Page 195 (1/1)

The opulent bedcharandest I've seen yet, with ilded wall Windows look out at the darkened sky Two huge hearths are burning and the roo area, and huge bed, in addition to four squatting wardrobes

The Shadow Knight is on the side of the cha into it

"Atreyu!" I exclaim, relieved to see him I enter The door closes behind od - that body My eyes go over his muscular, thick frame slowly, from the dark hair to his broad shoulders, slender hips, and the thighs thatThe only part of him I don't find attractive: the boar head

"I'm here to help," I say aardly

"No one can help"

"Isn't this e're meant to do?"

The boar head swivels towards ray eyes of the warrior side of him that's never fully under his control He's ready to killin rowls

"You have to try, right? You can't let the world go without fighting until the lastme

I really don't like that look "Can we talk without the head?"

He doesn't move

"It's me, your battle-witch, not your enemy," I remind him "Just for a minute No boar head You can put it back on before youwhatever"

He raises his hands and pulls it off His face is stony, alli he had a plan

A little less freaked out, I nervously inch closer "You have to try, Atreyu"

"Two kingdoms stand defiant and I have surrendered iving up?" I ask, baffled "Just like that?"

"I tried to enter the chainates 'Tis not accessible by any means I cannot defeat Brown Sun Lake when my armies are too far I cannot win," he responds "I aht, the last of my line to have failed"

"No! I refuse to accept that answer! You spent twenty-five years away from home to prevent this Your forefathers spent a thousand years doing the sa hi so to reconsider "Atreyu, you ht!"