But then Planty Ratty turns its gaze on her. Caspian looks up, strands of dark hair falling across his brow. “Birdy, look out—”
A gurgling sounds from the creature, and then it spews a spray of yellow slime toward her. She dodges, but a few drops land on her thigh. They sizzle and pop, working through the thick metal and down to her flesh.
So, it has no loyalty to any master.
She screeches, grabbing at her leg, then breaking into a run toward the lake. The monster darts after her, but Caspian jumps, spearing a thorn through its flank. I’m not sure who this woman is to him, but it’s obvious he doesn’t want her dead.
Though unfortunately, his little rescue attempt has set the creature’s sights on what he had been protecting. Rosalina.
It lunges, petal mouth hissing. Keldarion grabs Rosalina around the waist and Caspian by the shirt and tugs them out of the way. The creature dives into the dirt.
Farron and I rush forward, magic on our fingertips. But Ezryn strikes first, driving his blade deep into the creature’s mouth.
There’s a terrible gushing sound. Ezryn pulls to retrieve his sword, but it doesn’t budge. He cries out, dropping his hand, as Windscythe is eaten away by acid.
“He loves that sword. My father gave it to him,” Farron pants, shooting a fireball.
The creature whips its tail and snares Ezryn around the waist, lifting the Spring Prince with great ease, and dangling him above its waiting acidic maw.
“Ezryn!” I yell.
A shadow swoops in from above, black cloak billowing. A sword smashes down upon the creature’s back. It squeals in pain and drops Ezryn.
Kairyn lands in a crash and holds out his hand to his brother.
The brother whose life he just saved.
57
Rosalina
The monster lifts its head, shaking off the blow Kairyn dealt. But if Farron’s magic can’t stop this thing, what can?
Kel releases his hold on Caspian and me. His sword moves at a rapid pace as he blocks a slash from the rat’s tail. Blood seeps through my bind around Caspian’s shoulder, but otherwise he seems unharmed.
“Can you do it to this creature?” I ask.
He blinks at me.
“That magic with the green flames?”
A strange expression flashes across his face as he says lowly, “Aren’t you terrified?”
My hand closes over my thorn bow. “Right now, I’m more terrified of that thing.”
Caspian gives a reluctant cough as black coats his lips. His eyes look hollow. Whatever source of magic he called on, it’s now depleted.
Kel dodges another lunge from the rat and casts a look at Caspian. “You need to go back to the Below. And take her with you.” Kel inclines his head toward the Nightingale, who huddles at the edge of the lake, clutching her leg.
Caspian shakes his head. “You don’t understand. You won’t be able to kill this thing, not as your magic is now. With Castletree so weak.”
“And whose fault is that, thorn boy?” Dayton sneers, shifting a tunnel of water from the lake to strike the monster.
“You need to retreat,” Caspian says slowly, and the intensity of the words fills me with an unsettling fear.
Ezryn holds one of Dayton’s swords and slices the end of the tail. He whirls to us. “It’s too close to Florendel. I can’t risk it making its way there.”
“I won’t leave you,” I yell back at him, standing. “And I won’t leave the Spring Realm in danger.”
