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Scent of Magic
Maria V. Snyder
The army of the dead are coming… Avry of Kazan, the last Healer of the mystical Fifteen Realms, has a power that can’t be matched. But in the minds of her friends and foe alike, Avry no longer exists. Now, as the psychotic King Tohon builds an army mightier than any that has been seen before—a league of undead soldiers—Avry must face her toughest, most terrifying battle alone.Fighting to be reunited with her family and her lover Kerrick, Avry must infiltrate Tohon’s troops. But does she have the power, the rare magic; to do what legend says is impossible?FOR FANS OF TRUDI CANAVAN AND GAME OF THRONES




Praise forNew York Timesbestselling author
MARIA V.
SNYDER
‘Filled with Snyder’s trademark sarcastic humour, fast-paced action and creepy villainy, Touch of Power is a spellbinding romantic adventure that will leave readers salivating for the next book in the series.’ —USA TODAYonTouch of Power
‘The descriptions are vivid and draw you into the rugged journey across the mountains. You’ll want to follow their voyage into the next book.’
—RT Book ReviewsonTouch of Power
‘This is one of those rare books that will keep readers dreaming long after they’ve read it.’
—Publishers Weekly, starred review, onPoison Study
‘Snyder delivers another excellent adventure.’
—Publishers WeeklyonFire Study
‘A compelling new fantasy series.’
—SFXmagazine onSea Glass
Also by New York Times bestselling author
Maria V. Snyder
from
MIRA BOOKS
Study Series
POISON STUDY
MAGIC STUDY
FIRE STUDY
Glass Series
STORM GLASS
SEA GLASS
SPY GLASS
Healer series
TOUCH OF POWER
SCENT OF MAGIC
from
MIRA INK
Inside Series
INSIDE OUT
OUTSIDE IN

Scent of Magic
Maria V. Snyder


www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)


For Mom.
You started me on this path long ago by reading me books every
night, by taking me to movies and to the theater.
Thanks for always supporting my dreams.
I may be a gypsy, Mom, but it’s all your fault!

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
For my last book, my acknowledgements spanned two pages. I never want to take my support network for granted because without them, these books would not get written. But this time, I’m going to make it short and sweet. Well, I’m going to try.
As always, I need to thank my editor, Mary-Theresa Hussey, agent, Robert Mecoy, my husband, my daughter and son for their feedback and comments on this book. They spot the holes in logic, the dumb mistakes and, in the case of my daughter and son, yell at me when I kill off favorite characters.
The legions of people at Harlequin who are involved in my books are too many to list individually. They are from every department, from sales to digital to art, and are all over the world. I appreciate all their efforts on the behalf of me and my books. It is always a great pleasure and honor to work with all of you. Thank you so much!
A special thank you to Gabra Zackman, the phenomenally talented actress who reads my audiobooks. You rock! May you never get a sore throat … Ever!
Thanks to Becky Greenly and Amy Snyder for the technical support, and my daughter and son for the inspiration, laughs and support.
My husband, Rodney, gets his own paragraph or else he’ll pout. Just kidding. Without him, I wouldn’t be a writer. I’d still be a miserable environmental meteorologist, working in a cubicle. Now I work in a beautiful office that he built just for me. Thanks, dear!

CHAPTER 1
“I’m dead,” I said to Kerrick.
He kept his flat expression, and I knew I’d get more cooperation from the cave’s stone walls. Too bad for him that I didn’t need his approval. But it would be nice if we worked out an agreement at least.
“No one knows I survived. It’s the perfect opportunity for me to go undercover, and—”
“No. It’s not safe,” he said.
“Why not? No one will be looking for me. I could slip in—”
“What about Danny and Zila? They’re going to need you to teach them how to be healers.” Kerrick added another branch to our small fire.
We had stopped to rest in a narrow cave. Kerrick and I’d been traveling at night and sleeping during the day to keep a low profile since we still remained in Tohon Sogra’s realm. We were close to what had been the Realm of Vyg’s western border. After the plague had killed two-thirds of our population nearly six years ago, many of the Fifteen Realms resembled broken toys, with tiny pieces of their populations scattered far and wide.
Unfortunately Tohon had decided to sweep up those pieces to form one realm, or rather one kingdom. A good idea until you realized Tohon, the powerful life magician, was also a deluded megalomaniac whose army included a battalion of dead soldiers. Yes, dead. Tohon had discovered how to reanimate the dead.
“Danny and Zila don’t need me yet. They’re too young,” I said. “Danny probably won’t develop healing powers until he’s closer to fifteen, which won’t be for another year or two. Zila has six or seven more years.”
“Still, it makes the most sense to rendezvous with Ryne in Ivdel as planned. We’ll need to gather his men and then join forces with Estrid so we can stop Tohon’s army from advancing into Pomyt.”
“For you,” I agreed. “Not me.” Before he could argue, I added, “Besides, I gave my word to Estrid—”
“Which was voided when you died, Avry.” He sat next to me and pulled me in close, wrapping an arm around my shoulder.
I leaned against him, breathing in his scent of spring sunshine and clean earth. Every time we talked about my death, he’d sought my touch as if he still couldn’t believe I’d survived. Considering the plague had a hundred-percent fatality rate and it had indeed killed me a week ago, his actions were understandable.
However, a giant Peace Lily had brought me back to life. The ramifications of that action were … huge. Which was why I needed to figure out exactly what happened and what it meant for the rest of the Fifteen Realms. Or what was left of them.
I dropped the topic. For now. Kerrick and I had just admitted our feelings for each other. We had seven more days until we reached Peti, and I didn’t want to spend that time arguing with him. So much better to do … other, more intimate activities while we rested.
We approached the outer edge of Peti near dawn. Stopping in a thick copse of trees, Kerrick reached out with his forest magic to search for ambushers, marauders or mercs. His magic was a gift from the forest, and through that connection, he sensed other people. Or rather, he felt the irritations and annoyances that the forest considered intruders to its home.
When I held Kerrick’s hand, I also connected and experienced the unique bond he shared with the forest. I wondered if my eye color changed from sea-green to a darker green when his magic zipped through my body. Kerrick’s eye color changed to match the forest. Since it was the middle of spring, the surrounding greenery was thick and lush, an emerald carpet.
When I had first met him, his eyes were russet with flecks of gold, orange and maroon. The warm colors belied his personality at the time. He had been as cold and distant as the snow-capped peaks of the Nine Mountains.
But not anymore.
He caught me staring and smiled. It transformed his face from unreadable to … happy. Which still surprised me. I had been used to him gazing at me with annoyance, anger or exasperation, and these pleasant looks threw me.
He waited.
I shook my head and returned to studying the town. It was near the foothills of the Nine Mountains. Even from this distance, it appeared that most of the buildings had burned down. No signs of life.
“Do you think the marauders got to Peti?” I asked. Since it was the closest town to the main pass through the mountains, it had been a popular place to stop before making the treacherous crossing.
Even after the plague, Peti had managed to survive. But without law enforcement, large groups of marauders had formed in the foothills. They would attack populated areas when they ran out of food and supplies. They’d killed, looted and burned without mercy.
“Probably before Tohon got to them,” he said.
Tohon had swept through the foothills and killed all the marauders, leaving their bodies for us to trip over. He had claimed he was cleaning out the undesirables that had infected his kingdom. I considered Tohon’s abominations—his dead soldiers. Why wouldn’t he turn those marauders into more mindless, obedient troops? I asked Kerrick.
“He wanted us to find them. So we would rush to the pass and right into his ambush.”
I shuddered. The memory of the dead carrying me away still haunted my sleep along with Tohon’s voice beckoning me. The forest didn’t consider those things intruders because they weren’t alive. According to Kerrick, the living green ignored the damage they inflicted since it couldn’t sense any life nearby. Which meant the dead could sneak up on Kerrick. An unpleasant thought.
“Let’s check out Peti before we find a place to rest,” Kerrick said.
As expected, no one lived among the burned ruins. A light breeze swirled the ash. Our boots crunched on broken glass. Peti was bigger than I had thought. As we drew closer to the center, we encountered a few brick factories and businesses that had survived the fire. The flames had missed the heart of the town. With the marauders gone, people could return and build anew.
Except Peti was in the Realm of Vyg. Even though it was near the eastern border, this area was technically occupied by Tohon’s army. Kerrick and I had dodged a number of his patrols on our way here.
