Thornhand's mouth twisted, and he hesitated. Snowcore seemed to take the silence for a slither of hope, for his next line came almost gloatingly. "See! I knew you couldn't. There are rules to this, after all. You can't just take a nobleman's head as if it were food to be bought at the market."
Yet Thornhand's next line dashed away even that final ray of hopeful light. "There will be no mercy for you," he declared. "Those who move dishonourably can expect to see the favour returned."
The door was smashed straight through by Vol's hammer not long after, and with Snowcore's shouts of dismay fresh in their ears, the Sea Serpents stormed the keep, with Vol at the front of them, and Thornhand with his sword dangling in his hand near the back.
The guards didn't meet them at the stairs, or even on the second floor. There were only terrified servants in their way. They were spared, by Thornhand's hurried intervention.
