Red Hood's Revenge

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    Talia plucked the knife from Charlotte’s hand and threw it left-handed at another wolf. “Where’s Roudette? If we kill her, will it break her control over the wolves?”
    “I’m not sure,” said Snow. “She’s got them pretty riled.”
    “They’re fairy beasts.” Trittibar jabbed his sword at one.
    “You’re a fairy,” Talia snapped. “Stop them!”
    “Kill Roudette, and I’ll do my best.”
    Talia glanced to the side, searching for Roudette. She spotted a glimpse of red moving through the trees, but before she could act, another wolf jumped onto the top of a stump and crouched to pounce.
    “Snow!” Talia lunged forward, jabbing her blade at the wolf. An instant later, one of Snow’s steel snowflakes spun through the air and stabbed the wolf’s nose.
    “I got him!” Snow beamed and grabbed another snowflake.
    The wolf on the stump pounced, crashing into Trittibar. It grabbed Trittibar’s arm in its jaws even as the fairy thrust his gold blade into the wolf’s side. Talia tried to help, but had to turn away to fend off another wolf.
    Trittibar yelled as he was ripped off his feet, but he kept his grip on his sword, twisting the blade in the wolf’s side. The wolf cried out and tried to back away, but Trittibar followed, ramming the blade home until the hilt struck fur. Only then did he yank his weapon free. His other arm hung limp and bloody at his side.
    In the distance, Talia saw Roudette unfasten her cape and flip it about so the wolfskin was on the outside. As the cape settled over Roudette’s body, she snarled as if in pain. The wolfskin tightened around her, crushing her into a new form. Even over the sound of battle, Talia could hear bones and joints popping and shifting. Roudette rose on all fours and shook like a wet dog.
    “Did you know she could change into a wolf?” Snow asked.
    “There have been rumors.” Trittibar’s face was pale, his mouth tight from pain. “We can’t fight them all. These creatures were raised by the fairy queen herself.”
    “Stay close to me.” Snow flung another handful of stone needles, magic turning them into tiny darts. When the wolves jumped away, she dropped to her knees and cast a new spell. Dirt swirled around her. The wind grew, flinging dirt and stone around them all.
    Talia lowered her sword and backed toward the others. Dirt and grit abraded her face, but it was nothing compared to the wall of stone and wind passing in front of her. “What are you doing?”
    Snow didn’t answer. Her choker shone, each mirror burning like a tiny sun as she worked her magic. Stronger and stronger the wind blew, breaking stone branches from fallen trees and tossing them like missiles. The wolves backed away.
    Roudette had joined the wolves by now. She was smaller than the others, her fur black as shadow save where it whitened near the muzzle. Golden eyes watched Talia through the maelstrom.
    Charlotte was clawing frantically at her ropes. “You have to get me away from her! I don’t want to die like this, torn apart by wolves.”
    “I could kill you myself,” Talia offered.
    “You wouldn’t dare!” She turned to Trittibar. “You can’t let her.”
    Trittibar shrugged with his good arm.“Legally speaking, there’s little I can do to stop her. You’re human. They’re human. The treaty prohibits me from intervening.”
    Charlotte sagged. “Just do it quickly.”
    “I would,” said Talia. “But your stepsister is a kinder woman than I am.” Talia slashed the ropes holding Charlotte’s other wrist. She handed Charlotte a knife. “Cut your legs free and make yourself useful. Snow, any chance you can get us out of here?”
    “I’m a little busy right now,” Snow said, the words coming in gasps.
    “What about your summoner friend, Arlorran?” asked Talia. “Can he pull us into Fairytown?”
    “Don’t take me back there!” Charlotte said.
    “Arlorran can’t pull us through Fairytown’s borders. His magic isn’t—” Snow cried out. Pebbles and sticks fell to the ground. The wolves surged closer. Snow clutched the back of her head with one hand. Slowly, the wind regained its strength.
    Talia switched her sword to her left hand. In her right she drew her last knife. No matter how many weapons she packed, it never seemed to be enough. “On my signal, drop the spell. We throw everything we’ve got at Roudette. She’s not walking away either. Not this time.”
    “There is another way,” Trittibar said slowly.
    “So do