Alternative Life

by Matt Harris

  ###-iChapter-i84-i--iThe-iGreen-iCompany-iHideout-i(part-i3)

  After-ia-ivery-ibrief-imoment-iof-ifeeling-ilike-ihe-iwas-ibeing-iturned-iinside-iout-ithrough-ihis-ibelly-ibutton,-iJames-ifelt-ihimself-ipop-iback-iinto-ireality-iclose-ito-ithe-iceiling-iof-iUrien's-icave-iroom.-iHe-ipromptly-iand-iunceremoniously-ifell-ichest-first-ito-ithe-iground-iwith-ia-imeaty-ithud,-idirectly-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-iRose,-iMadeleine,-iUrien,-iand-iFarien.-iAs-ihe-igot-iup-ioff-ithe-iground,-iRose-irushed-iover-iand-ihelped-ihim-iup.

  "What-ihappened-ito-iyou?"-iShe-iasked,-iher-iface-iconcerned.-i"You-iwere-isitting-iin-ifront-iof-ithe-ifire,-iand-ithe-inext-ithing-iI-iknow-iyou're-ijust...-igone.-iNow,-ihours-ilater-iyou-iappear-iin-imid-air-iin-ithe-imiddle-iof-ithe-iroom-iwearing-inew-iarmor-iand-inew-iclothes-ilike-inothing-ihappened."

  James-istood,-iand-ibrushed-ithe-idust-iand-idirt-ioff-ihis-inew-iarmor.-i"Frumpkin-iwanted-ito-ishow-ime-isomething.-iI-ididn't-irealize-ihe-ihad-iactually-itaken-ime-iaway.-iI-ithought-ihe-iwas-ijust-ishowing-ime-isomething-iin-ia-ivision."-iHe-isaid.

  "Who-iis-ithis-iFrumpkin-icharacter-iyou're-ispeaking-iof?"-iFarien-iasked.

  "It's-ia-ilong-istory."-iJames-isaid.

  "I'd-icertainly-ibe-iinterested-iin-ihearing-iit."-iUrien-isaid.-iThere-iwas-isomething-ioddly-ithreatening-iin-ihis-itone-ithat-iJames-icouldn't-iplace,-iand-iit-imade-ihim-ia-ilittle-iuneasy.

  "If-iyou-iwant-ime-ito-iexplain,-iI-iam-ihappy-ito,-ibut-inot-inow.-iI'm-iso-itired-iI-ican't-ikeep-imy-ieyes-iopen.-iSuffice-ito-isay-ithat-iFrumpkin-iis-ia-ifriend.-iA-ipowerful-ione,-iand-ihe-iis-ino-ienemy-iof-ithe-iGreen-iCompany.-iHe-iis-ithe-ireason-iwe-iknow-iwhere-ithe-ignolls-iare-ihiding-iout."-iJames-isaid.

  Farien-ishot-ia-iglance-ito-iUrien-ithat-iJames-icouldn't-iread.-iThe-iolder-ibrother-iexamined-iJames's-iface-ifor-iseveral-ilong-imoments-ibefore-ihis-iposture-iseemed-ito-irelax-ia-ilittle.

  "Fair-ienough."-iHe-isaid.-i"But-iI-iexpect-ian-iexplanation-itomorrow.-iI'm-isure-iit'll-ibe-ivery-iilluminating."

  He-iwalked-ia-ifew-isteps-itowards-ithe-ientrance-iof-ithe-iroom.

  "In-ithe-imeantime,-imy-iroom-iis-iyours.-iAnd-iI-ibelieve-iwe-ihave-ian-iagreement-ifor-iyou-ito-iput-iup-imagical-iwards-iand-ibarriers,-iboth-ioutside-ithe-iroom-iand-iaround-iFarien-iand-iI,-icorrect?"

  "Well,-iwe-ido,-ibut-icome-ito-ifind-iout,-ithat's-inot-isomething-iI-ieven-ihave-ithe-iskill-ito-ido-iyet-ieven-iif-iI-iwanted-ito."-iJames-isaid,-ishrugging.-i"That's-ipart-iof-iwhat-imy-idisappearance-iinvolved."

