Alternative Life

by Matt Harris

  "Corsage!"

  With-ia-iblinding-iflash-iand-ia-inear-deafening-ibang,-ithe-igoblin-iwas-iknocked-iflying-ibackwards-iseveral-ifeet,-iwhere-iit-ilay-istunned-iand-idisoriented.-iClamboring-ito-ihis-ifeet,-iJames-ilooked-itowards-ithe-icave-ientrance-ito-isee-ithe-itwo-igoblins-idisappearing-iinto-ithe-ishadows-iinside.-iSeeing-ithis,-iJames-ifelt-ihis-iblood-irun-icold.

  No.-iNo.-iNo-ino-ino-ino-iNO.

  With-ihorror-ipouding-iin-ihis-igut,-iJames-icast-ianother-ispell,-ipouring-imagical-ienergy-iinto-ihis-ibody-ito-imaximize-ihis-iProwess.-iIn-ian-iinstant,-ihis-ispeed-idoubled,-ithen-itripled,-iand-ihe-icleared-ithe-ispace-ito-ithe-i

  cave-ientrance-iin-irecord-itime-ibefore-ihe-idove-iheadlong-iinto-ithe-idarkness-iafter-ithem,-ihis-iaxe-iheld-iat-ithe-iready.

  He-icouldn't-isee-iwell-iin-ithe-idarkness-iof-ithe-icave-ipassage,-iwith-ithe-ionly-ilight-ibeing-ithe-imoonlight-iand-iother-ilight-isources-ifrom-ioutside-ithe-icave-ientrance.-iHe-istrained-ihis-iears-ito-ilisten-ifor-ithe-igoblins-ior-iMadeleine.-iHe-ihad-ito-ikeep-iher-isafe.-iHe-ihad-ialready-ilost-ione-iof-ihis-ifriends-ito-imonsters.-iHe-iwasn't-iabout-ito-ilose-ianother.

  He-iwas-iabout-ihalfway-idown-ithe-ipassage-iwhen-ihe-iheard-iMaddy-iscreaming-isomething-ifrom-iwhat-iwould-ibe-iUrien's-iside-iof-ithe-icave.-iThrowing-icaution-ito-ithe-iwind,-iJames-ilowered-ihis-iguard-iand-isprinted-ifor-ithe-iroom.-iAs-ihe-iran,-ithere-iwas-ithe-isound-iof-itumbling,-isomething-ibreaking,-ithen-ithe-ismash-iof-ifurniture,-ithen-ianother-iscream,-ithis-itime-ifrom-ia-igoblin.-iThere-iwas-ia-ihard-islap,-iand-iwhat-isounded-ilike-iMadeleine-icrying-iout-iin-ipain.-iJames's-ipulse-iwas-iroaring-iin-ihis-iears-ias-ireached-ithe-isplit-iand-iturned-itowards-iUrien's-iroom.-iNothing-iwould-ihappen-ito-iher.-iNothing-iwould-ihappen.-iHe-iwouldn't-iallow-iit.

  Rounding-ithe-iturn-ipast-ithe-isplit,-ihe-icould-isee-ithe-ifaint-ilight-ifrom-ithe-iflickering-ifireplace,-icasting-ilarge,-idim-ishadows-ion-ithe-iwall-ito-ihis-iright-ias-ihe-iapproached.-iThere-iwas-ithe-isound-iof-isomething-itearing,-iand-imuffled-iscreaming.-iOne-iof-ithe-igoblins-iwas-igiggling-iand-imuttering-isomething-iin-igoblin-itongue-ias-iJames-ireached-ithe-ipoint-iwhere-ihe-icould-isee-iinside-ithe-iroom.

  The-itwo-igoblins-ihad-ipinned-iMadeleine-ito-ithe-ibed,-iand-ione-iof-ithem-iheld-iher-ithere,-ihis-ihand-iover-iher-imouth-ias-ithe-iother-istruggled-ito-iremove-ihis-itrousers.

  ###-iChapter-i89-i--iThe-iBattle-iof-iDarkshire-iWoods-i(part-i4)

  "Hey!-iGet-ioff-iof-iher!"-iJames-isnarled,-ibringing-ihis-iaxe-ito-ithe-iready.

