“They don’t reek as much as your socks,” Quain said.
“My socks are sweet compared to your sh—”
“Gentlemen,” Loren warned.
And just like that, the mood returned to normal. As we hiked, I mulled over Loren’s comments.
“What happens if something goes wrong when you’re engaging the enemy?” I asked Loren.
“Prince Ryne has given us contingencies for every possible outcome. If our primary attack runs foul, we switch to another tactic, and if that doesn’t work, then we have three more options to try before we retreat.”
“Every possible outcome? I find that hard to believe,” I said.
“I’ve been leading our small unit for the last ten days and haven’t used more than two options. Kerrick was right. Prince Ryne has a gift for strategy.” Loren glanced at me in concern. Probably worried that mentioning Kerrick’s name would upset me.
It did, but I kept control of my emotions.
“What about communication between units and with Prince Ryne?” Enric asked. “His map had Xs all over the place. You don’t have any magicians, so how do you know you’re not ambushing yourselves?”
Loren studied Enric as if impressed with his questions. “Prince Ryne assigns each unit a series of tasks. When those tasks are complete, we return for another set of directives. He knows which unit is doing what at any given time. He has loads more maps with diagrams.”
“Where did he get them?” I asked.
“He drew them when we were in Estrid’s camp.”
“And when we were in hiding. He had plenty of time then,” Flea added completely unaware of Loren’s signal to shut up.
“Good to know he was putting that time to good use. I’d hate to think he was relaxing while Estrid’s soldiers were dying as they tried to break the encirclement.” The bitterness in my voice surprised even me.
Loren and Quain glanced at each other. Quain made a go-on gesture to his friend.
“Avry, we’re sorry we had to...to deceive you,” Loren said. “But no matter which angle we looked at the problem, Tohon would have torn the encampment apart, searching for you. It would have ruined our entire strategy, and all of Estrid’s and our soldiers would have died. ’Cause you know as well as we did that Tohon wasn’t going to ‘incorporate’ the armies.”
Ryne’s tactics made sense. I hadn’t doubted that.
“Plus, you were needed,” Flea said. “You healed lots of people while we couldn’t help anyone.”
Another valid point.
“And we were worried you might let our...surprise slip.”
Perfectly reasonable.
“And you figured it out. Which really impressed Prince Ryne,” Quain said.
Which made me ask, “How did you plan to get past the encirclement before I sent the toxin?”
“We sent a bunch of our people out as the POWs to help on the outside,” Loren said.
“That wouldn’t have been enough.”
“You’re right.” Quain’s eyes lit up. “We had axes.”
I waited.
“Made from liquid metal,” Loren said. “We...er...raided Zabin’s arms merchant’s supply of liquid metal axes. They cleave right through those collars Tohon put on his dead. But we didn’t have many, and it would have been an outright, dragged-out fight with many casualties. Your way was much better.”
“Glad I could help.” Again with the sarcasm—what was wrong with me?
“Avry, we’ve explained and apologized,” Loren said. “You let us believe you were dead for months, and we forgave you. What more do you need?”
“I don’t need—” And then it clicked. “What bothered me wasn’t that you left, but that you left without asking me to come along.” I held up a hand. “All those points you made were excellent reasons for me to stay behind. But you didn’t think I would have made them, too. That I would have said, no, go on without me and don’t tell me anything. You assumed I’d want to run and hide with you.”
“But you admitted to being terrified of Tohon,” Quain said.
“I did. But I wouldn’t have compromised you guys because of my fear. I guess I’m upset because you think I would.”
“I understand now,” Loren said. “Okay, so we’ve made a mistake and so have you...so, we’re even?”
I smiled. “We’re even.”
“And you escaped from Tohon,” Flea said. “Does that mean you’re not afraid of him anymore?”
“I’d be an idiot not to be, but I’m not terrified that he’ll claim me any longer.”
“Why not?”
“Because he can’t.”
“Woo hoo! Score one for the healer!” Quain pumped his fist in the air.
