Flashback ( PDFDrive )

as she fumbled to regain her balance. “I was just starting to think . . . I
mean . . . I knew you could handle yourself . . . but . . .”
His voice cracked, and he squeezed her even tighter.
She hugged him back, feeling like she could breathe for the first
time in a while. “It’s okay—I’m fine. How’s everyone else?”
“Still fighting,” he promised. “But . . . it’s been pretty rough in there
since the new batch attacked.” He ended their hug and stepped back—
and Sophie noticed bits of red splattered across his neck and cheek.
“Please tell me those fangs you’re holding mean you’ve found a way to
kill these beasts,” he begged the bodyguards.
“We have,” Cadfael answered for them—and if Keefe was surprised
to see the ogre with their group, he didn’t show it.
“Does the injured one still breathe?” Sandor asked.
Keefe nodded. “I’ve been trying to find it. But it’s hard to follow the
trail in the dark.”
“On it,” Ro said, pointing to a patch of shadows between two
gnarled trees and telling Keefe, “Wait there.”
“You too,” Sandor told Sophie, waving Grizel, Woltzer, and Lovise
forward. Cadfael joined them as well. “We’ll call for you when
everything’s clear.”
“You’re sure you don’t need our help?” Sophie had to ask, even
though she was totally good sitting back and letting the bodyguards
take over. Some problems screamed Let the big muscly warriors handle
this—and killer mutant newborn trolls was definitely one of them.
Sandor assured her they’d be fine, and Sophie slumped against one
of the trees, trying not to let herself feel too relieved. This was far from
over, and there were so many things that could still go wrong.