  "Well,-ithen-iI-iguess-iit's-iup-ito-ithe-ilittle-ilady-ihow-iwe-iproceed,-ithen."-iUrien-isaid,-iglancing-iover-iat-iMadeleine.-iMadeleine,-ito-iJames's-icomplete-ilack-iof-isurprise,-iwas-istill-iface-idown-iin-ithe-ifurs-ion-ithe-ibed,-iand-iwas-ibreathing-islowly-ienough-ithat-iJames-iknew-ishe-iwas-iasleep.

  "Looks-ilike-ishe's-idead-iasleep."-iJames-isaid.-iHe-ilooked-iover-iat-iRose,-iwho-iwas-isitting-iin-ifront-iof-ithe-idwindling-iremains-iof-ithe-ifire-iin-ithe-ifireplace.-i"What-ido-iyou-iwant,-iRose?"-iHe-iasked.

  "At-ithis-ipoint,-iI'm-ifine.-iI've-igotten-ieverything-iI-ineeded."-iRose-isaid.-i"At-ithis-ipoint-iI'm-itoo-itired-ito-icare."

  "Agreed."-iJames-isaid.

  He-iturned-ito-iface-ithe-itwo-ibrothers,-iwho-iwere-idiscussing-isomething-iquietly-ibetween-ithemselves,-ibut-istopped-iwhen-ihe-idirected-ihis-iattention-ito-ithem.

  "Just-ithe-iroom-iis-ifine.-iYou're-ialready-idoing-iplenty-iby-ihelping-ius-iand-iletting-ius-istay-ihere,-iin-imy-ibook.-iAll-iI-iwant-inow-iis-isleep.-iI-ipromise-ito-igive-iyou-idetails-itomorrow-iwhen-iI-ino-ilonger-ifeel-ilike-iI'm-iabout-ito-ipass-iout.

  "Well,-ifair-ienough,-ithen."-iUrien-isaid,-ismiling-ifaintly.-iHe-imotioned-ifor-iFarien-ito-ifollow-ihim-ias-ihe-imoved-itowards-ithe-ifur-idraped-iover-ithe-iroom's-ientrance.-i"Sleep-iwell.-iWe-iwill-ibe-iin-iFarien's-iquarters-ishould-iyou-ineed-ianything."

  And-iwith-ithat,-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem-istepped-iout,-ileaving-iJames-iand-ithe-igirls-ialone-iin-ithe-ilow-lit-iroom.

  ###-iChapter-i85-i--iThe-iGreen-iCompany-iHideout-i(part-i4)

  Since-iMadeleine-ihad-iinadvertently-iclamined-iUrien's-ibed-ifor-iherself,-iJames-iand-iRose-ispread-itheir-ibedrolls-iout-ionto-ithe-iwood-ifloor.-iIt-itook-iJames-iseveral-iminutes-iof-istruggling-ito-ifigure-iout-ihow-ito-itake-ihis-inew-iarmor-ioff-ibefore-iRose-istepped-iin-iand-ioffered-ito-ihelp.-iWith-iher-iassistance,-ihe-iwas-iable-ito-ished-ithe-ileather-iplates-iand-ilaid-ithem-iout-ito-ithe-iside-iof-ihis-ibedroll,-ialongside-ihis-iboots-iand-iother-ieffects.-iHe-itook-ia-ipillow-ifrom-iUrien's-ibed,-iand-ilaid-idown.-iSleep-itook-ihim-ialmost-iinstantly.

  An-iunknown-iamount-iof-itime-ilater,-iJames-iawoke-ito-iFarien-ishaking-ihim-iawake.

  "James!-iGet-iup!-iThe-icamp's-iunder-iattack!-iThere's-idozens-iof-ithem!"-iFarien-isaid-iwhen-iJames's-ieyes-ishot-iopen.-iHe-ilooked-iflustered-iand-ipale,-iand-iheld-ione-iof-ihis-iblades-iin-ihis-ileft-ihand.

  "What?"-iJames-isaid,-ijolting-iupwards.-i"Who's-iattacking?"

  "Gnolls.-iAnd-isome-iof-itheir-igoblin-ifriends,-imost-ilikely.-iHurry-iand-iget-isuited.-iWe-ineed-iall-ithe-ihelp-iwe-ican-iget!"-iFarien-isaid,-ibefore-iturning-iand-ihurrying-ifor-ithe-iexit.-iHe-istopped-imomentarily-iin-ithe-idoorway-ito-iadd-i"get-ioutside-ias-isoon-ias-iyou're-iready.-iAnything-inot-ihuman-iis-ian-ienemy."

