Toward Countless Possibilities

"Someone's still alive!"

Francois found a dying Attacker while turning over the bodies.

Annan and Michael approached the Attacker Francois had rolled over. Pink, frothy blood seeped from the poor man's mouth and nose, and his chest was caved in. Gram had clearly done it.

"Save me..." the Attacker begged Annan in a breathy voice when he saw his look of pity. "I know a lot..."

"Who sent you?" Michael asked.

"...Lady Fine Wine."

Michael and Annan exchanged a glance. "Why would Lady Fine Wine attack me?" Annan asked.

The dying Attacker's words came slower and slower. "She wanted you... and Orr... Meadow... at odds... Save me... Please..."

"Cough... my Joe..."

He murmured a name precious to him, then gradually fell silent. His sunken chest stopped moving, and the crow on a branch was reflected in his dull, lifeless eyes.

Annan had seen dead people before, and bodies lay all around them. Even so, the man's final regret and longing touched him.

To everyone else, this was a trivial incident. To the man who had died, it was the end of his life.

"Dust to dust... earth to earth..." Annan murmured.

Michael, Klein, and the others walked away for the moment. Michael thought Annan would remain downcast for a while, but Annan soon caught up.

Having finished her sacrifice, Katarina pushed her ulna back into her arm through her palm and twisted her wrist to set it in place. As though nothing had happened, she retrieved her longsword and cut off the Attacker leader's head.

When Katarina lifted the corpse's head and exposed its neck, Annan turned toward the distant Snow Mountains. Without looking back, he asked, "Wouldn't the Dwarf Giant's head be better?"

Katarina's reply came amid the grisly sound of flesh being cut.

"This is my Spoils of