“I trusted you!” Elias roared, slamming the traitor against the stone wall of the council hall. The clash of armor echoed, making several warriors flinch. “You stood by me for years, and you sell us out to him?”
The man—Garrick—choked under the force of Elias’s grip, blood trailing from the corner of his lip. “I did what I had to—”
“What you had to?” Elias tightened his grip. “You leaked positions. You exposed our flank to Magnus. How many died because of you, Garrick?”
I stepped forward, grabbing Elias’s arm. “Elias, stop. Killing him won’t undo what he’s done.”
He didn’t let go.
“Look at me,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “Don’t become what you hate.”
His chest heaved. His fingers twitched. And then, slowly, he released Garrick. The man collapsed onto the ground, coughing violent