Kerrick found another small cave for us to hide in until nightfall. I understood the need to be hidden from sight and protected from an attack. However, I would have liked to camp under the sky for our last day together.
We set up our bedrolls and lit a small fire to drive off the chill and cook a simple meal. Sitting on opposite sides, I broached the subject of my future plans.
“No,” Kerrick said without considering anything I’d just said.
“I’m not asking. I need to talk to my sister. To explain—”
“No. It’s too dangerous.”
“I’m not asking,” I repeated because he tended to think he was in charge. “Besides, I was on the run for three years. I know how to get around without encountering trouble. And I can defend myself.” I pulled one of my throwing knives and pointed it at Kerrick. “And I know how to walk through the woods without making noise, so I’ll stick to the forest. Plus my healing powers can be used—”
“I know,” he growled.
I suppressed a smile, remembering blasting him with pain. He’d deserved it. I’d been trying to escape from him and his companions, but he wouldn’t let go. And he called me stubborn. He was the most obstinate person I knew. Worry flared. Would he drag me to Ivdel with him?
“No one knows I’m alive,” I said again. “No one is looking for me. No more bounty hunters, no mercenaries or Tohon’s dead.” And best of all, no Tohon. The man who’d threatened to claim me, and I knew, if push came to shove, he could with one touch. I hugged my arms close to my body.
“But what about the patrols? And Estrid’s holy army? Or Jael? She killed Flea and tried to kill us. If she sees you …” Fear cracked his stony expression for a moment.
“She won’t. I’ll wear a disguise.”
“But your sister is Jael’s page. If you get close to Noelle, she’ll know.”
“Then I’ll make sure Noelle’s alone.”
“But what if she still hates you? She’ll tell Jael you’re alive.”
He had me there.
I thought fast. “Then I won’t approach Noelle until after you and Ryne arrive with his army.” Hopefully in time to help Estrid defeat Tohon. Without Ryne, there was more than a good chance Tohon would overrun her defenses and add all of us to his ranks of dead. “I’ll do reconnaissance and fact-gathering. I promise.” I sensed a softening. “Tohon told me he has spies in Estrid’s camp. I might be able to find them.”
“No. You lie low, blend in and don’t call attention to yourself. Learn what you can from watching and listening. Don’t ask questions.” Even though he was clearly unhappy, he continued. “You’ll need a good disguise. Go to Mom’s in Mengels, she’ll—”
“But she’s days out of the way, and I don’t want anyone to know I’m alive.”
“If you don’t follow my suggestions, then I’ll just follow you.”
And he would.
I kept my expression neutral. “Why Mom’s?”
“Before the plague she helped women who had run away from their abusive husbands. Her inn was known as a safe house for these women, and she would give them a new look, a new name and find them a safe place to live.” He held a hand up. “She’ll keep all your secrets. You can trust her. That’s why everyone calls her Mom.”
“All right. Any other suggestions?”
“Don’t work in the infirmary. I know it’ll be tempting, but find a job that lets you be invisible. Like a maid or a kitchen servant.”
“Okay. Anything else?”
“Stay away from anyone you recognize or know. Belen’s still there.” Kerrick’s face paled. “You should tell Belen. He can help.”
“No, he can’t. Come on, Kerrick, you know he’s a rotten liar.”
“Easy for you to say. He’s not going to rip your arms off.” He hugged his arms to his chest.
“He’s not going to hurt you,” I said. Or would he? Belen was the Poppa Bear of our group, and we had become close friends. The thought of him mourning my death almost changed my mind.
“Have Prince Ryne tell him. I sacrificed my life for his, so he owes me one.” Ryne had had the plague and I’d healed him by assuming the sickness.
Unfortunately for the six million people who had died, the plague killed healers as well, so we’d stopped healing plague victims until we could determine another way. But once the population panicked and rumors spread that we refused to help people … it had turned ugly fast. Long story short, I was the last healer alive until Danny and Zila’s powers woke. If they did.
“How long are you going to play dead?” Kerrick asked.
“As long as I can. It’s a good strategy.”
“For you. I’m the one that’s going to have to deal with Belen, Quain and Loren.”
“I’m sure Ryne’s keeping them busy with his genius military tactics that will stop Tohon.” Which was the reason I’d given up my life for him.
Kerrick relaxed his arms and moved to sit next to me. He pulled me close. “At least I won’t have to act like I’m sad and missing you.”
“You mean you’ll go from moody, sullen and distant, to moody, sullen, distant and sad? The guys won’t suspect a thing,” I teased.
“Don’t start.” He tangled his fingers in my hair. “You were the reason for all those …”
“Temper tantrums? Grumpiness? Irritability?”
He tilted my head until I gazed up at him. A dangerous glint shone in his eyes. “You didn’t make it easy.”
“True, but neither did you.”
“True.” A hint of a smile. “I guess we’re meant to be together.”
“Surprisingly,” I agreed.
“Not to Belen. Once he forgives me for lying to him, he’s going to gloat.”
Belen had been his loyal friend, bodyguard and all but his older brother ever since Kerrick was born. It made sense that he could read Kerrick better than anyone.
“When did he figure it out?” I asked.
“Well before I did.” Kerrick gazed at the fire. “I think he made a comment after you escaped and I saved you from the mercs.”
An odd time. Kerrick had been furious at me. “And when did you … agree with him?”
“My feelings started changing after you healed Belen and we were at Mom’s.” He returned his focus to me. Cupping my face with his other hand, he said, “You had me tied in knots. You saved Belen’s life, and I wanted to kill you and thank you at the same time. And during those nights when we didn’t know if you’d live or die, I went from being angry to worried to frustrated to scared all within a single heartbeat. If you had died, I would have killed you.”
“You know that doesn’t make sense, right?”
“Nothing about that time made sense.”
“You kept me from dying. Did you know that?”
He tilted his head in surprise. “No. How?”
“You gave me the energy to heal myself. If you hadn’t stayed with me and held my hand, I would have gone into the afterlife.”
“And here I thought it was Mom’s tonics.”
“Good thing the Lamp Post Inn is on the edge of the forest.”
“That’s why I like it. I can still access my power there. That and her desserts are the best in the Fifteen Realms.”
“I’ll make sure I try some when I’m there.”
All humor fled his face. “But I won’t be there to watch your back.”
“Then I’ll have to be extra careful.”
“Promise?”
“Yes.” I leaned forward and kissed him. He was right. What I planned to do was dangerous, but these were dangerous times. And I needed to become Noelle’s older sister again before I resumed being Avry the healer. Plus my decision allowed me the freedom to just be a regular person. Someone unnoticeable, who blended in and didn’t attract Tohon’s attention.
When we reached the border road between Vyg and Pomyt that night, Kerrick had a few last-minute instructions. “Stay in the forest on the east side of the border. Better to go through Pomyt Realm than to get caught in the middle of any skirmishes in Vyg. You’ll be safer traveling in the daylight.”
I nodded, even though I knew to stay out of Vyg and to avoid Zabin until I was disguised. He needed to tell me. Plus if he didn’t lecture me, I’d worry he was following me as he had when I’d surrendered to Tohon. His forest magic had camouflaged him, and I’d never seen him until he appeared without warning in the garden.
Kerrick had been livid since he’d seen me kissing Tohon. Under the influence of Tohon’s life magic, I hadn’t had a choice. His powers had filled me with an unnatural desire and smashed my willpower to dust. After Tohon had left, and still reeling from Tohon’s display of dominance, I’d been grabbed by Kerrick who had then confessed he’d be upset if Tohon lured me away.
“Avry, are you listening to me?”
“Yes. Vyg bad. Pomyt good.”
“Avry.” His aggravation was clear.
I smiled. He was rather handsome when he was annoyed. Before he could launch into another lecture, I handed him Flea’s juggling stones for Belen, the letter and necklace for Noelle and the pouch full of Quain and Loren’s favorite herbs for them.
“But—”
“It’ll help with the ruse that I’d died.”
“How do I explain the extra time it took for me to catch up to them?”
“You’re supposed to be grieving, so it should be obvious even to Quain why. But if anyone asks, just give them that stony stare and they’ll back right off.” I met his gaze. “Yes, that one.”
“I’m not happy about this,” he said, but he handed me a pouchful of coins. “There should be enough in here for a couple months.”
He wrapped me into a fiercely protective hug before kissing me. His magic shot through me. If I were a plant, I’d have grown roots.
I pulled back before I changed my mind and stayed with him. “I’ll see you in Zabin.”