“Oh, grow up, Quain,” Loren said.
“Lighten up, Loren. You make an acolyte seem fun in comparison.”
“I do not. You’re like an overeager puppy—all drool and unable to hold your bow—”
“Boys,” I said. “That’s enough. Besides, we should be encouraging Quain in his efforts to be housebroken, not—”
“Hey!” Quain rushed me.
I held up my hands and wiggled my fingers. “Beware the touch of death!”
He tackled me anyway. We rolled on the ground together, laughing.
“Great. Just great,” Loren said. “Now the entire realm knows exactly where we are.”
Quain jumped to his feet. “Bring them on! I’m ready for a fight.”
The rest of us groaned. I stood and brushed dirt from my clothes.
Enric pulled a leaf from my hair. “Is this...?”
“Typical behavior?”
He nodded.
“Yes. Now you know why they’re called the monkeys.”
“Lovely,” he deadpanned.
“That’s what I thought as first. Don’t worry, they’ll grow on you.”
“Or I’ll kill them?”
“Pretty much. It’s either a love or hate type of thing.”
“Lovely.”
* * *
We arrived at the cave without encountering another unit or any Death Lilys. The outer guards led us inside. A large cavern had been converted into an infirmary. There were cots instead of beds, but it was better than the patients lying on the cool, hard floor. Medical supplies had been stacked along the right wall, and there were other, smaller caverns being used by the four caregivers who had been helping the wounded.
I quickly assessed the patients. Battle wounds and broken bones. Nothing dire or infected yet. The caregivers had done a good job. After setting up an examination area, I added the herbs I had gathered on our way to the pile of supplies. Then I unrolled my bedroll, smoothing it out near the monkeys’, Flea’s and Enric’s in an otherwise empty area.
The boys were added to the guard duty rotation, but they had the first night off. We sat around a fire, eating dinner and talking about nothing in particular. It felt like old times.
When Quain started to complain about babysitting again, I offered him a new job.
“Anything would be better,” he said.
“Okay, then that nice young caregiver...Valorie...can patrol and you can clean bedpans.”
“I...”
“And suture wounds, set bones and wash patients. You’re not squeamish, are you?”
“I...”
“Great comeback, Quain.” Loren smirked. “Or should I call you lord of the bedpans?”
“Lord B.P., for short,” Flea chimed in, causing a ripple of laughter.
Enric stood. “I think I’ll volunteer to work a shift tonight. Good night.”
When he disappeared from sight, Quain leaned forward and asked, “Where did you find him? He’s as dry as jerky.” He waved the piece he’d been gnawing on.
“Be nice, Lord B.P.”
* * *
Working with patients and hanging out with the boys, I started to feel stronger. Grief still hit me at odd times, crashing over me with an unexpected fierceness. At those times all I could do was stagger t
o an empty cavern and curl up into a tight ball, letting the waves of misery flow until spent.
As the days progressed, new casualties arrived as I released others. One man had a nasty cut on his calf that had become infected on the long trip here. There had to be a better way to get to the injured, but I couldn’t think of it.
It was a steady stream but not overwhelming. I’d assumed Ryne’s tactics must be working, but on the sixth day we received bad news with the latest batch of patients. The red Xs had advanced, and we might have to evacuate within the week.
Sergeant Odd arrived the next afternoon with his Odd Squad. He didn’t have any injured, but he had heard I’d escaped and stopped by for a visit. While his unit visited with the patients, cheering them up, Odd and I talked.
“We’re back in business,” Odd said with a huge smile. “Finally using all that training. Me and my Odds are silent as ghosts thanks to you.”
Glad to see him, I asked, “How are the others doing?”
“Saul has what’s left of the jumping jacks and a few of his original unit. I’ve heard they’re doing major damage to the west. Wynn has a young squad, and they have been mostly running messages.”
“But it isn’t enough, is it?”
Odd waved away my concern. “It’s like chipping away at a huge rolling boulder. Eventually, we’ll carve it down into a tiny pebble.”