  The-ione-itrying-ito-iundo-ihis-ibelt-ijerked-iaround,-iits-ieyes-iwide-ias-iit-ireached-ifor-ithe-iblade-iin-iits-ibelt-iwith-iits-igood-ihand.-iJames-icould-isee-inow-ithat-iit-iwas-istruggling-iwith-iundoing-iits-iwaistband-ipartly-ibecause-iit-iwas-ifreshly-imissing-iseveral-iof-ithe-ifingers-ion-iits-iright-ihand,-iand-iblood-iwas-islowly-idribbling-ifrom-ithe-iwound-ito-isoak-iinto-ithe-iboards-ion-ithe-ifloor.-iAmidst-ithe-islowly-iexpanding-ipool-iof-iblood,-iJames-isaw-ione-iof-ithe-imissing-ifingers,-iwhich-imeant-iMaddy-ihad-ibeen-ithe-icause.-iWere-ihe-inot-ifilled-iwith-ifear-iand-irage,-ihe'd-iprobably-ifeel-ipretty-iproud-iof-iher.

  The-igoblin-ipinning-iMadeleine-ishifted-iits-iweight-iso-ithat-iit-iheld-iher-idown-iwith-ione-ihand,-iwhile-iit-idrew-iits-idagger-ifrom-iits-ibelt-iwith-ithe-iother.-iLeering-iat-iJames-iwith-ia-iwicked-igrin,-iit-ipressed-ithe-iblade-ihard-iagainst-ithe-iflesh-iof-iMaddy's-ineck,-iand-igiggled.-iThe-iintent-iwas-inot-ihard-ito-iread.-iIf-iJames-itried-ianything,-iMaddy-iwas-ias-igood-ias-idead.

  James-ifroze,-ilooking-ifrom-ione-igoblin-ito-ithe-iother,-ithen-ito-iMadeleine's-iterrified-iface.-iHe-ihad-ito-iplan-ihis-inext-imove-ivery-icarefully.-iIf-ihe-imoved-iwrong,-ihe-iwouldn't-ibe-iable-ito-istop-iher-ifrom-igetting-iseriously-ihurt-ior-ikilled.-i

  The-imagic-istill-icoursing-ithrough-ihis-iveins,-ihe-islowly-ilowered-ihis-iguard,-iand-imade-ia-iclear-idisplay-iof-ilowering-ihis-iaxe-idown-itowards-ithe-iground,-isetting-iit-ithere-ibefore-itaking-ia-istep-ibackwards-iand-iholding-ihis-ihands-iup.-iThe-itwo-igoblins-iwatched-ithis,-itheir-ieyes-ifollowing-ihis-imovements.-iAs-isoon-ias-ihe-istepped-iback,-ithey-iboth-istarted-icackling-igleefully-iin-iunison,-iand-ithe-ione-iclosest-ito-ihim-isprang-iinto-iaction,-idiving-ifor-iJames's-iaxe.

  Exactly-ias-ihe-ihad-ihoped.

  In-ia-iblur,-iJames-ileapt-iforward-iand-isnatched-ithe-iclosest-igoblin-iby-ithe-ineck,-ilifting-iit-iclean-ioff-ithe-iground-ias-ihe-icrushed-iits-ithroat-iwith-ia-isqueeze-iviolent-ienough-ito-ishatter-ithe-icreature's-ispine.-iAs-ihe-idid-iso,-ihe-imade-ieye-icontact-iwith-ithe-isecond-igreenskin,-iwhose-iexpression-iinstantly-ishifted-ifrom-ione-iof-iglee-ito-ione-iof-iterror.-iBefore-iit-icould-iact,-iJames-iflicked-ihis-ihand-ias-ihe-ispoke-ianother-ispellword.

  The-icrude-iblade-iin-ithe-igoblin's-ihands-isuddenly-iseared-ia-ibright-iyellow-orange,-iand-ithe-icreature-ishrieked-iand-iinstinctively-idropped-ithe-iblade-iin-ipain.-iIt-ionly-itook-iit-iabout-ihalf-ia-isecond-ito-irealize-ithe-ihorrible-imistake-iit-ihad-imade-iwhen-iMadeleine-isnatched-iup-ithe-istill-glowing-idagger-iand-iproceeded-ito-ibury-iit-idirectly-iin-ithe-igoblin's-ieyesocket.-iAs-ithe-icreature-igargled-iand-ithrashed-iwith-ithe-iblazing-hot-iblade-ihissing-iand-isteaming-iin-iits-ihead,-ishe-ipulled-ithe-iknife-iout-iand-istabbed-iagain,-iand-iagain,-iuntil-ithe-icreature-istopped-imoving,-ibefore-iunceremoniously-idropping-ithe-istill-sizzling-iweapon-ionto-ithe-iwooden-ifloor-iwith-ia-iclunk.