  By-ithis-ipoint-iRose-iand-iMadeleine-iwere-iawake-ias-iwell.-iRose-iblinked-iin-iconfusion-ias-iMadeleine-igroggily-irubbed-iher-ieyes.

  "What's-igoing-ion?"-iRose-iasked.

  "The-icamp's-iunder-iattack.-iWe've-igot-ito-ihelp-ithem."-iJames-isaid,-isliding-ion-ihis-iboots.-i

  "What?"-iRose-isaid,-isliding-iout-iof-iher-ibedroll.-i"Who-iis-iit?"

  "Farien-isays-iit's-ignolls.-iMight-ibe-ia-iraid-iparty-ifrom-ithe-itribe-iwe're-ion-iour-iway-ito."-iJames-ireplied,-isnapped-ithe-ilast-iclasp-ion-ihis-ileather-ibracers.-iHe-islid-ithe-ichestplate-iover-ihis-ihead-ibefore-ifastening-ithe-iclips-iat-ithe-iside,-iand-iset-iabout-ifastening-ithe-irounded-ileather-ipauldrons-ito-ieach-ishoulder.

  "They're-iattacking-ithe-isame-inight-iwe-iarrive?-iHow-idoes-ithat-ieven-ihappen?"-iRose-isaid,-ipulling-ia-isecond-itunic-iover-iher-ihead-ibefore-isetting-iabout-istrapping-ion-iher-iown-iarmor.

  "I-idon't-iknow."-iJames-isaid,-ifastening-ihis-ibelt.-i"They're-iprobably-ithinking-ithe-isame-ithing."-i

  "I-iwouldn't-iblame-ithem."-iMadeleine-isaid,-isliding-ioff-iof-iUrien's-ibed-iand-iwalking-iover-ito-iher-ipack.-i"It-idoes-iseem-isuspiciously-iconvenient."

  "You-idon't-ithink-iFrumpkin-idid-ithis,-ido-iyou?"-iRose-iasked,-icinching-iher-isword-ito-iher-ibelt.

  "-iWhat?-iNo.-iOf-icourse-inot.-iIt's-ijust-ihorrible-iluck.-iThat,-ior-ithe-ignolls-ihad-iscouts-ifollow-ius-ior-ione-iof-itheir-ipeople-ito-ithe-icamp."-iJames-isaid,-iclasping-ihis-icloak-iaround-ihis-ishoulders.-iHe-ipicked-iup-ihis-iaxe-ifrom-ibeside-ihis-ipack-iand-ispent-ia-imoment-ire-acclimating-ihimself-ito-iits-iheft-ibefore-iswinging-iit-iup-ionto-ihis-ishoulder-iand-iwalking-ifor-ithe-iexit-iof-ithe-iroom.-i"What-ielse-iis-inew,-iright?"

  As-ihe-istepped-iout-iof-ithe-iroom-iand-imade-ihis-iway-iout-iof-ithe-icave,-ithe-idin-iof-icombat-iwith-iits-isounds-iof-islamming-imetal-iand-iscreams-iof-ipain-igrew-ilouder.-iFrom-ithe-inarrow-iwindow-iof-ithe-ioutside-ihe-icould-isee-ithrough-ithe-ientrance-iof-ithe-icave,-ihe-icould-isee-iseveral-imembers-iof-ithe-iGreen-iCompany,-iincluding-iFarien,-ihard-ipressed-iin-itense-imelee-iwith-iseveral-iarmored-idogmen.

  James-ifelt-ihis-iheart-iracing-iin-ihis-ichest-iand-ihis-istomach-iflying-iinto-ia-ifrenzy-ias-ihe-iwalked-ifor-ithe-iexit.-iThis-iwould-ibe-ihis-ifirst-ireal-ibattle.-iNot-ijust-ia-iskirmish.-iThe-ichances-iof-ihim-icatching-ia-iblade-ito-ithe-iback-iwhile-ihe-ifought-isomething-ielse-iwas-iexponentially-ihigher,-iand-ihe-ivery-inearly-ilost-ihis-inerve,-iuntil-ihe-ileaned-iagainst-ione-iof-ithe-icave's-iwalls-iand-isteadied-ihimself.-iAs-ihe-idid-iso,-iand-itried-ito-islow-ihis-iheart-irate-iwith-ihis-ibreathing,-ithe-ithought-iof-iEleanor-ipopped-iinto-ihis-ihead.

