"…pant…pant… N— Not like… like this…!"
Meilin, kneeling on the ashy ground, was panting heavily and glaring up at her opponents. Her body was covered with wounds and bruises. Obviously suffering some broken bones, she clutched her side with one hand and leaned on one of her hook swords, plunged into the earth, with her other. Her second hook sword was flung over to the side.
Erik looked down at her calmly, almost with pity, hammer slung over his shoulder. Astrid stood on her other side, grinning victoriously. High above, Emma was looking down with a serene smile and obvious pride.
"There's no getting out of this," Erik told her indifferently. "You have nowhere to go, and whatever connection you had with Imogene has been cut. One way or another, we will get what we want, the only question remaining is whether you'll surrender with some dignity."
