"You gave a fine performance, Pure Vessel. I suppose you'd have done better given more time to grow."
Crimson set the Kingslayer against Snow's neck, red eyes gleaming.
"This is the end."
His hand twitched ..the blade was a hair from severing Snow's throat ..when time itself seemed to hitch. A sword sheathed in pure light crashed against the Kingslayer, arresting its advance. Crimson's eyes widened for a heartbeat before a newcomer's punch slammed into him and hurled him back.
Audrey had returned ..drawn by the wrongness she felt in the valley ..just in time to snatch Snow from death.
Her green eyes swept the battlefield, searching for one face. It wasn't there.
Orsted was gone ..and his killer stood before her.
Crimson touched his crimson cuirass; an indentation the shape of a fist marred the plate.
"She dented my armor with a single punch…"
"A troublesome opponent," he muttered.