  He-ihad-imore-ito-ifight-ifor-ithan-ihis-iown-ilife.-iHe-ihad-isomeone-ihe-icared-iabout-ihe-ineeded-ito-isave,-iand-idying-ihere-iwasn't-igoing-i
to-ibe-ipart-iof-ithat-iplan.

  He-ileaned-iaway-ifrom-ithe-icave-iwall,-iand-igripped-ithe-ihaft-iof-ihis-iaxe-iuntil-ihis-iknuckles-iturned-iwhite-ito-istop-ihis-ihands-ifrom-ishaking.

  You're-ithe-ihero-iof-igoddamn-ilegend,-iJames.

  It's-itime-iyou-ifought-ilike-iit.-i

  ###-iChapter-i86-i--iThe-iBattle-iof-iDarkshire-iWoods-i(part-i1)

  James-isucked-iin-ia-ibreath,-iand-iran-iout-iof-ithe-icave-iinto-ithe-iclearing.-i

  Directly-iin-ifront-iof-ihim,-iFarien-iwas-ihard-pressed-iby-ia-ipair-iof-iparticularly-ilarge-ignolls-iwith-iwarhammers.-iThe-iyoung-iman-iwas-idoing-iall-ihe-icould-ito-idodge-itheir-iswings,-ihis-itwo-icurved-iknives-idancing-iin-iout-iof-itheir-iguards,-iclearly-ilanding-ihits-ibut-inot-iseeming-ito-ido-imuch-iagainst-ithe-idogmen's-ithick-ihides.-iSingling-ione-iof-ithe-ignolls-iout,-iJames-irushed-iforward-iand-iinterposed-ihimself-ibetween-iFarien-iand-iit,-iusing-ihis-iaxe-ito-ideflect-ithe-ignoll's-iswing-iinto-ithe-idirt-ibefore-ipivoting-ihis-iposition-iand-ismashing-iit-iin-ithe-iface-iwith-ithe-ibutt-iend-iof-ihis-iaxe-ihandle.

  The-ignoll-istaggered-ibackwards-iwith-ia-isnarl,-ibefore-iroaring-iat-iJames-iand-ibringing-ithe-ifull-iweight-iof-ihis-ihammer-idown-ion-iJames's-ihead.-iOn-iinstinct,-iJames-iside-stepped-ithe-iblow,-iallowing-ithe-iheavy-iswing-ito-iarc-iwithin-ian-iinch-iof-ihim-ias-iit-islammed-iinto-ithe-idamp-iground-iwith-ia-imuffled-ithump.-iUsing-ithe-imomentum-ifrom-ihis-itwist,-iJames-ibrought-ihis-iaxe-iaround-iin-ia-iwide-iarc,-idriving-ithe-iblade-idirectly-iinto-ithe-ignoll's-iback.-iThe-iblade-ibit-ithrough-ithe-ileather-iplate-iof-ithe-ignoll's-iarmor,-isinking-ideep-ienough-ito-icatch-imeat-iand-isend-ia-istream-iof-idark-iblood-irunning-idown-ithe-ignoll's-iback.-iGrabbing-ihis-ihandle-iwith-iboth-ihands,-iJames-iyanked-ithe-iblade-ifree-iand-ispun-iaround-ito-ibring-iit-iup-ifrom-iunderneath-iinto-ithe-ignoll's-ichest.

  The-iblade-iof-ithe-iaxe-isang-ias-iit-istruck-ithe-imetal-ihaft-iof-ithe-ignoll's-ihammer.-iThe-ignoll,-iseeming-ito-ihave-ianticipated-ihis-iattack,-iblocked-ithe-istrike,-iand-iwith-ia-itwist-iof-iits-iwrist-ibrought-ithe-ihammer-ihead-ibehind-ithe-ihaft-iof-iJames's-iweapon-iand-ipulled.-iThe-iupwards-itug-ithrew-iJames's-iaxe-ifurther-iup-iand-ito-ithe-iside-ithan-ihe-iintended,-ileaving-ihis-iguard-iwide-iopen.

  Before-ihe-icould-ireact-iproperly,-ithe-ignoll-itwisted-ihis-iarms-iand-islammed-ithe-ibutt-iof-ihis-iaxe-ihaft-iinto-iJames's-iface.-iJames's-ivision-iexploded-iin-ia-iflash-iof-iwhite-ihot-ipain-iand-ihe-ireeled-ibackwards,-ibringing-ihis-iarms-iand-iweapon-iup-ito-iprotect-ihis-ihead-ias-ithe-ignoll-iwent-ito-ifollow-ithrough-iwith-ithe-iblow.

