone. He gasped as a sharp stab shot through him.
“Baylin?” Ferric asked, putting a hand on his shoulder. “Just hold on. We’ll get you to Master Keon.”
“Why bother?” Cadman laughed. “It would make my job a lot easier if he would go ahead and die.”
“You bastard.” Ferric drew his sword and ran for Cadman. “This is all your fault!”
The sound of their swords crashing filled the air.
“No,” gurgled Baylin from the ground nearby.
Luana ran to him, falling to her knees next to him. “Baylin, oh Baylin! Just hold on, we can help you. The battle is over, it’s done.”
“No,” Baylin repeated. “Ferric, no.”
Luana cried out to Ferric. “You must stop! He wants you to stop.”
Ferric warily lowered his sword, keeping his eyes on Lord Cadman. Cadman returned in kind.
“Why would you have me stop?” Ferric asked. “What could possess him to spare this snake?”
“Please. Come.” Baylin lifted a hand, motioning for Ferric and Cadman to come toward him. His breath grew shallow and he coughed.
Ferric put his sword out in front of Cadman. “I don’t think so. Leave the sword here.”
“Do you think me a fool?” Lord Cadman spat.
Ferric clenched his teeth. “You scared of a dying man?”
Cadman hissed, dropping his sword to the ground and walking toward the Prince.
“Baylin, we must get you inside to Master Keon,” Luana protested.
He shook his head, pushing Luana back with his hand. He looked to Ferric. “Take her. I want to speak to my uncle.”
Luana fought against Ferric’s grip. “We have to get you inside, now.” Rydel and Faylen came over and helped Ferric hold Luana to the side, out of the way.
“Uncle,” Baylin rasped.
Cadman looked at Baylin, then to Luana, Ferric and the rest before turning back to Baylin. “What is this?”
“I need to make peace with you.” Baylin coughed. “We must make peace before I die.”
“No!” Luana pulled against Ferric. When she could not pull free of him, she turned and cried into his chest.
“Peace?” Cadman looked at Baylin warily. “Fine. Be at peace.” He dismissed the sentiment, waving his hand in the air as though swatting a fly.
“No, we must do it properly,” Baylin groaned, his words catching in his throat. He mumbled something incoherent.
“What?” Cadman said. “Speak up, I can’t make out a word you’re saying.”
Baylin coughed hard, grimacing in pain. He motioned for Cadman to kneel down closer. “Please, there must be peace between us.”
Lord Cadman huffed and rolled his eyes. He knelt beside the Prince, leaning in so he could hear him. “I’m here. What do you need to be at peace?”
“Just this.” Baylin slid a dagger into the left side of Cadman’s chest, just under the arm where the armor did not meet. Blood poured from the wound as he withdrew the blade. “Now I can be at peace.”
Cadman fell the ground, trying to hold the wound closed with one hand while attempting to crawl across the ground to his sword. Luana shook free from Ferric’s grip and ran over, picking up the sword.
Faylen and Rydel rushed to Baylin’s side, quickly setting to work on his wound.
Baylin struggled to sit up, but the pain was too much. He watched as Cadman stopped and looked up at Luana.
“You can’t hurt us anymore,” she said. She lifted the blade high above her head.
Darkness swam in Baylin’s vision. He felt a warmth in his chest as the two elves began chanting in a language foreign to him. He heard the sound of a sword coming down, then there was nothing.