“By then, we might be up against the Nine Mountains.”
Odd shrugged. “If that’s what it takes.”
I admired his optimism. And maybe he was right. After all, he’d been out on the field of battle, engaging the enemy. Which reminded me. “Have you seen Belen?”
He sobered. “No sign of him. There have been rumors he was turned, but I don’t believe them.”
“Why not?”
“’Cause it’s Belen. Come on. Do you really think he’d get caught? No way. He’s just lying low somewhere, waiting for an opportune moment to strike.” Odd curled his fingers into claws and growled.
It sounded more like a cat in pain than a bear, but he succeeded in making me smile. “Maybe that should be our secret signal.”
“Oh. I like. With or without the roar?”
“Without. Since you’re the ghosts of the forest now.”
“Ah, yes. But what would it mean? We found Belen? Or we found a huge man-eating bear? No, wait, that could be confusing.”
I laughed. “How about it means it’s time to strike.”
“Perfect.” And then Odd’s eyes lit up, and he growled, dashing to the cave’s entrance.
For one heartbreaking second, I thought Belen had arrived, but it was Wynn. Odd pulled her into a hug, then led her over to me.
“Look who’s back,” Odd said to Wynn. “Avry escaped the big bad.”
“I’m the one who told you, you idiot.” She elbowed him in the ribs. “Good to see you, Baby Face.”
“It’s so nice to see you both. Here. At the same time. What a coincidence,” I said.
Odd leered and Wynn elbowed him harder this time.
“How’s the scar doing? Are you having any trouble eating?” I stepped close, examining the jagged line along the left side of her jaw.
“It doesn’t bother me at all. In fact, it’s actually useful.”
“How?”
“All I have to do is snarl and scowl at the kids in my unit, and they about wet their pants.” She laughed. “Youth can be wonderful when we’re trekking through the woods for twelve hours at a time, but, man, they can be pretty dense at times.”
“Are you staying tonight?” I asked.
“Yep, I even brought supper. Coll, get in here,” she yelled.
A very young man—younger than Flea—scurried in carrying four dead rabbits.
“Fresh meat,” Wynn said.
“The rabbits or Coll?” Odd asked.
She smirked. “Both.”
The poor boy blanched. I took the rabbits from Coll, and he bolted for the exit.
“I’ll give these to the cook,” I said. “He makes a delicious stew, but it’ll be a few hours.”
Odd turned to Wynn. “In that case, would you like to have an early supper with me?”
Confused, I said, “The stew won’t be that long.”
They exchanged grins.
“Oh.”
“Ah, Baby Face, you’re finally growing up.” Wynn took Odd’s hand.
They left to find a private place to...er...dine. Various emotions tumbled in my chest—happy for them and sorrow that the one I’d like to have an early supper with was gone.
* * *
The next morning a rare summer rainstorm drummed outside. I worried that Jael might have sent it, but the steady sound and lack of wind eased my mind. Before breakfast, Wynn pulled me aside. “Forgot to tell you last night. Prince Ryne needs more of those toxin sacks. Have you collected them?”
“Not yet. He said he’d send word.”
“Well, this is the word.” She put three fingers up and widened them so they looked like a W.
“You’re chipper this morning. And here I thought you’d be tired from all that...sleeping you were doing last night.” Jealous? Who, me?
Wynn winked.
I retrieved the Lily map from my pack. Spreading it out, I searched for the nearest Lily cluster. Small checks marked the ones I’d already taken the sacks from. According to Tohon, the Lily would regenerate the toxin in two months’ time.
Tapping on the map, I said, “There’s a patch about a day and a half east of here.”
Wynn leaned over. “I saw a bunch of them to the southeast and only a couple hours away.”
“It’s not marked.”
“Must have missed it. And there was a Death Lily, as it tried to snatch Coll. Poor kid almost soiled his pants.”
“Coll? Really?”
“Well, he is young.”
