Page 35 of Return of the Nutcracker Prince

Klaus strode to the front with his captains and Mage Gingerbread, bringing Clara with him.Someone pulled out a map so they could determine which direction the mouse camp lay, and they set off.

Mage Gingerbread led the mages in, casting a huge silence shield, to muffle the sounds of their march.She had trained with the other Casters on this just yesterday.What surprised her was that they could cast it on people and not just a room.

The army smothered their torches as they moved out.The tunnels had let them out only a mile or so from the camp, whose fires glowed in pinpricks in the darkening night.Two of the mages went with the artillerymen, and the rest clustered on the hill above the camp.

Clara frowned down at the silent group of tents and campfires.It was dinnertime, yet the camp was utterly silent.Not a single mouse moved between the tents.

She tugged at Klaus’s sleeve and whispered into his ear.“Where is everyone?”

Concern marred his features in the flickering light.Then his eyes widened in fear as the hairs on the back of her neck lifted.

A voice cried out in a strangled gurgle from the back of the group.

“We’re surrounded!”

Chapter 11

Klauschokedonthegun smoke from dozens of rifles, both the enemy’s and their own.

“Push them back!”he cried, and pulled Clara behind him as he drew his sword.Red lights lit up the night as the Casters began their attack.

“Klaus, I need to go!”

“Stay close to Mother Gingerbread.”

Horses whinnied and reared, as their guides tried to turn the guns around to face the enemy.A cry of “Cut them loose!”rose from the artillery general.

Klaus let the lieutenants do their job until he spied the mouse captain.There, in the scarlet light from the Caster’s missiles, stood the sword-wielding mouse in the white headdress from the Enchanted Forest.He crossed his arms over his chest, watching his gunmen fire on the Sugar Plum army.

Klaus stiffened.He’d gotten the best of him before, but now Klaus had anarmybehind him.

Creeping up behind his riflemen, Klaus waited for the volleys to end.Men fell on both sides.Then Klaus rushed into the line.He bared his teeth, then launched himself at the captain, taking him by surprise.Their swords clanging, he pushed the mouse back from his men with an iron fist.Cutlass met saber once more.His enemy backed up ever further, and Klaus herded him towards the lines.Let the men get a shot at him.

Unfortunately, in his rage, Klaus didn’t consider that the mouse soldiers might risk their captain’s life.

Fire bit into his arms and across his side.He staggered back, and a scream erupted from the Süssland side.A white light engulfed him as red magic pummeled the mouse army.

Then the world went black.

A cool breeze wafted across his cheek.The mattress under his back was hard, but the pillow was soft and warm.

“Thank you, Annika.”A familiar voice, choked with tears.

“My pleasure.”Fabric rustled and footsteps carried someone away.

Quiet murmurs surrounded him, but gentle fingers threaded through his hair, and he nearly fell asleep.But before he could, he remembered.

The empty camp.The battle.The mouse captain.

Clara!

His eyes snapped open to find her staring down at him, a white orb of light hovering nearby, haloing her in a glow.“Clara,” he groaned and tried to rise, but his side burned.He gasped at the pain and laid back down.She’d pillowed his head in her lap.

“Klaus!”Warm salt water dripped off her chin and down onto his face, where she brushed it away.“Sorry.So sorry.”

“Hush.It’s alright.I’m okay.”

“Annika said it’ll take time for you to finish healing.”She bit her lip, and he sighed, wishing he could kiss her.

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