Neville the Less

  * * *

  Outside, the closest to the Duke’s castle were Neville the Less and Afsoon. Before the detonation, they were still marooned on the outer edge of his dangerous, unknown lands. The prowling, fidgeting garden sounds had come closer. But that explosion was no garden sound - no demon, no wolf. Neither child, in fact, was in any doubt as to what it actually was or where it had come from. Nor was either in any doubt what it might mean for their lost Ava, whose distant, diminished voice, briefly lost after the power cut, they could suddenly hear again.

  Clearly the Duke had tried to murder her. But she was alive. Fighting on. Alone. ‘Soon was first to abandon caution. She dropped Neville’s hand, pushed aside the magic iron bar and began a blind run toward the Duke’s castle. She didn’t get far.