Thousands and thousands of Fangs. A little army equipped with forks and farming tools. One leader, bellowing ferocity into the hearts of his followers. Read this section aloud—and bellow.
Bonus: Check out this video of Andrew reading a different section of this chapter.
Then the wind carried a sound out of the darkness, from the direction of Torrboro. It was the sound of oars splashing, of boats thumping against one another, of trolls grunting and growl-moaning, of Fangs hissing and snarling. Above it all they heard the sound of crows squawking overhead, messengers of the coming doom.
Maraly stood and drew her knives as the orphans around her drew their forks and held them out in trembling hands. Armulyn the Bard stepped over Artham and moved forward with his whistleharp in one hand.
“AWAKE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF SKREE!” Gammon screamed from the end of the dock. He stood with his sword in the air. He turned his back to the river so all could see his black hat and mask. The F and S glowed blood red on his chest. “NOW IS THE TIME FOR COURAGE. WE MEET THE ENEMY WITH STEADY HEARTS, FOR DAWN HAS CONQUERED DARK SINCE THE MAKER SPOKE THE WORLD. THE NIGHT IS DEEP, BUT LIGHT RUNS DEEPER. LET OUR BLADES AND BLOOD PROCLAIM IT!”
Every man, every woman, every child in the market that night raised their weapons and bellowed their defiance of the Fang army and Gnag the Nameless and every wicked thing that ever soured the sweet world. Their shouts tore across the River Blapp and echoed off the walls of the Castle Torr, returning to them like a gust of wind and doubling the din.
—From chapter 41, “Storytime with Artham.”
Did you have a favorite excerpt this week? Post it below!
Come hang out with us in the forum. We can’t wait to hear your thoughts. In particular, I’d love to hear what you think of this—and here’s a good conversation, too.
My favorite little bit for this week is from chapter 41-
“And what of your people?” she asked, raising her voice and waving a pale hand at the Dugtowners behind him. “Are they as foolish as you? Do you all wish to die? Here? Now? On this night? I tis not too late. We can give you all new names – and new power. Gnag extends his hand to you in mercy. Join us, and you too can sing the song of the ancient stone. You will know great power, as do all my children! Is this rotten land worth dying for?”
The men and women in the marketplace murmured and shifted their feet. Maraly knew that Claxton had sent prisoners to the Fangs to be changed, and she had heard of this woman with a magic rock and a soothing voice. She noticed that Artham Wingfeather was trembling and looking everywhere but at the woman.
Something splashed into the water to Maraly’s right. She looked back and saw a little boy standing beside Sara Cobbler. “Go away, lady!” he shouted. He grabbed a fork from a girl beside him and threw it as far as he could. “We fight for Queen Sara, not you.”