“We had a pledge,” Harzet said. “I never thought to carry it out. We made our minds king of our souls; we steadied our wit with knowledge. I told you, the curse of the dragons has broken many. We have that legend, you knew it, and yet you returned to face this danger when you could have run and lived a peaceful life.”
Harzet circled, dagger in his hand. Ivanat shouted to the trees, to the skies, arms upraised. He ran circles around the clearing, indifferent to the sharp rocks beneath his bare and bleeding feet, raging up at the sky.
Harzet spoke again, more loudly. “We said our minds are our whole selves. You said it. You said, ‘Should any power of the earth break my mind, break my body so my might will not serve the demons of the earth.’ You pledged this, and I pledged to strike you dow
