She cried, “Don’t make me do this. I won’t...”
Arvid lay behind her on the ground, completely forgotten. He groped in his other pocket, and retrieved a short-bladed folding knife. His fingers nimbly eased it open, while it was still concealed amongst the folds of his clothing. He drew his knees up under him, coiling like a snake, ready to strike. Then he threw himself forward, and plunged the knife into Gwenn’s back as she bent over her dying husband.
She felt the motion just before he landed the knife, and stiffened her shoulders. The metal blade rang and snapped as it pierced her robe, leaving Arvid holding half a blade in his hand. Gwenn stood up slowly and turned towards him, with the broken blade still protruding from her back. Arvid lunged again and slashed the other half of the bl