“You better.”
Squeezing his hand, I said goodbye and headed southeast. When I glanced back, he remained where I had left him, watching me. I shooed. He hefted his pack and turned north.
Although we were apart, the woods vibrated with his magic. A tingle zipped along my skin whenever I touched a leaf or brushed against a bush. Kerrick was keeping track of me. When I rested the next day, I kept my hand on the ground. That evening, his magic disappeared abruptly. Which, I hoped, meant he had reached the pass through the Nine Mountains and didn’t mean he’d encountered trouble.
A sharp ache of loneliness consumed me along with a horrible feeling that I’d never see him again.

KERRICK
Kerrick hefted his pack, heading north toward the main pass of the Nine Mountains. But after a few steps, he paused and glanced back. Avry had disappeared from sight, but thanks to his magical connection, he felt her passage through the woods. Unlike other intruders in the forest, she didn’t irritate the foliage and wasn’t deemed a nuisance to the living green.
No, she saved those special qualities just for him, driving him crazy with her stubbornness and risky schemes. He should follow her. Despite her promises to be careful, these were perilous times. Tohon and his abominations aside, mercs and gangs still roamed what was left of the Fifteen Realms.
The thought of losing her again sent sharp needles of pain into the center of his heart. He rubbed his hand over the stubble on his chin. The scent of vanilla filled his nose, and the memory of stroking Avry’s neck came unbidden. Avry’s new scent since the Peace Lily saved her life. Before she had smelled of honey and the lemon-scented soap she favored. While it was an interesting side-effect of her recovery, Kerrick didn’t care why it had happened. She was alive, that was all that mattered to him.
The desire to rush after her pulsed in his chest. He could send Ryne a note, telling the prince to meet him in Zabin. Except Avry wouldn’t be happy and he had no legitimate reason to change their plans to gather troops in Ivdel before marching south to aid Estrid. That would alert Ryne. And, for now, Kerrick knew that if everyone believed Avry dead, especially Tohon, she would be safer. Unless she tipped her hand.
He sighed. Best to meet up with Ryne as quickly as possible so they could deal with Tohon once and for all.
It took him a day to reach the road up to the main pass. Although it was spring and many of the other passes had opened, they were more difficult to climb. Kerrick weighed the risks. Tohon would expect him to go to Ivdel. If Kerrick headed east across Pomyt and used the Milligreen pass, the journey would be about twenty-two days. But if he crossed the main pass, it would take him closer to seventeen days. Unless he ran into one of Tohon’s ambushes.
The smart move would be to go the longer, safer route. Except Tohon might expect him to do just that and have that pass blocked. Milligreen was narrow and twisty, creating plenty of hiding spots, while the wider main pass gave him more room to maneuver.
In the end, speed won over all the other factors. Kerrick increased his pace, hoping to traverse the nine ridges in five days. His connection with Avry stopped when he stepped from the tree line. Worry for her flared. He concentrated on his progress to keep his imagination from running wild. It was all he could do at the moment.
After he crossed three ridges, he relaxed a bit. Surely Tohon’s men wouldn’t come this far to ambush him. By the fifth day, he descended the Nine Mountains and entered a lush valley in Ivdel Realm.
He breathed in deep, letting his tight muscles relax. The smells of pine and the sea mixed into a familiar scent. It’d been three years since he’d been in the northern realms. The Realm of Alga … home was twelve days to the west. His brother, Izak, and Great-Aunt Yasmin still lived in the Algan Palace in Orel.
Ryne’s castle was located about the same distance in the opposite direction. Kerrick turned east. Regret that he wouldn’t be able to check in on what remained of his family settled deep inside him. He’d send them a letter once he reached Ryne’s.
Someday, he’d return to Alga with Avry. After Tohon’s defeat and the Fifteen Realms restored. Kerrick had to believe that in order to keep fighting.
With his thoughts on Avry, he paralleled the east/west path below the foothills of the Nine Mountains. Keeping to the forest, he sensed a few other groups of travelers but avoided them even though the northern realms had been living in relative peace for the past two years.
He didn’t encounter any trouble until the eighth day of his eastern trek. Kerrick heard a sound that made his blood turn to ice. A throaty growl full of menace. He reached farther out with his magic. Aside from birds, rabbits and squirrels, the forest surrounding him was empty of larger predators.
Another growl sounded. It was louder and closer. This time Kerrick recognized the creature. An ufa. He pulled his sword and backed against a thick trunk, debating if he should climb the tree before the ufa attacked. He nixed the idea. Ufas had sharp claws to match their razor-sharp teeth.
Leaves rustled. Why couldn’t he sense it? Kerrick pulled power, blending in with the mottled browns and black of the trunk. But his scent gave him away. A large ufa broke through the bushes, heading straight for him.
Images from another attack flashed in his mind. The memory of burning pain and the sound of ripping flesh as teeth punctured his throat caused sweat to pour from his body. Not again.
Kerrick pointed his sword at the beast, but it stopped a foot from the blade’s tip. The ufa was as long as Kerrick was tall. Gray brindled fur covered solid muscle. It stared at Kerrick with cold dead eyes. Horror welled. Tohon was one sick bastard.
More rustling announced the arrival of another five dead ufas. They always traveled in packs. They fanned out, blocking any chance for escape. Not as if he could outrun one, let alone six.
Kerrick tried to influence the vines growing nearby, hoping they would tangle in the ufas’ legs, but the forest didn’t sense the ufas as a threat, even as they moved through the underbrush. Dead flesh nourished the living green and was an accepted part of its ecosystem. And the tree canopy above him contained nothing but healthy strong limbs.
With no other recourse left, he gripped the hilt of his sword, hoping to take a couple out before they finished him.

CHAPTER 2
I reached the outskirts of Mengels fourteen days after I left Kerrick. Bypassing Zabin had been tedious. I’d spent more time hiding than walking. The High Priestess Estrid’s holy army patrols covered more ground than before. Plus she had increased the frequency of their sweeps.
The noise of her squads’ passage through the forest had made it easy to avoid them—it just took longer. But their ineptitude worried me greatly. There was no way they would be able to perform any stealth military tactics without giving their positions away. Tohon’s troops would cut right through them. They needed to learn Kerrick’s trick of moving in the woods without making a sound.
Outside the Lamp Post Inn, I wrapped my hair into a tight knot. It had grown a couple inches since Mom and her daughter, Melina, had dyed the blond strands back to my natural auburn color and trimmed it. Now it hung straight to the end of my shoulder blades.
I donned a pair of eyeglasses that I’d found. It made everything a little blurry but not enough to hinder me. Then I pulled the hood of my cloak over my head. While the spring days had been warm, the nights cooled fast enough that I wouldn’t draw unwanted attention. I’d decided to enter the inn during the evening rush when the arrival of one more person wouldn’t be unusual. I’d rent a room where Mom could help me with a better disguise when she had time.
A good plan, except only a few people arrived. Anxiety grew. Mom always had a full house. Well, the days I’d been here she had. Perhaps this was her off-season.
When I pushed into the common room, I jerked to a stop. The reasons for the small turnout sat at the bar and occupied most of the tables. Estrid’s red-robed acolytes had invaded the inn.
I would have retreated, but a few of the acolytes spotted me standing in the doorway. If I left, it would be suspicious. So I strolled over to the bar to inquire about a room. Waiting for the bartender to finish with another customer, I scanned the inn’s common area.
A blaze roared in the hearth. Mom had covered the rough wooden tables with bright tablecloths, and cushions softened the chairs. Pastel paintings of flowers hung on the walls, and the mantel displayed Mom’s teapot collection. Despite the relaxed decor, tension thickened the air.
The door to the kitchen banged open. Mom stood on the threshold brandishing a spoon and fussing at one of the servers. Wisps of her pure white hair had escaped her bun. Stains coated her apron, and she looked years older even though I’d last seen her four and a half months ago. Not good.
She spotted me but didn’t react. “What can I do for you?”
“I’d like to rent a room.”
Mom glanced at the acolytes sitting at the bar. One man nodded to her. She pointed her spoon toward the tables. “Have a seat. I might have an open room, let me check.”
Oh, no. I retreated and found a small table in the back right corner out of the direct firelight. My thoughts swirled with questions. When had Estrid invaded Mengels? Should I just bolt and hope for the best?
