Helen rolled into the grass, warm and sweet and fragrant. She reached back to touch the knife, wrapped her hands around the blood-slicked handle, and pulled. She moved so she lay on her back, to hide the bleeding, and tossed the dagger away. Sioni knelt beside her.

Something had awakened behind Sioni’s eyes, something willed her to live that she hadn’t felt before. Everything seemed brighter, more full of life, than just a few moments ago. Alfred fell to his knees before her, his bandaged face level with hers, and she was startled to feel Helen’s wet hand make its way into her own.

“Sioni,” the green light danced above Helen’s eyes, far in the distance. Sun through leaves, the most beautiful thing she’d ever seen, “You must heal as I have neglected to… Don’t let revenge and anger cloud your eyes, let faith lead you.” She felt her life leaving her, the last of her magic running into Sioni’s fingertips. “Please, Sioni… I beg you, please, do you forgive me?”

“Yes, I do.” Sioni replied through tears.