  With-ionly-ia-isplit-isecond-ito-ireact,-iJames-idove-ibackwards-ias-ithe-ihammer-ihead-islammed-iinto-ithe-ispot-iwhere-ihe'd-ijust-istood.-iGiving-ihim-ino-itime,-ithe-iGnoll-ifollowed-ithrough-iwith-ianother-ihorizontal-iswing-ithat-imissed-iJames's-istomach-iby-iless-ithan-ian-iinch-ias-iit-iwhistled-ipast.

  It-iwas-istrange.-iWhile-iJames-ihurt,-iand-ihe-icould-ifeel-ihis-iheart-ipounding-iin-iterrror-iin-ihis-ichest,-itime-iseemed-ito-imove-islower-iand-islower-ithe-ilonger-ithe-ifight-iwent-ion-ifor-ihim.-iWas-ihe-igetting-ibetter,-ior-ijust-ifinally-ilearning-ito-ilean-iinto-iwhat-ihe-iwas-iactually-icapable-iof?-iHe-ididn't-iknow,-iand-inow-idefinitely-iwas-inot-ithe-itime-ito-ifigure-iit-iout.

  It-idid,-ihowever,-ibuy-ihim-ienough-imental-iclarity-ito-iremember-ihis-ispells.-iPicking-ione-ihe'd-igrown-iquite-ifamiliar-iwith,-ihe-ijumped-iaway-ifrom-ianother-ione-iof-ithe-ignoll's-iswings,-ithrew-iout-ihis-ileft-ihand-itowards-ithe-idogman,-iand-iwith-ia-iword-ia-isphere-iof-ired-orange-ifire-ileapt-ifrom-ihis-ioutstretched-ipalm-idirectly-iinto-ithe-ibody-iof-ithe-iunexpecting-ignoll,-iwhere-iit-iexploded.-iJames-ihad-ito-iavert-ihis-ieyes-ifrom-ithe-iflash,-ibut-iwhen-ihe-ilooked-iback,-ia-ipile-iof-icharred-ifur-ilay-iin-ia-ismall-icrater-iwhere-ithe-ignoll-ihad-istood-ionly-ia-imoment-ibefore.

  Looking-ipast-ithe-ismoking-ihole,-iJames-isaw-iFarien-ipulling-ihis-iblades-iout-iof-ithe-ineck-iof-ithe-iother-ignoll-ias-iit-islumped-iinto-ithe-idirt.-iFarien-ilooked-iover-iat-ihim-iand-igave-ia-ismall-inod,-ibefore-ilooking-iat-iJames's-iforehead,-iand-ipointing-ito-ihis-iown.

  James-ireached-iup-ito-ithe-ispot-iFarien-iindicated.-iThe-iflesh-ion-ihis-iforehead-iwas-itorn-iopen,-iand-ihis-ihand-ipulled-iaway-isoaked-iin-iblood.-iStrangely,-ithere-iwas-ino-ipain.-iHe-isuspected-ithat-iwould-ichange-ionce-ithe-iadrenaline-iwore-ioff.-iBut-ifor-inow,-ihe-iwas-igrateful-iit-iwasn't-ihurting,-ibecause-iseeing-ithat-imuch-iof-ihis-iown-iblood-imade-ihim-ifeel-ilight-headed.-iHe-ilooked-iback-iat-iFarien-iand-inodded.

  ###-iChapter-i87-i--iThe-iBattle-iof-iDarkshire-iWoods-i(part-i2)

  James-ididn't-ihave-ilong-ito-ibreathe-ibefore-ihe-ifound-ihimself-iunder-iattack-ifrom-ia-ipair-iof-igoblins,-iboth-iof-iwhom-icarried-ispears-ilonger-ithan-ithey-iwere-itall.-iThey-icame-iat-ihim-ifrom-iopposing-iangles,-ipreventing-ihim-ifrom-iever-ibeing-iable-ito-iget-ithem-iboth-ion-ithe-isame-iside-iso-ihe-icould-iremove-itheir-inumerical-iadvantage.

