Adonica's smile disappeared. He thought he heard her saying something inaccurate about his mother as she plummeted downward. Half a second later, she landed squarely in Hook's outstretched arms.

Gunnar sheathed his weapon and jumped.

He aimed for the shallows near Hook, prepared to tuck and roll, just hoping the fall wouldn't break his ankles. Arrows and quarrels plunked down all around him as he hit the water. Instead of his ankles breaking, his feet sank in thick mud, and he ...