Jorick dived into the rubble and began digging. He emerged a moment later brandishing a sword, his cheeks stained with soot. It was apparent from the ornate hilt and the reverent way Jorick held the weapon that this was no ordinary sword.

Jorick swung it through the air in two slashing motions, his muscles tensing with the weight even though working the sword seemed natural to him. For the first time in hours, a broad grin spread across Jorick’s dirty face.

“My dad’s sword,” he said. Meeting Evin’s eyes, he expertly swirled the sword one last time and then shoved it through his belt. “He said this was the best balanced sword he ever made and that when I was ready, it would be mine.”

Evin nodded. “And now it is. I bet he knows you’re going to come for him.”

“Yeah.” Jorick looked down at his muddy feet.

Evin was about to speak again when both boys heard a heavy thudding nearby and a high-pitched voice say something, the words muffled.

Evin stiffened, his hand flying to the weapon at his side. He put his hand on Jorick’s shoulder and then put his finger to his lips. Jorick nodded and together they tiptoed out of the building, straining to hear where the noise had come from.

Another thud. Another muffled, high-pitched curse.

Evin looked at Jorick and mouthed, “The mayor’s storehouse.” Jorick nodded, his eyes flashing from the torchlight.

As they grew closer, the sounds of something scrabbling through the rubble grew louder. The stone walls of the mayor’s personal storehouse were surprisingly intact—in fact, the building appeared to be one of the few to have been mostly spared from the raging fires, with only its roof really burned away. Meanwhile the mayor’s former residence, which had once stood beside the storehouse, was completely decimated, nothing but rubble anymore.

Evin gestured toward the storehouse’s doorway with his head and the boys took up position on either side, their backs pressed against the wet stone. Evin strained to listen. It didn’t seem to be more than one creature. Could it be one of the dog-men? If it was, now it would get a chance to feel as terrified as Evin had felt earlier.

With a nod from Evin, Jorick brandished his sword and dived into the store, screaming. Evin did the same, raising his sword and waving it around as he shouted.

Evin skidded to a stop as he entered the building, almost falling in the mud. For a moment, he and Jorick stood side by side, hollering until their voices were hoarse, hoping to frighten whoever or whatever was inside with them. Finally they needed to catch their breath, and only then did Evin make out what it was that had been scavenging through the storeroom’s toppled shelves.