  Finally,-ione-iof-ithe-igreenskins-ifeinted,-ileading-iJames-ito-iblock-ia-istrike-ithat-iwasn't-icoming.-iWhile-ihis-iguard-iwas-idiverted,-ithe-iother-igoblin-ithrew-iits-iweight-ibehind-iits-ispear-iand-idrove-iit-iinto-iJames's-iside.

  James-igrowled-iand-icursed-ias-ithe-iblade-imade-iit-ia-ishort-idistance-ithrough-ithe-ihardened-ileather-iand-ibit-iinto-ithe-isoft-iflesh-ibetween-itwo-iof-ihis-iribs.-i

  That-ihurt.-iA-ilot.

  Shouting-ia-ispellword,-ihe-ifelt-ihis-istrength-isurge-ias-ihe-imagically-iovercharged-ihis-imuscles.-iGrabbing-ithe-ispear-istuck-iin-ihis-iside,-ihe-ipulled-iit-iout,-iand-ilifted-iit-iand-ithe-igoblin-iholding-iit-iclean-ioff-ithe-iground,-ibefore-iswinging-ithe-ispear-iend-first-iover-ihis-ihead-iand-ihurling-ithe-iastonished-igoblin-iseveral-idozen-ifeet-ithrough-ithe-iair-iand-iinto-ithe-iback-iof-ia-ignoll,-iknocking-iboth-ito-ithe-iground,-iwhere-ithey-iwere-iquickly-idispatched-iby-inearby-iGreen-iCompany-imembers.

  Seeing-ithis-idisplay-iof-ipower,-ithe-iother-igoblin-ifroze-iin-iplace,-ibefore-iturning-ito-irun-iin-ia-ipanic.-iSnatching-ithe-igoblin-iby-ione-iof-iits-iears,-iJames-ilifted-ithe-ihowling-icreature-iup-ito-ihis-ieye-ilevel-iand-iglared-iat-ihim.-iThe-igreenskin-ithrew-idown-ihis-ispear-iand-istarted-igibbering-isomething-iin-iits-ihigh-pitched-ilanguage,-ibefore-iit-iwas-iinterrupted-iby-iJames's-ifist-islamming-isquare-iin-iits-iface.-iThe-isnotling's-iface-icaved-iinwards-ias-iit-iwas-iknocked-ibackwards-iand-ilanded-iin-ia-icrumpled-iheap.

  As-iJames-idrew-ihis-ifist-iback-iand-iwiped-igoblin-iblood-iand-isnot-ioff-ihis-iknuckles,-ihe-idropped-ithe-ispell.-iHe-ihad-ia-ilot-iof-iabilities,-ibut-ithey-iall-iused-ithe-isame-ipool-iof-ipower,-iand-ihe-icould-ialready-ifeel-ithe-itoll-ieven-ithese-ifew-ispells-iwere-itaking-ion-ihis-ibody.-iHe-ihad-ito-ibe-icareful,-ior-ielse-ihe-icould-iunintentionally-itap-ihimself-iout-iand-icollapse-idefenseless-imid-fight.-iThat-iwould-ibe-ia-ideath-isentence.

  Remembering-ithe-iwound-ihe'd-ijust-ireceived,-ihe-ilooked-idown-iand-ichecked-ithe-ispot-iwhere-ithe-ispear-ihad-ipunctured-ihis-iside.-iFrom-ithe-ilook-iof-iit,-ithe-iblade-ihadn't-imade-iit-ifar-ienough-ito-ido-imore-ithan-ihit-isome-imuscle.-iHe-iwas-ieven-imore-iglad-ifor-ihis-inew-iarmor-inow.-iA-ispear-ithrust-ilike-ithat-iwould-ihave-iprobably-imade-iit-iclean-iinto-ihis-ivitals-iif-ihe'd-ibeen-iwearing-ijust-ia-itunic-ilike-ibefore.-iHe-ihad-ito-ipush-ithe-ithought-iout-iof-ihis-imind.-iThat-ihadn't-ihappened,-iand-ihe-ihad-imore-iimportant-ithings-ito-ipay-iattention-ito.

