Page 102 of Journey to the Elderoak
Ava climbed over a root, and he followed. As his feet hit the ground, he ran into her back. She had stopped, her body tense, and was staring ahead.
Sensing her fear, he whispered into her ear, “What is it?”
She pointed ahead of them, hand trembling. “What is that?”
At first, he didn’t see it, scanning the trees. But out of nowhere, it appeared. It was one of Deidamia’s insect creatures he had fought with Raine, Quinn and Jorrar in the small village of Oakshire months ago.
And it shouldn’t be this close to Mosshaven.
“Get behind me,” he said as he inched forward, stepping in front of her.
“What do we do?”
“We kill it. I’ve fought them before.”
“So, it’s easy to kill?” she asked, voice hopeful.
He tensed. “No.”
She grabbed her bow off her back and retrieved an arrow from the quiver, nocking it in preparation.
“Stay here and keep that arrow pointed at it. I’ll try to sneak around. I don’t think it’s spotted us yet. When I give you the signal, release the arrow into its eye.”
She nodded as he crept through the trees. He made his way around, behind the black flying insect, its six legs dangling as it hovered thirty feet in the air.
He whistled, and the moment it focused on him, he yelled, “Now!”
The arrow hit it in the eye and it fell to the ground, twitching. Casimir unsheathed his sword and finished it off.
She joined him, standing over the creature. “What is that thing?”
“I’m not completely sure. But it’s one of Deidamia’sabominations and it shouldn’t be this close. We must hurry and return to the castle.”
They made their way further into the woods, when a buzzing sounded through the trees. There were more.
“Run!” he ordered.
Ava sprinted, her limp almost gone, and he took off after her.
Three more insects chased them through the woods, closing in. How were they going to fight them off? It took all four of the warriors to kill three back in the village, and they almost didn’t succeed. The creatures were smart and quick, and Ava didn’t have the ability to control her magic.
“Get your sword!” he yelled.
She unsheathed it and they both stopped, standing back-to-back with their weapons drawn.
“They’re too fast. We can’t outrun them,” he said. “Go for their face or their bellies, those are the softest parts. And don’t let one grab hold of you or it will carry you off.”
The three monsters buzzed around them, out of reach of their swords. He called for Aro, hoping he was close enough to arrive in time to help, when one of the creatures darted forward.
He rolled out of the way, but Ava wasn’t quick enough. She turned around just in time and swung her blade, slicing off a leg. It flew out of reach and hovered above them, pincers clicking together with ire.
“What do we do?” she asked, voice panicked.
“I’m thinking,” he growled, standing next to her again. Remembering the technique he and Quinn had used at the village, he whispered, “I’m going to be the bait. When one flies at me, I’ll roll out of the way and entrap it in roots. As soon as it’s trapped, stab it through the head.”
“Okay.”
He sheathed his sword and retrieved a dagger, walking awayfrom Ava, and cut open his hand. She held her weapon in preparation. Casimir reached out and squeezed his hand to increase the blood flow, willing one of the creatures to take the bait as a ball of roots formed behind him.
