It was childish, but Ratface was still a little upset that Abigail hadn’t just appeared next to her when she called.

  She’d felt the barrier shiver when someone had entered. Which told her something had changed.

  It also told every creature in the area. The empty looked up from her battle with the Lady. The Lady took that opportunity to create some distance from her opponent. Ratface could see the spark of recognition in her eyes as she searched for something. When she found it, she darted away.

  The empty felt the change in the air too. Its eyes settled on Ratface and narrowed. It advanced towards her.

  Which was about when the storm serpent crashed into it. It slashed into the side of the any faced goddess’ vessel in a fury of wind and lightning. Apparently, the thing had gotten sick of being ignored and attacked by little creatures. It tore into the vessel which writhed underneath it.

  Ratface didn’t waste any time. She grabbed Ox and ducked into one of the buildings around them, hoping the other two girls would follow. That thing had recognised her and the last time they’d seen each other she’d taken from it. She wasn’t willing to deal with another encounter.

  It was a mistake to come indoors. One of the empty had found its way inside, this one had taken the discarded limbs of others and turned itself into a multi-armed nightmare creature. It was walking on two limbs.

  That was all Ratface was able to manage before the thing lunged for them. She shoved Ox out of the way and slashed with her weapons.

  The creature let the attacks hit into it. Her blades cut deep, but not all the way through. She let go and tried to dart back but all the other limbs caught her. She struggled against it but it had two limbs to each of hers. It didn’t even bother trying to choke her instead it just pulled her limbs away from each other. She writhed in pain as it stretched, and she felt her muscles tearing apart.

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  She wasn’t even going to be caught by some great evil, just a monster in a room she’d been unlucky enough to run into. What a horribly goblin death.

  The pulling stopped as the creature went limp. It dropped her to the floor and then fell apart in front of her. She looked beyond it to see Ox holding a small orb of darkness in their hand. They clenched their fist and the dark faded in around them.

  “What was that?” Anna asked. She was standing in the entranceway with Fulgora. The two girls had managed to turn up too late to help Ratface but just in time to see Ox. Typical.

  Ratface pushed herself to her feet. Her joints ached but she needed to get between them. She stumbled in front of Ox.

  “That goblin just did magic,” Anna accused.

  Ratface went to defend Ox, but the small goblin interacted first.

  “It’s not magic, I can’t grab magic,” they said.

  Ratface and Anna looked at Ox in confusion. It was Fulgora who moved closer. She channeled some lightning between her hands and Ratface tensed, but the woman made no extra move towards Ox.

  “Try take this from me,” she commanded.

  The little goblin grimaced and pulled. It was like the glamour and the elf’s trick but different. Ratface watched as it pulled everything from the lightning but the magic. The power that the magic had been holding in hovered over Ox’s hand before they waved their hand, and it disappeared.

  “I can’t grab magic, it doesn’t come when I call,” Ox said.

  “That’s impossible,” said Anna.

  “Ah but this is good right?” said Fulgora, “you both saw how effortlessly they defeated the creature. The goblin is our weapon against these empty.”

  “They’re not a weapon, they’re a kid,” said Ratface. She bent down and pulled her sword and knife out of the remnants of the empty creature. Fulgora held up her hands.

  “I’m merely trying to find us a way to survive,” said Fulgora. Ratface dipped her head in acceptance of the faint apology behind the words.

  She was not so happy with Ox’s revelation, a few pieces slotting into place. She’d assumed the empty being let loose had been the elf’s plan but if they knew about Ox’s power then it could be even worse. Afterall, the elf was working with the many-faced goddess.

  How useful, Ratface wondered, would someone who could call the empty through magic be to them both? Ox was still their target.