One of the arms of the chair had cracked and Twelve worked at it frantically, feeling it give a little more. The Hunter and the goblins had their weapons drawn and were arced around the doorway, waiting. And something was definitely coming. Twelve could hear it now, huge and approaching fast, the floor vibrating beneath her.

She managed to rip her arm free and started undoing the rope around her other wrist, keeping one eye on the door.

“You can do it! You w-will do it,” Seven whispered breathlessly, her eyes wide and fixed on the goblins’ backs.

Twelve’s numb fingers worked frantically at the knots. Then her second arm was free and she turned to her ankles as something enormous smashed through the doors, sending goblins and splinters of wood flying.

Nearby, someone shrieked, a keening sound of agony that was abruptly cut off, then the room was full of shouted commands and the scream of steel. Frantically, she tugged at the ropes, praying she could get herself and Seven free before anyone remembered they were there. Finally, the rope came apart, and she stood shakily.

“TWELVE!”

So loud the ground shook with it.

The voice was so familiar, she was afraid to look in case it wasn’t true. But she forced her eyes upward.

Her breath caught in her chest.

A mud-streaked Dog stood in a circle of goblins, looking supremely unconcerned by all the weapons pointing at him. On his back were Five and Six, looking even muddier, and a lot more worried, but holding their weapons steadily nonetheless. Even more amazingly, they looked happy to see her.

“You dropped these again!” Six called, pulling her axes off his back and tossing them over the heads of the goblins.

Chapter

Forty-Five

There was a lump in Twelve’s throat that made breathing difficult and speaking impossible. But she caught the axes, heart pounding with adrenaline and disbelief.

Six was the only one with a bow and he put it to good use, taking down one of the goblins who turned toward Twelve as she sprang up.

Victory threw herself out of the way as Dog leaped forward. Morgren hurled a handful of green fire at the boys and Five deflected it neatly off his sword back at him. The mage flung himself aside with a muffled shout.

Twelve made short work of the ropes holding Seven. She hauled the girl to her feet, feeling her sway dangerously, her eyelids fluttering.

“Stay with me,” Twelve whispered, resisting the urge to pull the girl into a hug. Seven nodded.

Steel shrieked on steel as a goblin lunged for Five. His sword would have found its mark if not for Dog leaping gracefully to the side. His jaws latched on to the goblin’s shoulder and he tossed him away as easily as if he’d been a doll.