Chapter 50: Venom and Blood

The agile spider-scorpions slipped between the humans, separating them from one another. Olorus and Hook used their shields to protect the princess as Zechariah pressed the attack, spinning to slice at the creatures on all sides. One jumped, and he hacked off two legs in midair, sending its maimed body spiraling.

One charged at Justin. Its crabby legs skittered across the floor, and it lunged for him. He stumbled backward. In mid-fall, he gritted his teeth and maneuvered his sword with a quick, upward slice. He hit the floor on his back. To his astonishment, his attacker hit the ground on either side of him, cut cleanly up the middle into two halves sputtering green fluid. He looked at his sword, surprised and a little pleased with himself. With recent lessons still fresh in his mind, he hurried to regain his footing.