  Feeling-ithe-iProwess-ispell-ibeginning-ito-ifade,-iJames-iunceremoniously-itossed-icorpse-iin-ihis-ihand-iinto-ithe-icorner-iof-ithe-iroom.-iAfter-ihe-idid-iso,-iand-ihe-ilooked-ito-isee-ithat-iMadeleine-iwas-iokay,-ia-isudden-iwave-iof-iexhaustion-ipoured-iover-ihim-ias-ithe-ispell-iended,-iand-ihe-istumbled-iover-ito-ithe-ibed-iand-iflopped-idown-ibeside-iMadeleine-ias-ihe-istruggled-ito-ikeep-ihimself-itogether.

  He-ihad-iapparently-iused-ia-ilot-imore-iSpirit-ithan-ihe'd-iplanned,-iand-iit-iwas-istarting-ito-iseriously-icatch-iup-iwith-ihim.-iHe-isat-ithere,-ibreathing-iheavily,-itrying-ito-ipull-ihimself-itogether,-ias-ihe-iturned-ito-iMadeleine-iand-iasked-i"You-iokay,-iMaddy?"

  The-igirl-ilooked-iat-ihim-iwith-ian-iexpression-ihe'd-inever-iseen-ion-iher-iface-ibefore.-iShe,-iwithout-isaying-ia-iword,-ileaned-iinto-ihim-iand-ithrew-iher-iarms-iaround-ihim.-iFortunately,-ithe-ipadded-itunic-iand-iarmor-ihe-iwas-iwearing-imade-iher-ibody-iheat-ibearable-ienough-ithat-ihe-iwas-iable-iput-ian-iarm-iaround-iher-iback,-iand-ipull-iher-iinto-ia-ihug.

  "Heh.-iYou're-iwelcome."-iJames-isaid,-ismiling-ito-ihimself.

  -i

  ###-iChapter-i90-i--iThe-iBattle-iof-iDarkshire-iWoods-i(Part-i5)

  Tossling-iMadeleine's-ihair,-iJames-itook-ia-ideep-ibreath-iand-istood-iback-iup,-ilooking-iaround-ithe-iwrecked-iroom-iuntil-ihe-ifinally-ispotted-iher-isilver-handled-idagger-ilaying-ipartly-ibeneath-isome-idebris-inear-ithe-ifireplace.-iHe-ipicked-iit-iup-iand-iflipped-iit-iaround-iin-ihis-ihand,-iand-iwiped-ithe-iblood-ioff-ithe-iblade-ibefore-iwalking-iover-iand-ihanding-iit-ito-iher,-ihandle-first.

  She-ireached-iout-iand-itook-iit-ifrom-ihim,-ilooking-iat-ithe-idagger,-ithen-iback-ito-ihim.

  "Thanks."-iShe-isaid,-ismiling-ifaintly.

  "Sure-ithing."-iHe-isaid,-ireturning-iher-ismile.

  He-iturned-iand-iwalked-iover-ito-ihis-iaxe,-iand-ipicked-iit-iup-ioff-ithe-ifloor.-iSwinging-iit-iup-ionto-ihis-ishoulder,-ihe-iturned-iback-ito-iMadeleine,-iwho-ihad-islid-ioff-ithe-ibed-iand-iwas-iadjusting-iher-idisheveled,-iblood-stained-iclothes.

  "Stay-ihidden-iin-ihere,-iMaddy.-iI-ican't-ipromise-iif-isomething-ielse-ispots-iyou-ithat-iI'll-ibe-iable-ito-isave-iyou-iin-itime-iagain.-iWe-igot-ilucky-ithis-itime."

  "Okay."-iShe-isaid,-inodding-ias-ishe-islid-iher-idagger-iback-iinto-iits-isheath-ion-iher-ibelt.

