Runa focusedher aim. What did that staff do?
“Mother no!”
Tier camerunning down the path, behind the fugitives. When she saw the staff, shestepped to the side.
“Don’t,” sheyelled.
“They knew theconsequences,” Runa cried.
She closed oneeye and glared down the length of the shaft. Fibianmoved like lightning. The staff kicked in Runa’s grip. Fibiantackled Cyrus to the ground. A tree, behind where Cyrus stood, exploded withbark. Cyrus looked back and saw smoke issuing from a large hole in the trunk. Whatwas that thing in Runa’s hands? He looked to the gray yeti. She threw the staffaside and drew a crossbow, like the one Fibian hadstolen.
“Mother!”
Runa aimed itat the downed Fibian and fired. Fibiancaught the bolt with his good hand. Runa’s eyes grew wide. Cyrus heard Tiermove closer.
“Stay back,”Runa said.
She chargedthe crossbow a second time. Then she stood over Fibianand pulled the trigger. Fibian still grasped thefirst bolt. He attempted to catch the second with his artificial hand. The clampsnapped shut on thin air. The projectile passed clean through his chest. Fibian did not flinch. He exploded off the earth like a madfrog. Fear and confusion contorted Runa’s wide face. Fibianstruck the yeti across the jaw with his copper hand. Cyrus felt Edward springfrom his collar. He watched as the snow-white spider landed on Runa’s leg.
“Edward, no!”Cyrus shouted.
Runa grabbed Fibian by the elbows and began to pull his arms apart.
“Mother,stop!” Tier demanded.
Cyrus tried torise. Tier pushed him aside. Fibian screamed in pain,then Runa shrieked, dropping the froskman. She reacheddown and gripped her shin.
“Oh no,” Cyruswhispered.
Runa stoppedand stared straight at him, terror and agony in her eyes.
“Something bitme,” she said, her system visibly going into shock.
She looked toTier, her expression pleading. Then she dissolved into a large mound of sand.
“No!” Tiercried.
Fibian scrambled to the sand pile and gathered Edward up from within theremains. Then he grasped Runa’s fallen crossbow and moved beyond Tier’s reach.Cyrus scooped up Fibian’s crossbow from the snow andpointed it at Tier.
“It’s not ourfault,” he pleaded, “It was self-defense. You saw.”
Tier movedcloser to the mound, crouching down and weeping over what was left of hermother.
Cyrus steppedaround the yeti and joined his companions. Edward’s fangs slowly retracted. Hegasped for air like a frothing hound. Fibian rolledhis shoulders in their sockets, keeping the crossbow trained on Tier. Tierlooked up, her face full of sorrow and rage.
“I’m sorry,”Cyrus said, still aiming the crossbow, “We didn’t want this. She was going tokill us. I have my people to think of. We can’t stay here.”
More yetivoices came from further up the path.
“I will findyou,” Tier snarled, her fur damp with tears, “No matter where you run, ChildEater, I will find you.”
“Come, we mustgo,” Fibian ordered.
Cyrus pickedup the lockbox and together the trio fled along the seaside path.
Chapter 8
DEER TRAIL
THE TRIO DASHED down the snowy path and cutwest along the shoreline. The iron sea grated against the pebbled beach. Cyrustried to listen for pursuers. He heard only his own gasping breath. Maybe Fibian’s heightened senses could tell them more.
“Is anyone followingus?” Cyrus asked.
“I do not believeso,” Fibian replied.
“They’reprobably still trying to figure out what happened,” Cyrus added.
“How is your chest?”Edward asked, clinging to Fibian’s fur collar.
“It is alreadybeginning to stitch itself,” Fibian said, putting awebbed finger to the wound.
The snowy pathglowed with the light of the moon. The trail started to stir Cyrus’ memory. Hehad been here before. The lockbox was becoming unbearable to carry. He droppedit on a large stone protruding through the snow. The box did not break. Heplaced his crossbow on the ground and grasped the container with both hands. Hetook a deep breath, then, like a large egg, struck it against the rock. Thewood paneling cracked. Cyrus repeated the process three more times. A piecebroke free. He kicked the remaining panels out like teeth, then reached intothe chest. He withdrew several pieces of paper and selected the one he waslooking for.
Cyrusinspected the ink illustrations carefully. The map was simple, yet detailed,marking valleys, trails, a river, and one large fortress directly ahead. Apath that appeared to be a deer trail lay beyond the fortress. It led along thecoast and up into the mountains.
“This is it,”Cyrus said, stuffing the map away in his collar, “We have to get as far fromhere as possible before we can rest.”
They jogged theirway around a small, barren peninsula. Cyrus continued to glance over hisshoulder. He remembered a yeti, probably Tier, had carried them along the pathweeks earlier.
They hiked upa narrow cliff-side trail that led around a walled cove. Cautiously, theyapproached a battered ice castle built over a frozen waterfall. This too wasfamiliar.
“Klops did this?” Edward asked, gesturing to the damagedfortress, as he crawled along Fibian’s shoulder.
“It would seemso,” Fibian said, sniffing the foul-smelling air.
“Come on, theyeti could be right behind us,” Cyrus said, pressing forward into a tunnel thatled behind the fall.
They followedthe map west along the snowy coast, in search of a deer trail. There, the pathturned north, up into craggy foothills. Cyrus and Fibianclimbed powdery banks and icy rocks, their flesh growing warm inside their furclothing. Edward kept a continuous watch over Fibian’sshoulder.
After about anhour’s hike, they came to a narrow footpath. Cyrus stopped to catch his breath.He drew the large waterskin from his jacket, took a sip, then offered it to Fibian and Edward.
“What do youmake of the whole Child Eater thing Runa spoke of?” he asked Fibian.
“I do notknow,” Fibian said, taking a drink of the skin, “Ihave never heard that part of the prophecy before.”
“She mighthave made it all up,” Edward said, his eyes low.
“Maybe,” Cyrusreplied.
“She was goingto kill us,” Edward continued, “She
