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Feverfew stared at the old hag that stood on one side of the hall. She couldn't quite see her face, because a hood covered most of it. But she could feel the powerful magic that emanated from her.
The hag wore a tattered black cloak with attached hood. Her dirty, bony, bare feet were covered in hair.
Feverfew, though afraid, took a step forward. “I will have it,” she shouted, her cry alerting Ferol.
He raced towards the sound.
The old woman smiled, then slowly pulled back her hood.
Feverfew took a step back. The hag's face was mostly skull. Very little skin remained on it.
Taking advantage of Feverfew's shock, the hag raised one of her hands. Magic shot at the frightened girl, throwing her back.
Dazed, Feverfew slid along the floor of the hall, her body only stopping when it hit one of the stone statues.
Laughing triumphantly now, the hag moved towards her, magic flashing all around the hall as she prepared to unleash a powerful deadly blast at Feverfew.
****
The chittering sound startled Baldo. He turned. “Dawgs,” he gasped, when he saw the dog-size, ferocious rodents race into the square and immediately attack the undead. Thousands of the rodents, chittering so loud now, the sound hurt Baldo's ears, the Dawgs ripped into the undead. The sound of bones being crunched almost drowned out the sound the Dawgs were making.
****
Quarter of a mile back, near the edge of the city, Batach gave a start. He instantly knew his hold on the city was diminishing. Roaring with anger, he raced further into the city. Behind him came hundreds of monsters, their roaring sound reaching the ears of the Elders.
****
“We should hurry and join, Baldo,” said Orleo. “He will need our help.”
“Need our help.” muttered Roleo, staring at Orleo.
“He will need our magic!” screamed Orleo, suddenly so angry now he could have struck Roleo.
“But... ” began Roleo.
“The law means nothing, if Batach overcomes us!” screamed Orleo. “We must use our magic to help protect our city and hope the Lady and Feverfew can get back here in time. Come on!”
“But they're dead... aren't they?” gasped another Elder, staring at the furious Orleo.
“Not yet,” said Orleo and began to run towards the exit to the hall.
A short time later, all the Elders were racing speedily through the city in the direction of the sound of battle.
****
Still dazed, Feverfew stared up at the hag as she stood over her, magic sparkling from her bony wizened hands, getting ready to blast the girl to pieces.
****
The General and his soldiers backed away to the edge of the square, when they saw the undead being torn to pieces by the savage Dawgs.
“Follow me!” screamed Baldo, racing down one of the adjacent narrowest streets. He guessed Batach and the monsters weren't far away. And he was right. As they raced up one of the wider streets, he saw the monster coming down it. Behind Batach came some of the smaller monsters, things with heads like giant lobsters, covered in bristling hair and moving on taloned legs that scraped along the cobbled street.
The General shouted for his soldiers to retreat to the square. He had realized they couldn't fight within the narrow streets now. It was too late. Quickly, Baldo and his soldiers backed into the wide square. They knew they wouldn't have much time left. There was no way they could defeat Batach and the monsters that were close at his heels. They would have to try and hold them here.