Chapter 25

She grabbed Neivayka’s arm and pulled her through the trees.

“No!” Neivayka protested. “We can’t leave him.”

“You can’t save them,” Nesha insisted, her voice was still choked up with her tears.

“I don’t understand! It’s like they are sacrificing themselves for no reason!” Neivayka cried.

Nesha skidded to a stop and turned on her. She grabbed Neivayka’s shoulders, startling her with the strength of her grip.

“They are not sacrificing themselves. They are escaping an otherwise bleak and hollow existence. Artor is using the last of his strength to not only free himself but to free those he had come to care for as well. That takes no little amount of power on his part. You will not cheapen his struggle by interfering with it. Do you understand now?” Nesha explained emotionless.

There was a haunted look on her face that practically begged Neivayka to not ask any further. Neivayka shook her head, feeling the tears she had been trying to hold back finally falling.