Free Elliot and the Last Underworld War by Jennifer A. Nielsen Page B

darkness that Kovol has cursed. You can’t fight them like a normal army, because they’re not alive or dead. They’re just a curse that will move until it’s stopped. They will act like fire. If they surround you, they will suck air away from you. If they touch you, it will burn.” Elliot looked over at Fudd. “And if they spit on you, it’ll curse you too. But if you can suck the air away from them, you’ll put out their fire. I bet it’s the same if you get water on them.”
    “But how do we do that?” an Elf near Elliot said. “Only a few creatures have that power.”
    “It was a mistake to come,” a Gnome grumbled. Several creatures muttered their agreement.
    Elliot ran to a rock and stood higher up on it. He remembered his broom and held it up. “No, wait! If we try to fight this separately, then we will lose separately. The Underworld must stand together now.”
    “What’s the broom for?” a Goblin asked. “Sweeping the Shadow Men out of here?”
    “I can use this,” Elliot said. “For when I fight the Shadow Men.”
    “What do you know about our fight?” a Centaur said. “You’re not from our world.”
    “I’m not,” Elliot agreed. “But I’m a part of it now. I always will be. I’ll help save your world, and you’ll help save mine. If you don’t have power to control the air or water, then you still have something to offer. Light.”
    The creatures pressed closer, curious about Elliot’s plan. He continued, “When the Shadow Men attacked Burrowsville earlier today, they couldn’t push through the light. If they tried, they disappeared. So light is your weapon. Get a stick or a wand or whatever you have, and make it as light as you can. A Shadow Man is not only fire, he’s also darkness. But your light is stronger than him. Dark cannot exist in light places. And we claim Demon Territory as a place of light now.”
    From his place on the rock, Elliot saw smoke in the distance, but coming closer. “They’re early,” he mumbled. He had hoped they wouldn’t come so soon.
    “Everyone find a place to hide,” he called. “Goblins, you go to the border to slow them down. Get ready! The Shadow Men are here!”



The battle of Demon Territory began with an explosion so big it rattled the entire ground. The wind it created rushed across the dark land, shaking the few trees and bushes that had dared to grow there.
    Fudd stood on one side of Elliot and said, “That was Grissel. Nobody can blow things up the way he can.” There was a hint of admiration in his voice, and even Elliot was impressed.
    Elliot, Fudd, and Mr. Willimaker had returned to their places on top of Kovol’s cave, but even from high up they couldn’t see the Goblins.
    The explosion created so much smoke near the border that it was impossible to see the difference between dust from the explosions and the Shadow Men moving deeper into Demon Territory. Elliot planned to keep everyone hidden for as long as possible. He didn’t want the Shadow Men to have any warning in this battle.
    But the Shadow Men must have already known something was wrong. Because as they flew close enough to be seen, their flight was swift and direct. They were coming to the cave and coming for a fight. If the heat of their black fire was any clue, this battle wouldn’t be easy.
    “Steady,” Elliot whispered, more to himself than to anyone else. “Not yet. Not yet.”
    In the darkness, and with the speed of their flight, it was hard to tell how many were coming. Beside him, Elliot heard Mr. Willimaker trying to count them anyway. Fudd wiped sweat from his brow and looked nervous. Elliot wondered what it must feel like to sense the approach of the enemy but not be able to see them. Probably not great.
    “How many do you think there are?” Elliot asked.
    “At least fifty in the air.” Then Mr. Willimaker pointed to the horizon. “And more are coming. Many more.”
    When the first of the Shadow Men was close enough that Elliot saw the