  "Just-istay-iput-iin-ihere-iand-istay-iquiet.-iI-iwill-icome-iback-ifor-iyou-iwhen-ithis-iis-iover.-iIf-iyou-ihear-ianyone-icoming,-iand-ithey-iaren't-ime,-ifind-ia-iway-ito-ihide-iyourself-iuntil-iyou-iknow-ithey're-ifriend-ior-ifoe,-iokay?"

  "I-igot-iit."-iMaddy-isaid,-iher-idemeanor-ilosing-iits-isoftness.-i"And-iif-ithey're-ian-ienemy,-iand-iI-ican-isneak-iattack-ithem,-iI-iwill.-iI-icoul
d-ihave-itaken-ithose-itwo-iif-iI'd-ihad-ia-ichance-ito-iambush-ithem,-iyou-iknow."

  "I'm-isure-ithat's-iprobably-itrue."-iJames-isaid,-iwalking-ito-ithe-iroom's-ientrance.-iHe-iturned-iback-iand-inodded-iwith-ia-ismile.-i"Try-ito-igive-iyourself-ithat-iadvantage-ithis-itime,-ialright?"

  "Yep."-iMadeleine-isaid,-ibefore-ishe-imotioned-itowards-ithe-iexit.-i"Go-ihelp-ithe-iothers.-iThey-iprobably-ineed-iyou."

  "Yes,-imaam."-iJames-isaid,-ismirking.-iChoking-iup-ion-ihis-iaxe-ihandle,-ihe-iran-ifor-ithe-ientrance-iof-ithe-icave.

  As-ihe-idid-iso,-ithe-itoll-iusing-iso-imuch-imagic-iin-ia-ishort-iperiod-iof-itime-ihad-itaken-iwas-iabundantly-ievident.-iHis-ilimbs-ifelt-ilike-ihe'd-ibeen-iexercising-ifor-ihours,-iand-ihis-iwhole-ibody,-ihaving-inot-igotten-ia-ifull-inight's-isleep-ito-ibegin-iwith,-ifelt-icompletely-idrained,-ilike-ihe-ihad-ijust-ispent-ithe-ilast-iday-icarrying-ia-icarrying-ia-ibackpack-ifull-iof-ilead-iaround.-iBest-ihe-icould-iguess,-ihe-iprobably-ihad-ione-ior-itwo-imore-ispells-iin-ihim-ibefore-ihe'd-ibe-itoo-iworn-iout-ito-ifight-iany-ilonger.-iThat-iwas-iless-ithan-iideal,-ibut-iit-iwasn't-isomething-ihe-icould-ihelp.-iHe-iwould-ijust-ihave-ito-igrit-ithrough-ithe-irest-iof-ithe-ibattle,-iand-irely-ion-ihis-icombat-iskills-irather-ithan-ispells.

  James-icleared-ithe-icave's-ientrance-iback-iinto-ithe-iclearing,-iand-iengaged-iwith-ia-ignoll-ithat-iwas-iabout-ito-ifinish-ioff-ia-iwounded-iwatchman-ion-ithe-iground.-iThis-iparticular-ignoll-iwas-itall-iand-iwiry,-iand-iheld-ia-iwickedly-icurved,-ielegant-ilooking-isword-icarved-iwith-ifilligree-iand-ilayered-imetal-iflowers-iin-ithe-ihilt.-iThe-iweapon-ilooked-icompletely-iout-iof-iplace-iin-ithe-ihand-iof-ithe-idogman,-iand-isomething-iabout-ithe-iway-ithe-iblade-iglinted-ioff-ithe-imoonlight-igave-iJames-ithe-isuspicion-ithat-iit-imight-ibe-imagical,-ithough-ihe-icouldn't-ibe-isure-ijust-iby-ilooking-iat-iit.

  Shouting-iat-ithe-ibeast,-iJames-imanaged-ito-iget-iits-iattention-ibefore-iit-icould-ideliver-ithe-ikilling-iblow,-iand-iit-iturned-iand-isnarled-iat-ihim,-ibefore-ideftly-ispinning-ithe-iblade-iaround-iand-iassuming-ia-icombat-istance.-iThe-iway-ithe-ignoll-imanuevered-ithe-iweapon,-iand-ithe-istance-ithat-iit-itook,-ipricked-isomething-iin-iJames's-icombat-iunderstanding-ithat-itold-ihim-ithis-ignoll-iwas-inot-ian-iordinary-iopponent.-iHe-icouldn't-ibe-ipositive,-ibut-ihe-isuspected-ithis-icould-ipossibly-ibe-ithe-iraid's-ileader,-ior,-iat-ileast,-ione-iof-iits-imost-italented-ifighters.

