Page 69 of Shadow Charms

“A weapons room,” Dewey shouted, flitting off Paige’s shoulder and into the room. “Maybe your sword’s in here!”

Paige hurried into the room and scanned it.

“There!” She pointed a shaky finger into the corner of the room where a sword stood propped against the wall.

In the dim flames that lit the room, the ruby on the hilt gleamed.

Paige dashed toward it and grabbed it, spinning to find Dewey wielding a mace. “Whoa! Watch it with that thing!”

“Sorry, just trying it out. I thought it looked cool.”

Paige stumbled back a step. “You’re going to kill someone with that.”

Dewey swung it again. “Gosh, I hope so.”

Paige dropped her chin and frowned at him. “I mean me. You’re going to kill me.”

Dewey wobbled in the air as the heavy item dragged him forward with its inertia. “Eh, this is unwieldy. Let me pick something else.”

“Hurry up. I’d like to get out of here.”

“Okay, okay.” Dewey scanned the room before picking up a walking stick with a flower carved into it.

He thumbed the flower, and a blade shot out of the bottom. Dewey’s eyes lit up and his lips formed a delighted O.

“Yes! This one.” After shoving the knife back inside, he fluttered back onto Paige’s shoulder with his new weapon clutched in his hands. “Let’s go.”

Paige darted out the door, closing it behind her, before backtracking down the hall. “Only sleft and left to pick from.”

“Sleft,” Dewey said.

Paige nodded as she rounded the curve in the hall and scurried the remaining steps into the opening before darting into the next passage. “If it’s the last hall, I’m going to be so mad. That would be just my luck.”

“There’s a door at the end of this one,” Dewey exclaimed. “Let’s hope it leads to a way out.”

Paige waved crossed fingers in the air and charged down the wooden barrier.

A wisp of wind tickled her cheek, and the corners of her lips turned up. “I bet it does. Feels like air coming from under that door.”

“Yep. Go, Paige, go!”

With a grin on her face, Paige raced to the door and flung it open. A cool breeze gusted past her. A ladder on the opposite side of the round space led up. Light filtered down from above it.

Paige’s smile broadened, and she bit her lower lip, giving a fist pump. “This must be it!”

“Yeah, let’s get out of here.”

“I’m with you on that.” Paige stepped into the room, her eyes trained on the ladder.

Movement drew her attention a moment too late. A hard smack landed against the back of her knees, and she toppled forward as pain shot up and down her legs.

A grumbling voice growled something at her as she landed hard on her hands, sending pain jolting through her shoulders.

Paige glanced sideways to find a troll raising his walking stick overhead as he wound up to land another blow against her skull.

CHAPTER 15

Paige squeezed her eyes shut, preparing for the blow to her head.