A server I didn’t recognize took my order. In fact, I didn’t know any of the waitstaff. More than a few acolytes eyed me with interest. Swords hung from their waists. Which was a new twist. The acolytes I’d seen before hadn’t been armed. Well, not visibly. I wondered if these devotees would try to “recruit” me as they had my sister.
Noelle had been living on the streets of Grzebien when Estrid’s army had arrived to “help” the plague survivors, whether they’d wanted it or not. Along with a group of other street rats, Noelle had been rounded up and sent to a training camp.
The scars on my back burned with guilt as I remembered Noelle swinging a mallet at my head and accusing me of abandoning her. She’d been ten when my mother and younger brother, Allyn, had sickened with the plague and died, leaving her alone. At the time, I was in Galee working as an apprentice healer. Noelle said she’d sent me letters begging me to come home, but I never received them. I suspected my mentor, Tara, had intercepted them.
That still wasn’t an acceptable excuse. Or the fact that, since the plague swept with such speed, I wouldn’t have gotten home in time. Noelle was right. I’d abandoned her, and I needed to make amends.
Since my every move was being scrutinized by the acolytes, I ate my meal without tasting it.
Mom arrived with a slice of strawberry pie. She set it down in front of me.
“I didn’t order—”
“A skinny little thing like you can afford to have dessert.”
And just for a second, I caught a gleam of recognition in her eyes before she returned to brisk innkeeper.
“I do have a vacancy. How long are you planning to stay?”
“One night.”
“Just you?”
“Yes.”
“When you’re finished, I’ll show you the way.” She left.
Kerrick was right. The pie was delicious. Too bad I couldn’t really enjoy it. Not with Mom acting so strange. I hoped I’d have time to talk to her before the acolytes ambushed me. Because even looking through the blurry lenses of my glasses, there was no missing the nods and speculative stares that passed between them.
Mom led me to a tiny room on the first floor. Relief loosened a few knots in my stomach when I spotted the window between a narrow bed and a tall, thin armoire. I yanked off the spectacles and rubbed the ache in my forehead. While she lit the lantern on the night table, I closed the door and leaned against it.
“Tell me this isn’t as bad as it looks,” I said.
“It’s worse.” Grief leaked through the bland persona she’d adopted.
“Melina?”
“Taken.” She sat on the edge of the bed as if her legs could no longer hold her. “As you will be.”
No surprise. “Now?”
“Middle of the night. They have keys to all the doors, so you need to leave right now.”
“Do they recognize me?” I asked.
“No. They think you’re a lone traveler and an easy target.”
“Tell me what happened?”
The story sounded too familiar. Estrid’s troops had arrived to help. They’d conscripted all the young people and “converted” as many as they could, turning them into true believers of the creator.
“My rooms are filled with acolytes, and Chane, the one in charge of Mengels, is staying here, as well,” Mom said.
“The big guy at the bar?” I asked.
“Yes. He says if I cooperate, I’ll see Melina again.”
“Do you know where they took her?”
“Up north. They need soldiers to fight King Tohon’s army. They’re planning to recruit in all the towns in Sectven Realm.” Mom twisted the end of her apron. “I don’t know what I’ll do if she’s killed in battle.”
“She won’t be. I’ll make sure she’s safe.”
Mom glanced at me. “I can’t ask—”
“You’re not. I’m offering. Besides, I saved her before, and I’m not about to let her get hurt again.”
She straightened her apron. “How can I help?”
I debated. Kerrick had instructed me to find a job that made me invisible. If Estrid’s acolytes recruited me as a soldier for her army, then I’d be one of dozens. And one uniformed soldier looked much like another. Except I’d be watched as a potential flight risk and wouldn’t have any freedom. Their squads needed to learn how to move within the forests without giving away their positions or they’d be slaughtered. It was something I could do if I managed to convince them they needed my help.
Mom waited for my answer.
Kerrick wouldn’t be happy. Good thing he wasn’t here to lecture me.
“I need a better disguise.” I explained to Mom about my death and about the Peace Lily’s role in my survival, just in case something happened to me and Kerrick. “However, you cannot tell a soul I’m alive.”
“Of course not, dearie. I protect my girls,” she said with a spark of the Mom I’d remembered.
I outlined my plan.
“Goodness, such a to-do. You’re heading straight into trouble. I hope you know what you’re doing.” She left to fetch a few supplies.
I hoped so, too. While I waited for her, I arranged the room to aid with my plans. Mom returned with a basin, dyes, towels and a tray laden with other materials, including a couple jars filled with flesh-colored goo. At least that was what it looked like.
“I can’t lighten your hair since they’ve seen it darker, but I can dye it so it’s more red than brown.” She gestured for me to sit. “Make sure you always wear it up or pulled back. It will help make you look older.”
She worked fast, and soon my hair was wrapped tight in a towel. Opening one of the jars, she dipped her fingers in and then smeared the goo over my face and neck. Then she attacked my eyebrows with tweezers, plucking without pause. She dyed the thin arcs she left behind.
“This is going to hurt,” she warned me before brandishing a syringe. “Hold very still.”
I almost jumped from my seat when she pricked my bottom lip. Bracing for the stab of pain to my upper lip didn’t make it feel any better. My lips throbbed as if I’d bitten them very hard.
“Watz tat or?” I asked through swollen lips.
“It’s venom from a lannik snake. It’ll make your lips fuller for now.” She considered. “Usually it wears off in six months, but it might not last that long for you.”
“Ight ot?”
“Healers heal faster, right?”
Our bodies healed about ten times faster. I nodded. It was easier than talking.
“Don’t worry, you’ll get used to them. Now let’s get the lightener off your face.”
Mom washed my face, combed and braided my hair so the braid circled my head like a rope. She sprinkled something wet over my nose and cheeks before blotting at it with a towel.
With a satisfied smile she flourished a hand mirror, turning it until a stranger stared back at me.
“Freckles?” My now pale skin sported an array of freckles.
“They match the hair color. I used an ink that should last six months, and your natural skin color shouldn’t return for at least four months. I’ll put together a package of supplies for you to take along, so you can reapply if needed. And you’ll need a new name and realm to go along with the disguise.” She stepped back and regarded me. “Not bad, dearie. With the spectacles on, no one will recognize you.”
The glasses had given me a headache. Conscious of my lips, I formed my words with care. “I can’t wear … long.”
“Not to worry.” Mom rummaged through her supplies and produced a pair of glasses with silver wired frames. “These have plain glass.”
She helped me adjust them so they fit.
“Smart,” I said.
Sadness filled her eyes. “No, I’m not. If I’d listened to the rumors, I could have sent Melina away before those red-robed devils arrived.”
“Where would you have sent her? Not north or west, Tohon is invading those realms as we speak. Estrid has the north and east occupied. South?”
Pausing in the middle of cleaning up, she gaped at me. “No. Travelers from the south have told me such horror stories about a Skeleton King in Ryazan Realm.”
“Skeleton King?”
“He has gathered a following and they’re armed with the bones of their enemies.”
“Are you sure? That sounds far-fetched.”
“If it was only one or two travelers, I’d dismiss it, but many people have been fleeing from Ryazan. And they all say the same things.”
Just what we needed—more trouble. “Then you couldn’t have sent her anywhere, Mom. No place is safe anymore.”
No place is safe. My words to Mom replayed in my mind as I waited on top of the armoire. There was just enough room for me to sit cross-legged. Watery moonlight illuminated the lump under the bedcovers, but my hiding spot remained in the shadows.
A breeze rustled the leaves in the forest outside my open window. The fresh scent of living green reminded me of Kerrick. I half expected him to climb into my room. But nothing stirred or caused the insects to halt their nightly chirping.
The thin handles of my throwing knives dug into my damp palms. My cloak hung inside the armoire, and I wore my black travel clothes. Three years on the run from bounty hunters and mercenaries had taught me patience.
To pass the time, I thought about a new name and realm. Since my skin color now matched the people born in the northern realms, I decided I would be from Gubkin. It was tempting to pick Alga, but when Prince Kerrick of Alga showed up with Prince Ryne of Ivdel, there was a slight chance someone would try to introduce us. Plague survivors always sought out others from their former realms.
As for a name … I chose my mother’s name, Irina. A wave of grief swelled. I’d never had the chance to say goodbye to her or Allyn. Noelle had buried them in the mass graves and left Lekas. I’d arrived home to an empty house. My father and older brother, Criss, had died in a mine collapse before the plague struck. Four members of my family gone. I swallowed the tears that threatened. I would not lose Noelle, too.