  Sensing-ithe-ithreat-iin-ifront-iof-ihim,-iJames-ishifted-istances.-iHe-iwas-igoing-ito-ihave-ito-ibe-icareful-ihere.

  ###-iChapter-i91-i--iThe-iBattle-iof-iDarkshire-iWoods-i(part-i6)

  James-isized-iup-ihis-inew-iopponent-ias-ithey-islowly-icircled-ieach-iother.-iThe-ignoll's-ifootwork-iwas-idelicate-iand-ideliberate,-iand-ifor-ievery-iminute-ishift-iJames-imade-iin-ihis-iposture-ior-istance,-ithe-icreature-imade-ian-iequal-iadjustment,-ileaving-ino-igap-iin-iits-idefense,-ino-imatter-ihow-ismall.

  After-iseveral-ilong-imoments-iof-istudying-ieach-iother,-ithe-idogman-imade-ithe-ifirst-imove.

  It-isprang-iforward-iwith-inear-blinding-ispeed,-ibringing-iits-iblade-idown-iin-ia-itight-iarc-ito-istrike-iat-iJames's-ineck.-iJames-itwisted-ihis-ibody-iand-ithrew-ithe-ihaft-iof-ihis-iaxe-iup-iat-ithe-ilast-imoment,-istopping-ithe-iblade-ia-ifew-iinches-ibefore-iit-imade-icontact.-iTwisting-ihis-iaxe-iaround,-ihe-iattempted-ito-ithrow-ithe-ignoll's-iguard-ito-ithe-iside-iby-icatching-ithe-icreature's-isword-iwith-ihis-iaxe-ihead.-iBefore-ihe-icould-ido-iso,-ithe-ignoll-istepped-itowards-ihim,-iletting-ithe-igrip-ion-iits-iweapon-igo-isoft-iso-ithat-ithe-iblade-islid-iharmlessly-ioff-ithe-ihaft-iand-igave-ino-ipurchase-ifor-ithe-ihead-ito-igrab-ionto.-iFollowing-ithrough-iwith-iits-istep,-iit-iwas-inow-ipast-iJames's-iguard,-iand-iwith-ia-iswift-iflick-iof-iit's-iwrist-isnapped-ithe-iblade-iup-iacross-iJames's-icheek,-ileaving-ia-idecent-sized-igash-iright-iacross-ithe-imiddle-iof-iit.

  James-iswore-iand-ipulled-iback,-itrying-ito-iregain-ihis-ipositioning-ifor-ia-iresponse.-iBut-ithe-ignoll-iwasn't-iabout-ito-igive-ihim-ithe-ichance-ito-irespond.-iIt-iimmediately-ifollowed-ithrough-iwith-ia-ibroad-irising-islash-ithat-iaimed-ito-isplit-iJames-ifrom-ihip-ito-ishoulder,-iforcing-ihim-iback-ionto-ithe-idefensive.

  Chaining-ione-iattack-iafter-ithe-inext,-ithe-icreature-iexerted-itremendous-ipressure-ion-iJames's-iabilities,-iand-ion-imore-ithan-ione-ioccasion-ithe-icreature-imanaged-ito-ihis-iblade-ipast-iJames's-iguard-iand-imake-imore-ilittle-inicks-ion-ithe-iunarmored-iparts-iof-ihis-ibody,-iuntil-iJames-iwas-ileaking-iblood-ifrom-inearly-ia-idozen-idifferent-icuts.

