177 — THE DAY HE DIED. THE END OF THE WAR.

THE END OF HIS REIGN

***

Have you ever gotten the feeling that you’re about to die and no one can save you even if they tried?

Have you ever looked death straight in the eyes?

That was all that went through Luke’s mind as he stared at the red eyes of the demon-beast before him. His knees and heart quaked with fear and blood whooshed loudly in his ears.

Luke knew he was powerless without his amulet. Even if he’d trained for physical combat, those skills wouldn’t be of any significant help against Malcolm.

Malcolm took a step forward and Luke gulped in deeply.

“I heard Rydling had chosen a weakling to save his people.” He growled, his voice dripping with disgust. “I thought my people were bluffing. But looking at you, I guess they weren’t.

Which makes me wonder why my own brother would, out of the millions of experienced and well-trained soldiers at his disposal, choose a good-for-nothing scaredy-cat to lead a war against me.”

Malcolm burst into loud, booming laughter.

“I mean, what w