I cock a brow. It seems too simple.

“All of it.” The creature leers down at us, its greasy hair swinging from side to side. “It will be mine and no longer yours; I don’t share.”

“Ask for another price,” Serus hisses.

I turn back to the creature that guards the bridge. “What else could we offer you?”

The creatures lurches closer, bringing its maw only a few feet from me. I can smell its charred breath and see its yellowed teeth. I don’t flinch even though my stomach churns. “No other price, fool,” it snaps. “My offer is final.”

“Give us a moment,” I say quietly as the creature pulls away.

I turn to the group somberly. Verity is pale, lips pinched. Erzur’s jaw is locked tight and her steely eyes are trained furiously on the creature. “I’ll do it,” I murmur. “I should be the one to do it.”

“Yes, good.” Sadal nods.

“Oh, shut up,” Thal snarls, glowering at the Dark God. He looks at me, growing serious again. He may not know my most precious memory, but he knows its subject. And he knows she will be taken from my mind for the rest of my life. “Let me.”

“No.” I shake my head. “Don’t be stupid, Thal. This is for the best.”

“Hold on,” Verity interrupts as Thal opens his mouth to argue again. “Let me pay the toll.”

My lips pull back into a tired smile. “Out of the question Verity.”

“Why?” She crosses her arms stubbornly.

I stroke her cheek, unable to help myself, knowing that soon I won’t remember such a moment ever again. “Because it would kill me to know you lost something so precious. Let me do it, darling.”

Her eyes close as she leans into my touch. “It would do the same for me.”

“Then let me be selfish,” I say.

Verity’s brows knit together and she grimaces. “I don’t want to.”

Thal puts a hand on Verity’s shoulder. “You two are making me nauseous,” he sighs theatrically but I see the pain in his eyes. “I won’t let either of you forget, and then you can end this heart-wrenching display of emotion.”

“Thal,” I say warningly.

He cuts me off, dragging me away from the others. His green eyes are fierce, pained, but determined. “Listen, Altair, as much as I want to break open your skull for the pain you’ve caused Verity, I can’t let you forget the only woman you’ve ever loved. You’re a selfish bastard, don’t stop now on my account.”

“It’s better this way,” I murmur. “If I forget her, my covenant to Erzur will no longer cause either of us pain.”

“It won’t cause you pain.” He stabs a finger into my chest.

“Then I’m still being selfish.” I give him a tired grin.

Thal straightens, looking defeated. “Then make your goodbyes.”

I turn back to Verity and dive deep into her pale blue eyes. Her tongue runs over her lips, anxiously as our eyes meet. Thal is right, in my long, selfish life, Verity is the only person besides Navi and Thal I ever truly cared for after my parents died. Without her, I don't know who I would be. It's been less than a year since we've known each other, and yet I'm already twice the man I was before. I wonder vaguely if I'll go back to who I used to be once I no longer remember her sharp words or sweet laughter.

Erzur gives us this moment. Deep in her black heart, she knows what honor is. I pull Verity into my chest and press my lips against hers. She clings to me, and I feel every beat of her heart in tandem with mine. My hands cup the sides of her face, and I nibble playfully on her bottom lip. She laughs softly but my cheek grows wet with her tears.

“Goodbye,” I whisper against Verity’s lips, so softly only she can hear. “When it’s over, introduce yourself to me again. I don’t want to live without at least knowing your name.”

“I will,” she murmurs, wrapping her arms around me tightly.

Erzur’s voice cuts through the moment. “What is he doing?”

I pull away from Verity in time to see Thal step up to the creature. He faces off against it stubbornly and sheathes his sword. “I am ready to pay the toll.”

“Thal,” I shout, voice catching in my throat. I lunge for him, panic welling in my gut.

“Excellent,” the creature purrs.

As I reach him, Thal disappears in a swirl of shadows. The creature wraps him in its enormous hand and drags him below the surface of the river. “Thal!” Verity screams next to me.

She rushes to the wall, stretching out over the boiling water. I hear her heart beating wildly, filled with a fear that is only matched by my own. My eyes rove over the river, searching for any sign of him. I whirl on Serus, eyes flaring with anger. “You never said it would kill him,” I growl.

“You never asked, and I didn’t know,” Serus snaps, hackles raised.

“I swear on all the gods, if he dies, I will flay you,” I roar, sword in hand.

Suddenly, black water sprays over us as the creatures reemerge. It opens its grotesque hand, and Thal tumbles out of its palm and onto the hard stone. I rush to his side and check for a pulse. Water seeps from his drenched body onto the stones, wetting my knees. His pulse is faint but growing stronger. A wave of relief crashes into me like a summer storm and I choke back a cry.

“The toll has been paid, his memories of the girl are most delightful,” the creature says, almost purring. “You may cross the bridge.”

“Damn you,” I hiss, staring into its vacant eyes.

The creature sinks back into the churning water without a word. I turn back to Thal as he stirs. He spits up water, coughing violently. “Gods, my head aches,” he groans.

I help him up into a sitting position as the others crowd around us. Verity’s hands twist anxiously. “You’re alright,” I murmur. “Can you walk?”

“Yeah.” Thal nods, holding

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