Jack Staples and the City of Shadows by Mark Batterson

doesn’t think I will … Without warning the giant threw the Atherial Cloak hood over Arthur’s head and catapulted him over the Oriax and in the direction of the Grendall.
    Arthur hit the ground and skidded to a stop only a few paces behind the creature that still looked like him. As he scrambled to his feet, he glanced back to see Andreal clang his axes together and scream, “Now, let’s dance, ye filthy mutts!” As one, the Oriax swarmed over the giant like a hive of raging bees.
    As the Grendall lowered its arms, the wall that had been at the back of the chamber was gone and only a small pile of dust remained. On the other side of the ruined wall a fierce battle raged.
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    Jack’s jaw dropped. Andreal was just below, laughing like a madman. The giant spun and leaped among a massive number of Oriax, thrusting his two axes in a dizzying fury. The half-moon blades cleaved a bloody path through the attacking beasts.
    As he pulled the grate aside, Jack felt a small pang of guilt for thinking Andreal had been a traitor. He lowered his head through the opening and could barely believe his eyes.
    Aias fought a Shadule in a deadly duel. Each time their blades met, gold and black lightning splintered the air. Behind Aias, Elion battled against impossible odds. She leaped between the second Shadule and at least twenty Oriax, swinging her short sword with dizzying speed. Her eyes and hair blazed and gravity meant nothing to her. She leaped from wall to ceiling to floor effortlessly, and where her feet trod, colored mist filled the chamber with unearthly light.
    When Jack spotted Arthur, he blinked. There were two Arthurs, and they were fighting each other, rolling across the floor. He was so stunned he almost lost his grip. Arthur Greaves fought against … Arthur Greaves!
    Both Arthurs choked and clawed at each other—and Jack was sure that if he didn’t act soon, one of the Arthurs was going to die. He tried not to think as he lowered himself to the chamber below.
    Fierce fighting raged all around, yet every man, beast, and creature was so intent on the attack that none noticed the boy who appeared among them. Jack moved like a mouse, darting across the chamber toward the fighting Arthurs. As he approached, he drew Ashandar. Even with his recent training, the black blade still felt clumsy in his hands.
    Jack had never been able to repeat what happened on the streets of Ballylesson when the sword had taken on a life of its own. Mrs. Dumphry claimed the blade was both weapon and teacher; that the more Jack surrendered to it, the more he would learn. But Jack hadn’t been able to figure out how to surrender to a piece of metal.
    â€œGet off him!” Jack pointed Ashandar at both of the Arthurs. One of the Arthurs was choking the other, who had turned a silvery shade of gray. When the attacking Arthur looked at him, he leaped back and raised his hands.
    â€œJack!” the attacking Arthur yelled. “You’re alive! You have no idea how glad I am to see you!” He glanced at the second Arthur. “That’s not me; it’s a monster and it was going to kill you. It’s called a Grendall,” Arthur said. “It made itself look like me, somehow. Except it’s not me, obviously, because I am me. We have to kill it, Jack!”
    Jack blinked. It sure sounded like Arthur. Whenever his best friend got excited, he talked so fast it was impossible to get a word in.
    The second Arthur was still down. “He’s lying, Jack!” the second Arthur screamed. “You have to believe me!”
    Jack shifted his blade between the two Arthurs. “Where did I first meet you?”
    The second Arthur paled and screamed, “We don’t have time, Jack! You have to kill him before it’s too late!”
    The first Arthur smiled. “We were in a mud puddle outside the schoolhouse. Jonty Dobson threw us both in there!”
    The second Arthur hissed and