cut. "Ah, time is short. The wound is already sour. Once the cut of the razorclam was not even serious, but now, since Rotapan's been dumping his poison potions as sacrifices to that imaginary water worm in the sea, the smallest nick is deadly. Well, best get on with it. Give me the stone, girl."
Frijan's silver eyes went wide with disbelief. "You would use the stone on one such as this? One of the enemy, who held you captive in that pit? Father, how could you? At your best, your strongest, using the stone for the life song always made you ill. It will kill you in this weakened condition."
"So you never were going to make Yob well? You were just using him until you got what you wanted?" said Og.
"You know this ore?" she said incredulously.
"Well, he has done me several favors, I suppose you could say. It's kind of a complicated relationship," said Og.
"Stay out of this, little man. To me he is but an ore, so I am his enemy. Don't make me yours, too," she snapped.
Og threw up his hands and withdrew behind Cheyne.
"Well, somebody either help him or kill him," said Claria. "I can't bear seeing him suffer."
Wiggulf beckoned to his daughter again. "I said give me the stone. I am still your father, and your king. Obey, Frijan."
Out of old habit, Frijan submitted, tearing the water sapphire from her ear and handing it to him. "I cannot watch this! You come back, after all these years, after all my waiting and hoping, and now you will go, this time forever, inside the same tide. For the sake of a filthy greenskin!"
She bounded away into the forest, leaving Wiggulf holding the dark stone to his heart, his eyes following her sadly.
"I love you, Frijan," he whispered, knowing she did