The swamp-guide shouldered into his lower back and knocked him facedown. Breskaro grunted in surprise. None of his other companions noticed this betrayal. Their attention was focused on the croaking mass of batrakosians charging toward them. Disoriented by the sudden break in the magical energies he was summoning, Breskaro started to get up, but Zibu kneeled against him while Kriba raised his sword in both hands and plunged it down. The blade pierced through Breskaro’s armor and tore all the way through him, pinning him to the ground. Zibu cut Breskaro’s pack free and took off. Esha’s slingshot bullet struck a toad warrior in the face, knocking him out. As she slipped her hand into the pouch containing her lead bullets, she noticed Breskaro pinned and saw the guides sprinting away. “Master!” Esha screamed. Dozens of toad warriors barreled into Firrus and Perolo. Esha dropped behind the two Rrakans and loaded a bullet. “Esha,” Breskaro groaned. “The pack!” Esha whirled her sling and released.
