"Do it."
"I cannot."
Kaavi's face tightened.
"You saw what he has done."
Viktor looked down at the sword, his fingers trembling around the hilt.
Behind Them, Gavril's voice finally broke through.
"Stop, Kaavi!"
Kaavi turned.
Gavril forced himself upright. His face was pale; his body still swayed from the sedative. But he was awake.
"You are hurting the kid."
Kaavi looked at Viktor then back at Gavril.
"He needs to understand."
"He understands enough."
"He needs to experience this."
Gavril stared at him.
"Experience what?"
Kaavi's voice became colder.
"If he is to succeed me, he must know what it means to make a decision when there is no clean answer."
Gavril pushed himself away from the wagon.
"That is not teaching him."
Kaavi tightened his fist.
"Then what do you call it?"
"You are asking a terrified child to murder a man."
"He is not some man; he is an evil bastard that need to be killed."
"Still Viktor is a child, look at him. He is shaking."
"Don't interfere Gavril!"
Veyl stood several paces away, watching both men. He didn't know what to do, he looked at Gavril then Kaavi and then Viktor. If Gavril moved to do something he would as well. Until then, he waited.
Gavril took another step.
"Put the sword down, kid"
Kaavi's expression changed, something behind his eyes shifted.
"Viktor."
The boy looked at him.
"Now."
Viktor raised the sword. His hands were shaking so badly that the blade trembled in the air.
Tears gathered at the corner of his eyes.
He looked at Samuel then Kaavi. Then back at the blade.
"Enough!"
Gavril's voice rose.
His hands closed around the handle of his axe.
Viktor flinched.
Kaavi's eyes narrowed.
Gavril stepped toward them.
"Move away from there kid."
Kaavi didn't move. Gavril stopped beside Viktor. He looked down at the boy.
"Give me that."
Viktor released the sword immediately.
Gavril looked at Kaavi and then at Samuel. His jaw tightened.
"Have you gone crazy, you old fool?"
Kaavi's hands twitched.
Gavril continued.
"Cant you see the kid?"
He raised his axe.
"He cannot kill someone like this."
The axe came down, splitting Samuel's into two. Gavril lowered the axe. He looked toward Viktor.
"That is enough kid, you did well."
Kaavi stared at Gavril, something inside him broke.
"You…"
His voice trembled; he felt like it was his authority that was challenged.
Gavril frowned.
"What?"
Kaavi stepped toward him.
Veyl moved instinctively.
Kaavi's fist struck Gavril across the face, Gavril fell sideways.
Veyl immediately stepped between them. He reached for his knives but then stopped. He didn't want to draw steel against Kaavi.
"Kaavi."
The old man looked at him.
Hel tried to grab his shoulder. Kaavi moved faster than he expected. Kaavi's fist struck Veyl beneath the ribs.
The air left his lungs, he dropped to one knee, clutching his stomach.
Kaavi had already turned away. His attention returned to Gavril.
Gavril was crawling through the snow, trying to reach the side of the wagon. Trying to find something solid to support his back.
"Come on..."
Kaavi walked toward him.
Gavril looked up. His voice was weak now.
"You old bastard..."
He reached the wagon. His back finally touched the wooden wheel, he slid against it.
"...get back to your senses. Have you finally gone senile."
Kaavi raised his fist.
Gavril raised his hand, to try to deflect the attack. Only to keep him back.
Viktor stood several paces away. His eyes remained fixed on Kaavi.
Then...
Something came back to him. A voice.
His Father's voice, a room. Kaavi tied to bed. Artur standing beside him. A ring catching the light.
Words Viktor had heard many times without ever understanding what they mean.
His fingers closed around the ring; he got from his father.
He wore the ring.
He raised his fist, pointing it toward Kaavi.
Gavril was still speaking but he couldn't fully understand what he said, only fragments reached him.
"...Stop...listen..."
"...hey...old bastard..."
Viktor Whispered something.
Kaavi heard it, he looked toward him.
The ring began to glow.
"Strength of day…"
The light grew brighter.
"...strength of night..."
Gavril squinted.
"Viktor..."
The ring flashed, a narrow beam of light-struck Kaavi,
For a moment…
Kaavi stood completely still, then his entire body went limp. He collapsed into the snow.
The clearing fell silent.
Viktor stared at the ring. He had no idea what he had just done.