They hit the floor with the sound of bones crunching and a grunt of pain. The Skeleton King’s helmet and crown flew off. Kerrick rushed up to help Belen, but halted. Belen had knocked the king unconscious.

Kerrick picked up the king’s crown. It was similar to the one he sent Ryne. Although not quite as big.

Belen took the crown from Kerrick. “This filthy cannibal needs to die.”

“Yes, he does.”

“Do it,” Flea said.

Belen swung the heavy crown and brought it down on the Skeleton King’s head, crushing it. Blood and brains squirted out from the crumpled skull. Flea threw up.

“That takes care of the Skeleton King,” Kerrick said, thinking Ryne should be pleased.

“Not quite,” Belen said. “This is just one of his princelings. Sadistic bastard, though. Good riddance.”

Oh, no. Kerrick put his hand to the wall as a sudden wave of pure exhaustion washed through him.

“One of...?” Flea’s voice squeaked. “How many are there?”

“At least five that I know of. Damn things have invaded the south and are spreading.”

“Do you know where the Skeleton King is?” Kerrick asked.

“No. He’s been lying low. Probably worried about assassins.”

Voices shouted from the processing area. Reinforcements.

“Time to go,” Kerrick said.

The three of them raced to the window. Kerrick locked the cell as Flea and then Belen climbed out.

As he grabbed the ivy, Kerrick heard a ruckus outside the jailhouse. When he reached the window, he saw Belen tossing guards like they were rag dolls. Climbing out, he yanked the ivy from the jail and concentrated on sending it to twine around the guards’ feet. A temporary measure. He spotted more guards running their way.

“To the woods,” Kerrick ordered.

They jumped the fence and bolted for the forest. The fifteen people they’d rescued huddled around Huxley. The horse snorted at Kerrick.

“Lead us to a good spot, Hux.” Near the end of his strength, Kerrick mounted to keep from tripping over his own feet. He said to the others, “Form a single line and follow the horse, exactly. Step where he steps.” He tossed his sword to Belen. “Take rear guard.”

Belen raised his bushy eyebrows at the dadao but helped organize the townspeople. Even though Kerrick didn’t need light to travel in the forest, there was just enough moonlight to see the shape of the trees and other obstacles in their path. Plus most of the leaves had fallen, allowing more illumination to reach the ground. However, the blanket of leaves on the forest floor presented another problem.

Sounding like a herd of cattle, the group jogged through the woods with Hux taking point. Kerrick’s magic alerted him when the guards entered the forest. He lost count after fifty. Too many by far. He urged Hux faster. They wouldn’t outrun their pursuers, but they might outsmart them.