“No, I meant the Death Lily. They go after those they think have potential for magic. Has he shown any other signs?”
“No, but if you want, my unit can accompany you today.”
“That would be great. Plus, Quain will be happy. Not only about staying dry, but he’s been fussing about this assignment every chance he gets. Keeps calling it babysitting duty,” I said.
“Quain? Is he the cute bald guy?”
“Yes, but don’t ever let him know that.”
“About being bald?”
“No, the cute part. He would be insufferably smug forever.”
“Got it.”
After we ate, I grabbed a few supplies, borrowed a wide-brim hat to keep the rain off my face and headed out with Wynn. Even though it was late morning, the air was still chilly, and it smelled of moist earth.
Her team followed us, but their progress through the woods made nary a sound. And they kept well hidden, so I didn’t see them at all. Though we weren’t technically in enemy territory, it was still prudent to be as quiet as possible.
“They’re good,” I whispered to Wynn.
She beamed. “I’ve been training them.”
After a few hours, she led me into a clearing that was just the right size for the Lilys. They liked the sunlight but also liked being protected by trees.
I glanced around but didn’t see any. “Are they deeper in?”
“No.”
“Where are they?”
“There’re all around us. Can’t you see them?”
I looked again. Instead of Lilys, dead ufas stood among the trees. Fear kept me rooted to the spot, but I yanked my knife out and threw it at the closest ufa, burying the blade into its shoulder.
I shouted at Wynn. “Run! They’re after me.”
“Well, of course they are, Baby Face. Why do you think I invited them?”
KERRICK
He had left Oya back in Peti. It was far easier to travel on foot through the forest, but slower. Agonizingly slow, in his opinion, as he wanted nothing more than to hold Avry in his arms again. But the pace was prudent. Through his magical connection with the livin
g green, he sensed many groups of soldiers moving in all directions. A battle raged to the west and southwest. And Kerrick wasn’t sure who was who. Plus, he couldn’t sense the dead soldiers or any dead ufa packs, which increased the level of danger.
After a week, he reached the Healer’s Guild and discovered Ryne’s location in a nearby cave. It was quite the reunion since Ryne thought he’d died.
“Three miracles in one summer,” Ryne said after pouncing on him. “This is a sign!”
“Three?” he asked.
“You, Avry and Flea.”
His heart skipped a few beats. “Flea?”
“I forgot you don’t know. So much has happened. Sit down, sit down, I’ve lots to tell you.”
Kerrick glanced around the cave as strong emotions slammed into him. Flea alive? “Where’s Avry and Flea?”
“Not to worry. They’re both safe and with the monkeys in the infirmary.”
“Which is...?”
“About a day east of here.”
Another delay. It took all of Kerrick’s willpower to stay and listen to the events over the summer. At one point, he jumped to his feet. “You left without her.” His hands curled into fists, but he kept them by his sides.
“A tactical decision that worked exactly as I’d imagined. Well...except for her sister dying.”
“Noelle died?”
After that, it was a very long night.
“And no one knows where Belen is?” he demanded.
“Tohon claims he turned him into one of his dead, but I find that hard to believe,” Ryne said. “We’ll find him.”
Much later, when Kerrick tried to sleep, his mind whirled with all the information Ryne had divulged. But three events kept snagging: Flea being saved by a Peace Lily, Avry believing he was dead and Belen’s disappearance. He gave up on sleep a couple hours before dawn, told Ryne he couldn’t wait any longer and took off in the rain for the infirmary cave.
Wishing he’d brought Oya, Kerrick jogged through the forest, concentrating his magic on the immediate vicinity only. Ryne had assured him no enemy patrols lurked in the woods to the east, and he didn’t want to waste his energy scanning the entire area.
He arrived at the infirmary cave around midafternoon. Not recognizing any of the guards outside, he bypassed them. Then he slipped inside and stopped, searching for Avry and Flea. His heart jolted, banging against his rib cage when he spotted Flea joking with Quain and Loren.