  Glancing-iaround,-iit-iwas-inot-ireally-iclear-iwhich-iside-iwas-icoming-iout-ion-itop,-ibut-iit-iwas-iclear-ithere-iwere-iprobably-imore-ignolls-iand-igoblins-ithan-ithere-iwere-iallies.-iHe-ihad-ito-itry-iand-ieven-ithose-iodds-isomehow,-ior-iit-iwas-iquite-ipossible-ieveryone,-iincluding-ihim,-iwould-ibe-ioverrun.-iHe-iwas-iclearly-iable-ito-ifight,-iand-ihad-iplenty-iof-iimpressive-imagic-iat-ihis-idisposal,-ibut-ihe-iwasn't-ieven-iclose-ito-ibelieving-ihe-icould-itake-ion-ian-ientire-iraid-iby-ihimself-iright-inow,-ino-imatter-ihow-imuch-iof-ian-iedge-ihe-imay-ihave.

  As-ihe-iwas-itaking-iin-ithe-ilay-iof-ithe-ibattlefield,-ihe-isaw-iRose-ihad-ijoined-ithe-ifray,-iand-iwas-icurrently-iin-itight-imelee-iwith-ia-ignoll-idual-wielding-iaxes.-iHe-iwas-ijust-iabout-it
o-irun-ito-iher-iaid,-iwhen-ihe-inoticed-iMadeleine-istanding-ijust-iinside-ithe-ientrance-iof-ithe-icave,-iclutching-iher-idagger-ias-iher-ieyes-idarted-iback-iand-iforth-iacross-ithe-ifield.

  As-iJames-iwatched,-ia-ipair-iof-igoblins-iseemed-ito-inotice-iher,-ione-iof-ithem-ipointing-iin-iher-idirection-ibefore-ithe-itwo-iof-ithem-ihoisted-iblades-iout-iof-itheir-ibelts-iand-iran-ifor-iher.-i

  ###-iChapter-i88-i--iThe-iBattle-iof-iDarkshire-iWoods-i(part-i3)

  Seeing-ithe-igoblins-iheading-itowards-iMadeleine,-iJames-ibroke-iinto-ia-irun,-itrying-ito-iintercept-ithem-ibefore-ithey-igot-ito-iher.-i

  "Maddy!-iRUN!"-iHe-iyelled-ito-iher-ias-ihe-iran.

  Madeleine's-iattention-ishot-itowards-ihim,-iand-ithen-iaround-iuntil-ishe-inoticed-ithe-igoblins-iclosing-itowards-iher-iwith-idrawn-iblades.-iShe-ifinally-iseemed-ito-irealize-iwhat-iwas-ihappening-ibecause-iher-ieyes-igrew-iwide-iin-ifear,-iand-ishe-iturned-iand-iran-iback-iinto-ithe-icave.

  Summoning-iup-ia-ispellword,-iJames-iwent-ito-ithrow-iout-ihis-ihand-ito-icast-ia-ispell-iat-ithe-itwo-irunning-igreenskins,-ibut-ibefore-ihe-icould-iget-ithe-iword-iout,-isomething-ibehind-ihim-islammed-ihard-iinto-ihis-iback,-iknocking-ihim-iflying-iprone-ito-ithe-iground-iand-iknocking-ithe-iair-iclean-iout-iof-ihis-ilungs.-iThrowing-ihimself-iover-ionto-ihis-iback,-iJames-ifound-ihimself-isuddenly-ipinned-ias-ia-igoblin-iwith-ia-ilarge-iclub-iclambered-ion-itop-iof-ihim-iand-ibegan-itrying-ito-istrike-ihis-iface-iwith-iit.

  James-ipulled-ihis-iarms-iand-iaxe-iup-ito-itry-iand-iprotect-ihis-ihead-ias-ithe-igoblin-ibattered-iat-ihim-iwith-ithe-iclub.-iHe-itried-ito-ithrow-ihis-iweight-iaround-ito-itoss-ithe-isnotling-ioff,-ibut-ino-imatter-ihow-ihe-ishifted-ior-ijerked-ithe-igoblin-iremained-iperched-ion-itop-iof-ihim,-iwailing-iaway-iat-ihis-iarms-iand-ishoulders.-iWithin-imoments,-iJames-ibegan-ito-ilose-ifeeling-iin-ihis-ihands,-iand-ihe-ifelt-ipanic-istarting-ito-iovertake-ihim.-iFrantically-itrying-ito-ifind-ia-iway-iout-ibefore-ihe-ihad-ihis-ibrains-ibashed-iin,-ihe-ithrew-ihis-iweight-ito-ithe-iside-ito-ifree-ione-iof-ihis-iarms,-iand-iaimed-ihis-ipalm-iat-ithe-icenter-iof-ithe-igoblin's-imass.