Chapter 11
The shimmering shield blossomed to life, bowing as the beast clawed at Maggie.
“Don’t move,” Bertrand warned, holding Alden’s arms pinned to his sides.
“Can it hold the rammoc off?” Alden whispered, huddling close to Maggie’s back.
“Do you have a better idea?” she said.
“Not that’s immediately applicable,” Alden whimpered.
A hum echoed through the shield as the monstrous bird clawed at Bertrand’s spell.
“We can’t just wait here.” Maggie’s mind raced through a hundred impossible options. “Where did the other one go?”
“Nic led one off.” Alden glanced back through the trees. “I’d hoped both would follow him.”
“Then we need to move before the other one comes back, or we’re spotted by the purra, or sniffers come to check out what the evil bird wants for lunch.”
“You’re not
