"You fight well, I am impressed." Resper commends as she emerges from the chilly waters behind Shella and Tolis.
Ralph and Theo grumpily pull a disoriented Adriel out of the river, the appalled king coughing out water and grunting in pain from his dislodged shoulder.
"Silence him or he will rouse the trolls!" Dorian angrily snaps, striding towards the injured king as Theo and Ralph lay him down on the sand by the river.
"My hand . . . is it broken?" Adriel wails in panic.
Dorian draws out a knife and places the sharp edge against Adriel's neck. "Be quiet and endure the pain like a man! This knife will shut you up permanently if you scream one more time." He snarls in a malicious tone while everyone except Resper shakes their heads.
"We will have to leave him here." Resper states. "The way ahead is too dangerous for us to carry an injured idiot."