The sudden quiet warned me. Shuffling footsteps outside approached my window. I shifted into a crouch and concentrated on the sounds. Two acolytes moved to block my escape. Then the lock on my door clicked and two robed figures entered. One moved toward my bed while the other stood before the now closed door.
Only four? Or did they have more waiting in the hallway? Did it matter? Not really.
I threw a knife at the person guarding the door—thunk—and then a second—thunk—pinning the sleeves of his robe to the wood. One down. I leapt off the armoire and landed on the acolyte near the bed. He fell with a solid thud. Just to be safe, I touched the back of his neck.
Power swelled from my core, and I channeled it into him, zapping him into unconsciousness. Not many people knew healers had that ability, and the acolyte wouldn’t remember what hit him. I doubted his partner even saw the action as he struggled to free himself.
Now for the two outside. I dove through the window, hit the ground and rolled. A cry of surprise sounded nearby, but I gained my feet and dashed into the woods. They chased after me. As soon as I reached a thicker area, I slowed and moved through the forest the way Kerrick had taught me.
My passage matched the natural sounds of the woods. Unlike my pursuers, who crashed through as if running from a pack of ufas. I found a hiding spot. They cursed as they stumbled into trees, and the fabric of their robes caught on thorns. I muffled my breathing as one came quite close to me.
He yelled at his companion to stop making so much noise. They paused and listened, then decided to split up to cover more ground. Big mistake. I waited until they were far enough apart, then I stepped behind the acolyte who had yelled.
Touching the back of his neck, I zapped him. He jerked in surprise before collapsing.
His companion’s noisy passage was easy to track. I caught up to him and pulled my stiletto. Instead of zapping this one, I pressed the tip of the blade against his throat. “Looking for me?”
He froze. “Uh.”
“Don’t do anything stupid,” I warned as I yanked his sword from his belt and tossed it aside. “Follow my orders and your head will remain attached to your thick neck. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good. Let’s go.” I grabbed the collar of his robe.
“Where?” he asked.
“Back to the Lamp Post Inn.”
He paused. “You’re crazy.”
“So I’ve heard.” I poked him with my blade. “Now move.”
When we reached the front of the inn, I instructed my captive to go inside first. Drawing in a deep breath, I stayed behind him as he pushed open the door. This could be a very big mistake. I steadied my nerves by concentrating on being confident like Loren and cocky like Quain.
While we were still in the shadowy threshold, I peeked around my guy. The common area was rather crowded for the middle of the night. I counted five. All armed.
The leader, Chane, rounded on my acolyte. “What’s going on? Where is she?” he demanded.
“Uh.”
My captive wasn’t the most loquacious. I moved next to him but kept my stiletto pressed against his skin.
“I found him lost in the woods.” I tsked. “Poor thing should know the forest is dangerous at night.”
Swords appeared in four hands within seconds.
However, Chane studied me. I copied him. He was as tall as Belen but not as wide. Although I didn’t doubt strong muscles lurked underneath his robe. His nose looked as if someone had sat on it, and his brown hair had been cut military short. A soldier despite the acolyte’s garb. He appeared to be around Loren’s age—about thirty-five.
He broke the silence. “You’re either incredibly stupid or …”
“Or what?” I asked.
“Or incredibly stupid.”
“Now, now. Play nice. I didn’t kill any of your men. And I could have easily disappeared. I still can,” I said with a bravado I didn’t feel.
He motioned to one of his men. “Hent, check her room.” Then he returned his attention to me. “Okay, I’ll play. What do you want?”
“It’s more about what you want. You sent your colleagues to ambush me. I assume you have a good reason?”
A slight smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “I just wanted to talk.”
Yeah, right. “Okay. So talk.”
It took him a moment to cover his surprise. “Just like that?”
“You’re looking for bodies for Estrid’s army. Right?”
“We’re missionaries, spreading the creator’s message of peace and educating the—”
“Save the speech for someone who is gullible enough to fall for it. Fact is, I’m interested. You know I’m skilled. Four of your guys couldn’t catch me. I can fight for Estrid, but I don’t want to be a draftee, devotee or anything else ending in ee.”
Understanding shone in his eyes. He relaxed until Hent returned from my room with the acolyte I’d pinned to the door. Two small rips marked the sleeves of his robe. He clutched my knives in tight fists, glaring at me.
“We can’t wake Tyson,” Hent said.
Every gaze focused on me. “He’ll be fine once the drug wears off.”
“What did you use?” Chane asked.
“Trade secret.”
“And my other acolyte?”
“Sleeping in the woods.”
He paused for a moment before gesturing to the bar. “Let’s have a drink and discuss your … terms.”
I waited.
“Consider it a cease-fire. No one will attack you. I give you my word.”
“And you are?”
“High Priest Chane of Ozero Realm.”
High Priest? An impressive rank. “What are you doing in Mengels?”
He laughed. “Spreading the word. I can be very persuasive.”
I glanced at his men. They still held their swords at the ready. “Uh-huh.”
“They’re overprotective.” He signaled them, and all but Hent sheathed their weapons.
He stared at me as if waiting for the opportunity to throw my knives at me.
Chane noticed. “Hent, give me those.”
With reluctance, Hent handed him the two throwing knives. Chane placed them on the bar, then he inclined his head at me, waiting. I released his man and slid my stiletto back into its holder on my belt. He pulled a stool out for me, then settled on the one next to it as if we were old friends getting reacquainted. But his gaze turned cold when he focused on my ex-captive. “Otto, fetch us some wine.”
The man rushed to obey.
“So, Miss …?”
“Irina of Gubkin Realm.” I perched on the edge of the stool.
“You’ve traveled a long way.”
I shrugged. “The northern realms are quiet compared to what’s happening on this side of the Nine Mountains.”
“As I understand it, you’re looking for a higher-ranking position in the High Priestess’s army. Why didn’t you approach the officers up near Zabin?”
“They weren’t smart enough to catch me while I crossed through their territory.”
Otto placed two glasses of red wine on the bar and retreated to the other end.
Chane swirled his wine. “But I haven’t caught you either.”
“That’s why you need me.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
I swallowed a mouthful of wine. “I’ve been in Vyg. I’ve seen Tohon’s … special troops.” I let the horror and revulsion show on my face. No acting required. “You need me.”
He considered. “Word from the High Priestess is that those creatures are a rumor. A tactic to spread fear in our army.”
I stared at him, doing my best to match Kerrick’s flat expression.
“The information about them came from a dubious source,” he tried.
“Then you are calling me a liar.” And also Belen, Quain and Loren. If Belen were here, he’d squash Chane so the rest of his body matched his nose. I snatched my knives and stood.
“Wait. I apologize. It’s just so … implausible. I know Tohon’s a powerful life magician, but for him to be able to animate the dead is … unbelievable.”
I could have explained how Tohon injected them with an unknown substance and then froze their bodies in a stasis so they didn’t decay. The combination of the mystery drug and magic gave them a fake life. Why it worked, I had no idea. However, that was much more than I planned to reveal to Chane.
Instead, I said, “You would have an easier time recruiting soldiers if you showed the people what Tohon’s capable of. Then you wouldn’t have to resort to late-night abductions and rounding up street rats.”
He peered at me as if he had misjudged me. “How do I know you’re not a spy for Tohon?”
“Because if I was spying for him, I would have let you kidnap me. Then I would be like all the rest you’ve conscripted—a nameless, faceless soldier able to blend in with ease. He probably has a dozen spies in place already. Tohon’s no fool.”
When he didn’t respond, I said, “This has been a colossal waste of time. I’m leaving.”
“Where are you going?”
“To join Tohon’s forces. Might as well fight for the winner.” I headed for the door. Would they try to stop me?
“Irina, wait,” Chane said.
I turned, expecting to see sharp blades pointed at me. Instead he sent Otto to fetch him parchment and ink.
“Finish your wine,” he said.
Still wary, I settled back on the stool. After Otto returned, Chane wrote a letter of introduction.
“Give this to Major Granvil,” he said, handing it to me.
I scanned the letter. Even though there were a few compliments about me, three words stood out as if they’d been written in bright red ink. My aunt Estrid. Chane was her nephew. I almost groaned out loud. So much for keeping a low profile.

KERRICK
The dead ufa pack kept their positions as if waiting.
Waiting for what? Kerrick stretched his senses to the maximum distance and felt the unmistakable vibrations of a galloping horse. A potential ally or more trouble? With six ufas poised to attack, it couldn’t get any worse.
