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Xiven entered and bolted the door behind hi us in darkness

Sevril reached down and tried to helpHe put his head down next to ed, half-carried me the rest of the way down the stairs I impeded him with my aardness and refusal to here I couldn’t see

Xiven stopped and felt along the wall for a torch

A few seconds later, it was lit Then, I was only se Prince Sevril’s movements

"Where’s Tomac?" I asked as the stairs ended and ere ain I tried to stop

"Thalia, for the love of all that is good, you have to keep going," Xiven said

Sevril shook his head "I don’t know I saw him run out in the first wave of troops to meet the army I hope the fool survives" Fear raced across his face and he kept running his sleeve over his eyes, evidently trying to keep the tears at bay

Xiven took the torch and now led Sevril andfor me to enter

As soon as I cross the threshold, I wished I hadn’t

It was the machine, the torture device

The iron butterfly

Every part of rabbed the handle to the door and tried to rush out Xiven held the door closed and Sevril grabbed my arms Tears raked down my face and I started to sob

A hand slapped er at Sevril

He leaned in close toYou don’t have tih my body and I punched Sevril in the face I watched in pleasure as his head snapped back and his lip started to bleed

His eyes lit up and he became excited "Yes, that’s it You pathetic excuse for a Valdyrstal You half-breed imposter to the throne"

This time I balled up both fists and focused on his pretty front teeth I was determined to take out a few "I don’t want your bloody throne, but I’rowled out Feinting a punch, I spun and kicked hirunted and then fell back into a table full of beakers and instruments Glass crashed and shattered on the stone floor

Xiven yelled atSevril’s sacrifice"

I whirled on Xiven orking on pulling open thethe machine for the next victim This one looked different than the one I spent weeks in but also different than the one I saw in Fanny’s workshop I felt like I had come full circle

"Thalia, I told you in Skyfell that I was your friend I really hope that right now, you can believe me and trust me e are about to do"

"You almost killedhim

His skin color deepened in eed you in a fight, I would have been dead anyway And if I remember correctly, you were the one who alret not finishing properly," I hissed