THE OGRES TOOK a step toward me, and I tensed as I studied them for weaknesses. If they came at me one at a time, I might be able to fend them off, but I didn’t have a chance against the four of them at once.
The barest creak of a floor board warned that someone had snuck up behind me, even before the ogres shifted their gazes to something over my shoulder. A haze of pure adrenaline settled over me as I crouched and swung low to avoid the club that was likely aimed at my head. The metal rod slammed into a leg, and my assailant let out a grunt of pain.
I rose, swinging again, but he grabbed my weapon to block the strike. I released the rod and put all my strength into the blind punch I threw at him. My fist connected with his face with so much force that the shock traveled up my arm to my
