Blackfire. James Daniel Eckblad

another, giving the children critical extra time to get away, Thorn slipped out from underneath the jumble of flailing limbs and ran through the cattails unseen. Like a deftly thrown spear, Thorn dove into the water, arms and legs clasped to his torso for minimal splash and maximum speed.

      By the time the warriors had gotten to their feet, gathered themselves and looked toward the place where someone or something had entered the water, Thorn was already a third of the way into the broad river and considerably downstream. He was now swimming in the direction of the children with all but his eyes beneath the water. The warriors searched frantically along the shore for the source of the splash, and when they soon saw nothing, resumed their pursuit of the children, who by this time were getting tired and slowing down, even though they continued to run as fast as they could. Eventually, Jamie said he had to stop and that the others should keep going; but Elli halted everyone. They could hear the pounding of heavy warrior boots closing in on them. Elli looked all around, as did Jamie and Alex, but they saw no place to hide. Even the cattails had thinned, no longer able to provide sufficient cover. She knew they would not be able to outrun the warriors, yet that seemed the only option remaining.

      “Run!” Elli shouted, and like a single organism the children started running again, bunched together to ensure that no one outran another. Elli was looking and trying to think of something else they could do besides continuing to run a race they were surely—and shortly—to lose.