He kept a firm grip on his sword as he speculated on the approaching rider. It could be Tohon, coming to gloat over Kerrick’s imminent death. But why would he travel all this way when he was busy preparing for war? Because it was exactly what Tohon would take the time to do.
After all, Kerrick and Avry had snatched Ryne from Tohon, denying him his revenge. Ryne’s military savvy posed a very serious threat to Tohon’s plans to become king of all the realms.
The ufas didn’t flinch as the horse slowed and entered the clearing. Kerrick recognized the rider. Although lines of strain marked her face and her long blond hair was frizzy and unkempt, she had the same sad smile he remembered from school.
“Cellina, fancy meeting you here,” Kerrick said.
“We’ve been waiting for you,” she said.
“We? Is Tohon here, as well?”
“No. It’s just me and the dead mutts.” She gestured to the ufas, crinkling her pudgy nose in disgust.
“Was this your idea?”
“Nothing about this is my idea, Kerrick.”
“Yet, you’re here.”
“Tohon is a hard man to refuse. He’s forced me into a very difficult position.”
Lyady Realm had been invaded by Tohon last year. To ensure the president’s cooperation, Tohon had taken his daughter, Cellina, with him.
“I’d feel bad, but your position is better than mine at the moment,” he said.
“True.”
“How did you find me?” he asked.
“The pack was given your scent. Instead of guessing which pass you’d take, we crossed the Nine Mountains and found a place to wait east of the Milligreen pass.”
“Smart.”
“Tohon’s plan. Just like these mutts. Dead ufas are easier to train and more loyal than the living ones. They won’t attack you until I give them the signal.”
The four scars on his neck burned as his heart rate jumped. “Is giving them the signal part of Tohon’s plan?”
“Yes. I’m to report every detail of your death and dismemberment to him. I’ve also been ordered to bring home a souvenir.”
Stunned, he stared at her.
“Your sword, Kerrick. Don’t be so morbid.”
He swallowed. “Hard not to be.” He braced for the signal, but she remained quiet. Sensing her ambivalence, he said, “Cellina, come with me to Ryne’s.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not? We’ll protect you.”
“I know you’ll try.”
“We’ll succeed. We saved Ryne and the children.”
“But not your lady love.”
“She chose her fate.”
Cellina sat straighter in the saddle. “So did I.”
“There’s no reason for you to return to Tohon now.” But as he said the words, he realized she must still be in love with him. Either Tohon’s life magic had influenced her, or she’d never recovered from her school crush. In his younger days, he would have scoffed at the notion. However, he’d learned love didn’t follow logic at all.
“You don’t have to do this,” he said.
She clutched the reins tighter. The horse moved a few steps to the side, smelling her fear. “I can’t disobey him.”
In desperation, he stepped away from the tree. The ufas growled and snarled but didn’t move. Kerrick pointed his blade at the ground, slowly approaching Cellina. Sweat soaked his shirt and burned in his eyes. But he kept his gaze on her.
He stopped with two feet between them. Her lips pinched tight together as if she’d whistle, but no sound escaped. Yet.
Kerrick offered her the hilt of his sword. “Take it.”

CHAPTER 3
I arrived in Zabin around midmorning a week after I’d left Mom’s. The town was completely overrun with Estrid’s acolytes and soldiers. When I’d been here with Kerrick, there had been only a few red robes. Now, it appeared as if the streets were covered with blood. A bad omen.
And the feel of the town had changed. Before, unease rippled just under the surface of the populace. Now, outright fear fogged the air.
My dark gray cloak no longer helped me to blend in. Plus, the day would be too warm for my fur-lined garment. Summer was only three weeks away. I removed my cloak and packed it into my knapsack, put my glasses on, then strode through town as if I belonged. But it wasn’t long before a group of five soldiers stopped to question me.
Showing them Chane’s letter, I asked where I might find Major Granvil. They glanced at each other with suspicion creasing their collective foreheads.
“This letter could be a forgery,” the female lieutenant said, passing around the paper to her team again.
I suspected this could take all day. To speed it up, I asked, “Why don’t we ask the High Priestess? I’m sure she’ll recognize her own nephew’s signature,” I bluffed. The last thing I wanted was an audience with Estrid.
But my comment had the desired effect. At the mere mention of her name, they blanched. I offered them a more palatable suggestion. “Or we can all find Major Granvil and let him decide on the authenticity of the letter.” Plus it would give me an escort so I didn’t have to do this song and dance all over again.
The lieutenant agreed. I suppressed a laugh as they surrounded me. What did they think I’d do? We walked through the center of town. While the market appeared crowded, I noticed there were fewer stands selling goods than before. I wondered if the nice lady who sold me my cloak and boots remained in business.
We left the town proper. The buildings thinned, and soon farm fields stretched into the distance to the north and east. Except no crops had been planted. Tents, campfires and training areas filled the landscape. It appeared to be the bulk of Estrid’s army. She had a few training camps throughout Pomyt, but it seemed she had concentrated her forces here.
I spotted the grand manor house east of the city’s heart. It had been built on a hill and overlooked Zabin and the surrounding lands. When I’d been a … guest of Estrid’s, I’d stayed there while I’d cared for her wounded. A decent-sized infirmary occupied the ground floor and the caregivers had been quick learners.
A pang of remorse touched my heart. I should be saving lives right now and not playing dead. I did promise Estrid I would return to help with the injured after I healed Ryne. Not the best decision, but I’d thought I’d be dead. Actually, I wouldn’t mind working for her. Despite her strict rules regarding having fun—as in, not having any—she really cared about her soldiers and acolytes. Unlike Tohon, who only cared for himself.
I planned to honor my promise to her eventually. Noelle first. Glancing at the manor, I wondered if Estrid was still living there with her granddaughter and Jael. Did Noelle have a room there, as well?
The lieutenant’s voice jerked me from my musings. “Major Granvil’s company is just ahead. His tent is the big one with the battle-ax painted on it.”
Leaving her companions outside, we entered. Major Granvil, a captain and a female lieutenant had gathered around a table with maps spread out before them. A few had fallen to the dirt floor. The major leaned back in his chair. His long, lanky legs stretched out in front of him. Concentrating on his companions, he stroked his bushy unregulation mustache.
While the lieutenant waited for the major to acknowledge our presence, I listened to the discussion.
“… two squads from Dagger Company disappeared in Vyg’s sector five.”
“Something big is going on over there.”
“We can’t risk any more scouts.”
“Send Ursan and his jumping jacks, they’ll find out what’s going on.”
“Too dangerous. The only squad that’s been successful on the other side of the border has been Belen’s.”
“And why is that?” Major Granvil asked his officers. No one answered.
“I know why,” I said into the silence.
The lieutenant sucked in her breath at my audacity. And the major turned his full attention on me. Most people would have been intimidated by the force of his gaze, but after facing Kerrick’s wrath and Tohon’s ire, the major didn’t scare me at all. Unimpressed, I stared right back at him.
“And who the hell are you?” Major Granvil demanded.
“She’s … uh … High Priest … er … sent. Here, sir.” The lieutenant thrust the letter into his hands.
The major scanned the document and then tossed it onto the table. His officers bent their heads to read it.
“Um … sir, is the signature authentic?”
“Yes, Lieutenant. You’re dismissed.”
She snapped a salute and bolted from the tent.
Once again the major studied me. White streaked his short black hair and peppered his mustache.
“Now, why would Chane send you to me?” he asked.
“Perhaps because I know the answer to your question,” I said.
“Please, enlighten us.”
I ignored the hint of sarcasm in his tone. “Belen’s successful because he knows how to move through Vyg’s forest without making a sound. I’m sure he taught his squad how to, as well.”
“And you know this … how?”
“Because I’ve been through those woods recently, and all the other squads made so much noise, I easily avoided them, which I’m sure Tohon’s soldiers did, as well.”
“You know Belen?”
“I met him once.”
“So why didn’t Chane send you to him?”
“Belen already has those skills, he doesn’t need my help. You do. I can train your scouts and special squads. Actually, I’m surprised no one has asked Belen to teach more of you.”
“He’s been busy.” The major fiddled with his mustache. “Why should we trust you?”
I pointed to the letter.
“Chane’s a good kid, but he can be tricked.”
“I’ve seen the other side, Major.” I shuddered as the memory of the dead filled me with horror. “You need all the help you can get or Tohon’s going to decimate you.”