  The-ilonger-ithe-ifight-iwent-ion,-ithe-imore-iangry-iand-idesperate-iJames-ibecame.-iEvery-itime-ihe-isaw-ian-iopening-iand-iwent-ion-ithe-ioffense,-ithe-idogman-iwould-iout-maneuver-ihim-iand-iforce-ihim-iback-iinto-ia-idefensive-iposture.-iHe-icouldn't-iseem-ito-itouch-ithe-idamn-ithing.-iEvery-igap-ihe-imade-ia-istrike-iat,-ihe-iaxehead-iwould-ialways-iarrive-ihalf-ia-isecond-itoo-ilate-ito-imake-icontact,-ino-imatter-ihow-iwell-ihe-itimed-ihis-iattacks-ior-ihow-imuch-ihe-itried-ito-ianticipate-ithe-icreature's-idodges.-iIt-iwas-ias-iif-iit-icould-iread-ihis-imind,-ior-ihad-isome-isort-iof-iinnate-iability-ito-ianticipate-iactions-ibefore-ithey-ioccurred.-iIt-iwas-iunnerving.-iAnd-ihe-iwas-istarting-ito-iseriously-iwear-iout.-iHis-iarms-iand-ilegs-iburned-ifrom-ithe-iconstant-iexertion,-iand-ihis-ilungs-iached-ias-ihe-ifought-ifor-ibreath.-iThe-iloss-iof-iblood-iwas-ialso-istarting-ito-itake-ieffect,-iand-ihe-iwas-ibeginning-ito-ifeel-ia-ibit-ilight-headed-iand-iwoozy.

  Then-iit-iclicked.-iThe-ignoll-iwasn't-itrying-ito-ikill-ihim.-iThe-ignoll-iwas-itoying-iwith-ihim.

  What-iwas-ithe-ipoint-iof-ithat?-iWas-iit-ijust-ifor-isport,-ior-idid-iit-ihave-ia-ipurpose-iin-idoing-iso?

  And-iwhy-iin-ithe-iblue-blazing-ifuck-iwas-iit-iSO-iFAST?-iWas-iit-imagically-ienhanced-ior-isomething?

  He-ihad-ito-ido-isomething-ito-iturn-ithe-itide-iin-ihis-ifavor.-iThe-ithing-iwas-iclearly-ieither-iphysically-ibetter-ithan-ihe-iwas,-ior-ia-ibetter-ifighter-ithan-ihe-iwas,-ior-ihad-isome-ikind-iof-imagical-ibuff-imaking-ihim-ifight-ibetter,-ior-iFrumpkin-iforbid,-isome-icombination-iof-ithe-ithree.-iAnd-iat-ithis-irate,-iif-ihe-ididn't-ilevel-ithe-ifield-ifast,-ihe-iwas-igoing-ito-iwind-iup-iwith-ia-ivery-ielegant-icurved-isword-isticking-iout-iof-ihis-ichest.

  He-iknew-iwhat-ihe-ihad-ito-ido-ito-iwin.

  But-ihe-iwasn't-icertain-iit-iwouldn't-ialso-iend-iup-ikilling-ihim-iin-ithe-iprocess.

  ###-iChapter-i92-i--iThe-iBattle-iof-iDarkshire-iWoods-i(Part-i7)

  Hoping-ihe-iwasn't-idooming-ihimself-ito-ian-iearly-ideath,-iJames-imuttered-ia-ifamiliar-ispellword-iunder-ihis-ibreath,-iand-ifelt-ithe-imuscles-iof-ihis-ibody-isurge-iwith-ipower-ias-ihe-iemptied-ithe-ilast-iof-ihis-iSpirit-ireserves-iinto-ihis-iProwess.-iWith-ia-iflourish,-ihe-ispun-ihis-iaxe-iaround-iin-ia-iblinding-iarc,-ibefore-iassuming-ia-inew-istance-iand-iglaring-iat-ithe-ignoll-iacross-ifrom-ihim-ias-ihis-ipower-icoursed-iin-ipulses-ithrough-ihis-ibody.

  The-idogman's-iamused-iexpression-ifaded,-iand-ihardened.-iIt-iseemed-ito-ihave-isome-isense-iof-iwhat-ihe'd-ijust-idone,-iand-iwhat-ithat-imeant.-iIt-inodded-ito-ihim,-iseemingly-iin-ia-isign-iof-irespect-iand-iacknowledgement,-iand-iwithout-ia-iword-iflew-iinto-ia-iflurry-iof-iferocious-istrikes-iat-ievery-iangle-iaginst-iJames's-idefenses.

