37
Toby tried to dodge a swipe, but Oberon moved like smoke and appeared on his opposite side. A punch between the shoulder blades sent him careering onto his stomach. Wincing, he spat into the dirt.
Elves watched aghast, blocked by Cursed Men and warlocks. Humans also peered at the scene, cut off and powerless. The ghosts raged but even they couldn’t bypass the network of warlock forcefields. Krampus was dead. Nicko was dead. Stella was dead. Toby had never felt so alone.
‘You know, for a moment I actually thought you might beat me,’ Oberon said in his regal tone. ‘Yet, here we are.’
‘You won’t last,’ Toby insisted.
Oberon swung again. Toby summoned a wall of ice but the ancient king blasted through it.
‘This is it, boy.’ He pushed down on him. He was hunched, skin ashen, eyes wild.