“And I’m thinking you’re not the type to scare easily.”
“No, sir.”
He gestured to the female lieutenant. “This is Lieutenant Thea. Her platoon includes the special squads for our company. You can coordinate with her. Now …” He drummed his fingers on his leg. “What do we call you?”
It was a rhetorical question, but I answered it anyway. “General Irina has a nice ring to it.”
He laughed and stood. “There’s only one general in this whole outfit, sweetheart.”
“And who is he?”
“She is General Jael. Not only does she command the army, but the very air. And she has a nasty temper. I’d suggest you stay far away from her.”
Worry for my sister swirled. Jael had taken her on as a page. They were together every day.
The major extended his hand. “Welcome to Axe Company, Sergeant Irina.”
“How about Lieutenant Irina?”
“Let’s see what you can do first, and then we’ll talk.”
I shook his hand. “Deal.”
Lieutenant Thea eyed me critically. She matched my height, which was a bit of a surprise since, at five feet eight inches, I was on the tall side for a woman. Her no-nonsense demeanor hid her opinion about me. I had the feeling she wasn’t the type to make a quick judgment.
“First stop, the supply tent.” She led me to a huge canvas structure that was more like a building than a tent.
I was given two sets of the daily uniform—basic green camouflage fatigues—they were very smart to change from red—with the sergeant stripes stitched onto the upper sleeves, a thick leather weapon’s belt, a pair of brown boots manufactured for rough terrain, a backpack also camouflaged, underclothes and a dress uniform, which consisted of a button-down collared shirt, jacket and a skirt all in the same bland khaki color. The dress shoes had a two-inch heel.
“Heels and a skirt?” I asked Thea.
Humor sparked in her blue eyes, but it didn’t reach her face. “The dress uniform must be worn when meeting with high-ranking officers, priests and priestesses. I doubt you’ll have need of it.”
“Thank the creator!”
This time she smiled, but it only lasted a second. Back to business, she asked, “Weapon of choice?”
I glanced at her belt. She wore a sword on her right hip and a dagger on her left.
“I don’t need anything.”
She gestured to me. “That stiletto won’t be enough to defend yourself.”
I brandished a couple of my throwing knives. “How about these?”
Thea shrugged. “They’re only good if you know how to use them.”
Aiming for the center post, I buried four in a neat row.
“That’s handy.”
“Keeps the gentleman callers away.”
Another fleeting smile. I considered it a minor victory.
“I’ll show you to your quarters.”
I grabbed my knives and followed her. We walked past tents and around training areas. At first the camp looked as if it had been haphazardly planned, but as Thea pointed out the various platoons, a pattern emerged. Each company had been grouped together.
My quarters ended up being a tent occupied by two other female sergeants.
“Your roommates are also assigned to my platoon.”
“How many soldiers do you command?”
“I have fifty-six. Five squads of ten soldiers with one sergeant commanding each squad.” She cocked her head. “And you.”
I dumped my uniforms onto the empty cot.
“Bed linens can be found in the storage locker.” She pointed to the large trunk at the foot of the cot. “Get dressed and I’ll introduce you to the other sergeants.” She left.
As I changed into the fatigues, I wondered how the other sergeants would react to my sudden … assignment. Stuffing all my things into the trunk, I locked it, then tucked the key into my pocket.
Lieutenant Thea waited for me outside. “My platoon is in training right now. We’re not on patrol duty for another two days. Will that be enough time to teach them?” She led me to one of the open areas used for practice.
“Not all of them.” I considered. Since I’d never taught anyone the skill, I wasn’t sure how long it would take. Or if I could. I suppressed the doubts. Too late to worry about them now. “I might be able to train one squad if they’re quick learners.”
“And if they cooperate.” Thea gave me a tight smile that almost resembled a grimace.
“Because I’m new?”
Thea raised a finger. “That’s one of the three things against you. The others are that you’re a young female and that you haven’t earned your place here. All of my sergeants have been promoted up through the ranks. Not assigned a rank.”
I understood two of the three. “Female? General Jael’s in charge, and the last time I checked, she’s a young female.”
“She’s also the High Priestess’s daughter-in-law and an air magician.”
“And I’m not.”
“Correct. Plus we need to rebuild our population. Women of childbearing years are already in short supply, and my lady sergeants are older.”
I caught on. “They don’t want us getting killed in battle.”
“Yep. It’s all about our future survival.”
“But if we don’t stop Tohon, we won’t have a future.”
“These guys are quite confident we’ll win.” Thea stopped at the edge and watched the men practice. “They have to be, in order to do their jobs.”
I studied the fighters. Most had stripped off their shirts in deference to the afternoon heat. Some of them held wooden swords while others fought with knives. The clangs of metal blades sounded as a few used real weapons. Sweat coated muscles and stained their sleeveless undershirts.
After a few minutes, Thea whistled and three men and two women broke from the knots of fighters and headed toward us.
As they approached, I wondered if the male sergeants in Estrid’s army had to be over six feet tall and solid muscle, because these guys made Kerrick seem small—something I’d thought only Belen could do. I glanced at Thea.
“Don’t let them intimidate you,” she said under her breath.
Too late.
When they reached us, they saluted the lieutenant.
“At ease, Sergeants,” she said.
They dropped their hands, but their tight postures were far from relaxed. All wore their hair buzzed short, even the women. All glared at me. And their nonverbal message was clear. Go away, stranger. You don’t belong here.
I fought my desire to step back, reminding myself that I’d faced down Kerrick. But there were five of them. Kill. Me. Now.
Thea introduced me. “Sergeant Irina, this is Sergeants Liv, Ursan, Odd, Saul and Wynn.”
“Nice to meet you,” I said.
They remained silent and unfriendly.
Thea’s voice took on her no-nonsense tone. “Major Granvil has assigned Sergeant Irina to our platoon to help with our special operations training.”
“We don’t need help,” Sergeant Ursan said.
His named sounded familiar—something about jumping jacks.
“That’s not your decision, Sergeant. It’s the major’s,” Thea said. “Your squad will be the first to start the training.”
Wrong move. Yes, she was his commanding officer, and he’d obey her orders, but his whole demeanor shouted I’d get more cooperation from Tohon’s dead. I had to get all the sergeants on board or the lessons with their squads would be a frustrating and fruitless waste of everyone’s time.
“Sergeant Ursan, you said your squad doesn’t need help. Is that correct?” I asked.
“Yes.”
“Then how about we work out a deal?”
A flash of interest sparked in his brown eyes.
“How about you give me the opportunity to prove to the five of you that I know something worth learning?”
“And in exchange?”
“Full cooperation.”
He glanced at the other sergeants. They nodded.
“Agreed,” Ursan said.
We shook hands.
“When would be a good time?” I asked Thea.
“Now. And I’ll be observing.”
“Great.” I scanned the area. “Is there a section of the forest reserved for training and free of Death Lilys?”
“Yes,” Ursan said. “Do we need any weapons?”
“No. But you’ll need your shirts.”
He paused for a moment and shot me a look. I wasn’t sure what he thought, but I knew he was intrigued despite himself. Good.
They collected their uniforms. Instead of strapping on their swords, they just tucked their utility knives into their belts. Thea pulled Ursan aside and said something to him. He nodded but kept his gaze on me.
We headed to the woods north of Zabin. Familiar territory for me as I had bypassed the city through this area a few weeks ago.
When we reached the edge of the forest, I turned to the five sergeants. “We’re going to play a game of hide-and-seek. You hide and I’ll seek. Standard rules apply.”
I pressed my lips together to keep from smiling at their outraged expressions that clearly said, grown-ups don’t play kids’ games.
Thea’s voice remained emotionless when she said, “Sergeant Irina, please go over the rules with them. I’m sure it’s been … a while since they’ve engaged in this activity.”
“Of course. I count to a hundred while you go hide in the woods. You can only stay in one hiding spot for thirty minutes before you need to find another. You can move at any time and, if you hear me approach, feel free to change positions. If I find you all, I win. If I don’t find you all by sunset, you win. Any questions?”
Everyone glanced at the sky. We had about two hours until sunset.
“Sounds pretty straightforward,” Thea said. “Let the game begin.”
They grumbled but trudged into the woods as I turned my back on them and counted.
When I reached one hundred, I yelled, “Ready or not, here I come.”
Thea stared at me as if I’d grown a second head. “I hope you know what you’re doing.”
“Don’t worry, Lieutenant.” I saluted her before entering the lush greenery.