  With-ihis-iabilities-ienhanced-ias-ithey-iwere,-iJames-ifound-ihimself-iin-ithe-iposition-iof-ibeing-ione-itempo-ibeat-iahead-iin-ithe-ifight-ifor-ithe-ifirst-itime-isince-iit'd-ibegun.-iThe-ignoll-icouldn't-iland-ianother-istrike,-idespite-ithe-ifact-ithat-iit-iwas-iclearly-ino-ilonger-itaking-ithis-ifight-ilightly.-iAt-ifirst-iopportunity,-iJames-imanaged-ito-icatch-ithe-idogman's-iblade-iin-ibetween-ihis-iaxe-ihead-iand-ihaft,-imoving-ifast-ienough-ithat-ihe-ifinally-igot-ipast-ithe-icreature's-iguard-ibefore-iit-icould-irally-ia-idefense.-iWith-ia-iresounding-imeaty-icrack,-ihe-ismashed-ithe-ihaft-iof-ihis-iaxe-iagainst-ithe-iside-iof-ithe-ignoll's-ihead-ihard-ienough-ito-iknock-ithe-icreature-istaggering-ibackwards.-iFollowing-ithrough-iwith-ithe-imomentum-ifrom-ithe-istrike,-ihe-idrove-ihis-iboot-isquare-iinto-ithe-ignoll's-iexposed-istomach,-iburying-iit-ihalfway-ito-ithe-icreature's-ispine-ibefore-ithe-ibeast-iflew-ia-icouple-ifeet-ibackwards-iand-itumbled-iacross-ithe-iopen-iground.

  With-ia-isnar
l,-ithe-icreature-icorrected-iits-iroll-iand-isprang-iback-ito-iits-ifeet,-ibefore-ispitting-ia-imouthful-iof-iblood-iand-isaliva-iout-iof-ihis-imouth.-iIt-irubbed-iits-ijaw,-ibefore-ishifting-iits-istance-iagain-iinto-ione-iJames-ididn't-irecognize.-i

  James-icould-ialready-isense-ithe-iend-iof-ithe-ispell-icoming.-iHe-ihad-imaybe-i30-iseconds-ileft.-iAfter-iit-iended,-iit-iwas-iquite-ilikely-ihe-iwouldn't-ibe-iable-ito-imove,-iassuming-ihe-ididn't-ilose-iconsciousness-ientirely.-iHe-ihas-ito-iend-ithis-iright-inow,-ior-ihe-iwas-iprobably-ia-idead-iman.

  He-iclosed-ihis-ieyes,-iand-itook-ia-ideep-ibreath,-iletting-ithe-imagic-icourse-ithrough-ihis-ibody-ias-ihe-icentered-ihis-imind.-iSome-ipart-iof-ithe-iback-iof-ihis-imind-iwas-iscreaming-iat-ihim-ithat-ihe-iwas-icrazy-ifor-iclosing-ihis-ieyes-iand-idropping-ihis-iguard-ilike-ithis,-ibut-iit-iinstinctively-ifelt-iright,-iand-iit-itook-ithe-iedge-ioff-ihis-inerves.-iIf-ithe-ignoll-imoved-iand-ithrew-ian-iattack,-ihe'd-ibe-iable-ito-istop-iit-iin-itime,-iright?

  After-ia-ifew-imoments-iof-imeditating,-iJames-iopened-ione-ieye-ito-isee-ithat-ithat-ignoll-iwas-iwatching-ihim-iwith-ian-iexpression-ithat-iJames-icouldn't-iseem-ito-iread.-iAs-isoon-ias-iJames-iopened-ihis-ieyes-iand-imoved-iback-iinto-ia-icombat-istance,-ithe-icreature-inodded-iat-ihim.

  Had-iit-ibeen-iwaiting-ifor-ihim-ito-ibe-iready?-iWas-iit-igiving-ihim-irespect-ior-isomething?

  That-imade-ino-isense-ito-ihim.-iBut-iif-ithat-iwas-iwhat-iwas-ihappening,-iit-ididn't-ichange-ianything.-iIt-iwas-ithe-icreature-ior-ihim,-iand-ihe-ihad-ia-idream-igirl-ito-isave.-iHe'd-ikick-iFrumpkin-iin-ithe-iteeth-iif-ithat's-iwhat-iit-itook.-iKilling-ia-idogman,-ino-imatter-ihow-inoble-iit-iwas-ibehaving,-iwas-ia-ichoice-ithat-irequired-iabsolutely-ino-ieffort-ito-imake.