Poncey Swan’s spearhead caught Bulge-Eye just behind his right leg. The toad let out a high-pitched shriek of agony, lurching away from the villain who drove the weapon deep. Horses whinnied and reared, men shouted and Acwellen cursed as Bulge-Eye spun and lunged. The toad’s bulk slammed into the chest of one of the horses, knocking it to the ground in a kicking mass of legs and panic. Deglan clung desperately to his mount as the toad barreled out of the encircled warriors, leaping away from the spears, the torches and the trap.

He heard Acwellen shouting orders and the horrible thundering of pursuing hooves. Another thrown spear shattered off a boulder to the left, but Deglan did not look back. The An Curragh was leagues of open plain, but still treacherous, especially to galloping riders with nothing but torchlight to guide them. Bulge-Eye’s surefooted and powerful leaps should have quickly outdistanced the horses, but Deglan could feel the injured toad flagging. They could not run forever. The sky was already beginning to turn the deep blue that heralds the sun and soon there would be nowhere to hide. If they could make it back to the forest, then there was a chance.

The shouting grew closer as the toad grew slower and the sounds of hoof beats drummed into the back of Deglan’s head. One of the rider’s overtook them and came up on the left side, the horse frothing as it kept pace. The rider had abandoned his torch in favor of a sword and Deglan ducked the first vicious swipe. Bulge Eye did not give the man a second chance. He leapt sideways, his weight crashing into the horses pumping legs, knocking it into the air. Something cracked hard into Deglan’s head as man and animal lurched overtop, landing in a horrible chorus of snapping bones and helpless screaming.