The enormous creature continued charging for half a second, then its body split cleanly down the middle and exploded into a violent mist of blood, bark, and shattered crystal that painted the forest floor behind them. Valeria reappeared ahead of the group without breaking stride, her sword resting casually at her side.
Nobody stopped. Nobody even slowed down.
Boren made a choking sound as he ran past the remains. "That thing was bigger than my uncle's carriage."
Brutus grunted, leaping over a broken crystal tusk embedded in the ground. "And now it's soup."
Mina's eyes sparkled despite the danger. "Big sister really hates things blocking the road."
Sage looked at Valeria's backand felt the same complicated mixture of relief and terror he always felt when she moved like that. She was not fighting for victory right now. She was clearing obstacles.
