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[Two Pry drag her to her feet and twist her arms behind her back. From both sides, the sharp tongue of a dagger presses against Alice's neck.

Hemera strides past them, accompanied by her guards. In front of Isaac, she stops. "You will accept the majciam," she says, "or you will watch your friends fall to their deaths one by one before you are allowed to follow them. The winds that carry us will not hold the weight of your guilt."

"You have wings," Alice snaps. Claws dig into her scalp and pull her head back, baring her throat. She bares her teeth in return, and trembles in the grip of the Pry.

Isaac has turned pale. He looks at Alice.

"No," she says, straining against the hands that hold her, and flinches when sharp steel bites into her neck.

Isaac's chin trembles. "I accept," he says quietly.

Blades pierce Alice's skin, guilt pierces her lungs. She cranes her neck until she can look at Aris. "Please," she begs, "he's not a soldier. Don't make him fight."

There's pity in her eyes, sorrow even, but she shakes her head. "Keta is an experienced majci," she says. "She will grant him a quick and painless death."

Alice turns away from her.

"A majciam is fought with swords or daggers," Hemera says. "The choice is yours."

For a moment, determination flashes over Isaac's face. As Alice gets dragged out of the halls, he stays behind.