Kendra's protection

Kendra stood frozen with terror. Imps surrounded her.


Escape was impossible. Hugo had been reduced to a pile of debris. Grandma had missed with the arrow, wounding but not killing Muriel. Seth had done his best, but he and Grandma had been captured. There was no more defense.


No more tricks. Nothing between Kendra and whatever horrors Muriel and her imps wished to inflict.


Except that the imps were not taking hold of her. They stood all around her, yet they seemed unable to reach out their hands and grab her. They would lift their arms part of the way and then stop, as if their limbs refused to obey.


"Mendigo, bring me the girl," Muriel commanded.


Mendigo shouldered through the imps. His hand stretched toward her and then stopped, wooden fingers twitching, hooks clinking softly.


"They can't touch you, Kendra," Grandpa called from where he hung shackled to the wall. "You have caused no mischief, worked no magic, inflicted no harm. Run, Kendra, they can't stop you!"


Kendra pushed between a pair of imps, heading for the door. Then she stopped short. "Can't I help you?"


Muriel is not bound by the laws restraining her minions, Grandpa shouted. "Run all the way home, straight down the road you came by. Do no harm along the way!"

Chapter 16