Red Hood's Revenge

keep the goblin’s head above water as he clung to it. Talia made out a pale, wrinkled face with oversized pointed ears. Gold eyes glinted in the light.
    “Where are the rest?” Snow asked.
    Talia pointed, indicating the areas to either side of the window. One goblin to lure them in, while the rest waited in ambush.
    Danielle readied her sword, holding it like a short staff. One hand gripped the hilt; the other clutched the blade a short distance from the tip. The enchanted glass wouldn’t harm her, but using her sword that way should allow her to defend herself here in the cramped tunnels. Talia nodded her approval.
    “We should find another way,” said Danielle. “I don’t want to fight if we don’t have to.”
    Roudette merely grunted, but her expression made it clear what she thought of such an attitude.
    The raft bobbed as the goblin shifted position. One skinny arm drew back. Talia shoved Danielle to the side as the goblin skimmed a flat stone along the surface of the water. The stone bounced twice and shot past, clattering against the wall.
    “There is no other way,” Talia said, dodging a second stone. This one struck Roudette on the shoulder, though her cape seemed to absorb the blow. Roudette flexed her arm and bared her teeth.
    The goblin hooted, sounding more like an animal than an intelligent creature. As if this were a signal, the rest soon picked up the cry, until the laughter of a hundred goblins filled the sewers.
    Talia wiped her face with the back of her hand. She glanced back down the tunnel, wondering how many goblins lurked behind in the darkness, waiting to flank them.
    Danielle appeared to be thinking the same thing. “We can fight our way back through one of the tunnels until we reach another sewer grate. Maybe then—”
    Talia pushed past Danielle, using her knife to deflect another stone. The impact jarred her wrist and chipped the edge of her blade. This one had come from behind. “Snow, give me one of your mirrors. Danielle, take the others into that side tunnel. Kill anything you find, then have Snow extinguish her light. I’ll lead the rest of the goblins away. That should clear the reservoir. Once they follow, get up through the well and wait for me. If I don’t return by—”
    “No.” All three women spoke at once, but to Talia’s surprise, it was Roudette who was loudest. Roudette used her hammer to block another stone. She grinned. “If they wish to fight, who are we to argue? Goblins are cowards. Slaughter a handful, and the rest will flee.”
    Talia nodded. To Danielle, she said, “Roudette and I will go in first. If something happens, you and Snow get inside. The well will be capped, so you’ll need to break through.” She lowered her voice. “No matter what else happens, promise me you’ll get Faziya out of there.”
    “Of course,” said Danielle.
    “Thank you.”
    Snow stared at her. “You care for her, don’t you?” Her voice was strangely soft, almost childlike.
    Talia couldn’t meet her eyes. “Just be ready.” She glanced at Roudette, who raised her hammer. But before they could charge into the reservoir, Snow touched their shoulders, pulling them away.
    “Would you mind guarding my back?” Snow moved toward the archway.
    “What are you doing?” asked Danielle.
    “These two barbarians did pretty well against that hunter last night.” Snow smiled. “I think it’s time to remind them what a sorceress can do.”

CHAPTER 13

    S NOW STRETCHED A HAND INTO THE water spilling through the archway. It was cool and clean, carrying the tiniest hint of residual magic from the various enchantments that kept the wells and sewers flowing.
    “This is wasting time,” Roudette said.
    Snow shook her head. “You’re as bad as Talia. No subtlety at all. It’s all fighting and stabbing and killing. Where’s the artistry in that?”
    “I’ll show you some time.”
    Snow did her best to concentrate. Her pulse pounded in her skull, a precursor of the pain to come if she pushed too hard.
    Fog rose from her fingers where the water passed over her skin. Tiny crystals of ice formed around her fingertips. At first the ice broke and washed away, but soon the crystals grew larger, touching the stones of the wall and spreading upward.
    Goose bumps raced along Snow’s arm. The rest of her body was sweating. Siphoning the heat from so much water could kill her if she wasn’t careful.
    “Goblins aren’t known for their patience, Snow,” Talia