I drew in a deep breath. Oh, yes. The Queen Seeker was back!
I stepped into the shadowy half-light. Streams of sunlight cut through the forest canopy. Without thought, I touched the leafy branch of a bush, seeking Kerrick’s magic. Disappointment stabbed deep.
Moving without matching the forest’s song, I crunched deeper into the underbrush. When I’d gone about a hundred paces, I stopped.
“Okay, Sergeants,” I shouted to the surrounding trees. “You’ve heard me tromping around. Now I’m going to go silent.”
I concentrated, listening to the sounds. An off note came from my right. I headed in that direction and surprised Sergeant Liv. After that, it didn’t take me long to find Odd, Saul and Wynn. Not that I was bragging, but if I could locate Belen, Quain and Loren, who’d all had training, I could find these sergeants who hadn’t.
Ursan proved to be harder to find. He possessed some skill, and I had to wait until he moved to another hiding spot to discern his general location. Once there, I lost him again. I made a few loops until I remembered what Kerrick had done to throw me literally off his scent.
I returned to the original place I’d zeroed in on. Then I looked up, spotting the sergeant sitting on the tree’s lowest branch. Ursan jumped off and landed next to me. His expression unreadable.
Before I could say found you, he stepped close to me. Now he let his anger show along with the blade in his hand. How did I miss that?
“Who the hell are you?” he demanded.

KERRICK
Kerrick offered the hilt of his sword to Cellina. From atop her horse, she met his gaze. If she signaled the pack of six dead ufas behind him, he would be torn apart.
“Take it,” he repeated.
“No. You’re going to need it.” Cellina whistled.
The high-pitched sound pierced his heart, releasing a surge of fear-fueled energy. Grabbing the hilt of his sword, he spun. The closest ufa launched straight at him. Kerrick sidestepped and slashed down with all his strength, decapitating the creature.
The rest pounced. Kerrick lopped off another head before they closed the distance, knocking him to the ground. His weapon flew from his grasp so he punched and kicked as his world filled with gray fur, sharp claws, growls and the rancid odor of decay.
When an ufa clamped its teeth around his neck, Kerrick fought with pure desperation. He grabbed the beast’s jaws, cutting his fingers on its teeth, and pulled the jaws apart.
“Heel.” Cellina’s loud command sliced through the ruckus.
The ufa on Kerrick yanked its mouth from his grasp and bounded over to sit with its pack mates behind Cellina. She had dismounted and now held his sword.
Kerrick jumped to his feet, preparing for another round.
“Relax. I wasn’t going to let them kill you.” She gestured to the pack. “I needed you to fight them so I can lie convincingly to Tohon that you’re dead.”
“You could have told me,” he rasped.
“Then you wouldn’t have fought so hard.” She approached. “Here, grab the hilt.”
Despite her claims, Kerrick didn’t trust her. “Why?”
“Tohon’s magic will sense your blood on your sword, helping to support our ruse.”
Kerrick glanced at his hands. Blood dripped from multiple cuts. As he reached for the sword, he wondered if he could take the weapon and kill Cellina before she could signal her ufas. His fingers closed around the leather. Meeting her gaze, he released the weapon.
“Last chance for you to come with me to Ryne’s,” he said, knowing the next time they encountered each other would probably be on the battlefield.
“Last chance for you to get out of here before I change my mind,” she said.
He gave her a two finger salute and resumed his trek east.
Kerrick’s energy faded after a few miles. Kneeling next to a stream, he washed the dried blood, ufa slime and sweat from his face, neck and arms. His hands shook with a delayed reaction from the fight.
That was too close. He hoped Cellina’s reprieve meant she might be a potential ally in the future. Pushing to his feet, he continued east.
A loud crash sounded behind him. Kerrick spun, grabbing for his sword. His fingers wrapped around an unfamiliar hilt.
“My bad,” Quain said, returning the copper statue that had fallen to the marble floor, turning it so the dent was no longer visible. He glanced at Kerrick’s hand. “Expecting trouble?”
“Depends. Why are you here?” he asked.
Quain and Loren, or as Belen liked to call them, the monkeys, had been … not quite avoiding him since he’d arrived at Ryne’s castle four days ago, but they’d been keeping out of his way. They had acknowledged Avry’s absence with grief-stricken expressions. Ryne had warned them prior to Kerrick’s arrival, but they had hoped, with Kerrick’s magic strengthening her healing powers, she would have survived the plague.
“Prince Ryne is looking for you,” Quain said. The lantern’s glow shone on his bald head.
“What does he want?” Kerrick planned to help speed up the departure preparations. Every day spent here gave Avry another day to encounter trouble.
“Don’t know, but he said right away.”
Kerrick suppressed his annoyance as he headed toward the prince’s office. Ryne probably wanted another detailed explanation of the ufa attack. He realized he still held the sword’s hilt and relaxed his grip. Cellina had taken the sword his father had gifted to him when he’d graduated from boarding school. Before the plague had killed King Neil and most of Kerrick’s family.
He concealed the shudder that ripped through him when he thought of the ufa pack. Kerrick would be content to never see another ufa in his lifetime. But the fact Tohon was training and using them meant Kerrick would likely encounter them in battle.
Worry for Cellina swirled in his stomach. He hoped she’d be able to lie to Tohon. The life magician was quick to anger and could easily murder her with one touch.
Quain followed Kerrick into Ryne’s spacious office. Large windows allowed in plenty of sunlight. Oversized armchairs ringed the huge black slab of obsidian that served as Ryne’s desk and conference table. Loren lounged in a red-and-gold-striped chair but sat up straight and eyed Kerrick warily. A few silver hairs shone among Loren’s short black hair. At thirty-five he was the oldest of Kerrick’s gentlemen and balanced Quain’s youth and inexperience nicely. Otherwise, Kerrick would have lost his patience with Quain long ago.
A memory tugged. Avry had accused Kerrick of being moody, sullen and distant. And from the way Quain and Loren had been acting around him, he guessed they thought the same. He smoothed his expression and approached.
Ryne was bent over a map of the Fifteen Realms. Kerrick waited, studying his friend. Ryne’s dark brown hair fell forward almost covering his hazel eyes. Thin and five inches shorter than Kerrick, his pleasant and average appearance belied his cunning mind.
Tapping the map with a stylus, Ryne said, “I think if we send in waves of smaller units, we could soften Tohon’s troops up before hitting them with a bigger force.”
“Sounds like something you should discuss with Estrid,” Kerrick said.
Ryne looked up at his tone. “I know you’re all about action, but there has to be a great deal of planning beforehand or we won’t succeed. Why are you so anxious to leave?”
“Summer is a few weeks away. It’s prime time for Tohon to launch an attack. We should be there,” he said.
“Tohon won’t attack until we’re there.”
“That doesn’t make sense.”
“It does to Tohon,” Ryne said. “The Nine Mountains are an effective barrier. If he conquered Estrid’s army before we arrived, then he would have to cross the mountains to get to us. We’d litter the passes with ambushes, and it would make it harder for Tohon to succeed.”
“We’re safe here, so why don’t we stay and see what happens?” Quain asked.
“I said it would be harder for him to succeed, not that it would stop him. We don’t have the resources or manpower to fight him.” Ryne glanced at Kerrick before continuing. “Besides, Avry promised Danny we’d heal our world. That includes all fifteen realms.”
There was a moment of silence as the men mourned their friend. Kerrick hated deceiving them, but he understood the need. Tohon could have spies among Ryne’s soldiers. Plus, he had promised Avry not to tell a soul that she lived, including Ryne. Kerrick would honor his word.
“When are we leaving?” Kerrick asked.
“When we’re ready,” Ryne said.
“What did you want to see me about?” He tried not to growl in irritation.
“Have you talked to Danny and Zila about Avry yet?”
Instantly wary, Kerrick said, “I thought you—”
“I warned them when we left you that she might not survive the sickness, but they need to hear what happened to her from you.”
“Ryne, I—”
“It’s not a request. Talk to them before we leave.”
“Yes, sir. Anything else?”
“No.”
Kerrick left. Hard enough dealing with the monkey’s gloomy moods, but he felt almost sick thinking about upsetting the kids. No sense putting it off. He strode to the wing where they had been staying.
Not wanting to scare them, he drew in a calming breath before entering their room. A woman sat with Zila in her lap, reading her a book. Danny was at a desk, hunched over a wooden puzzle.
According to Avry, these two might develop healing powers. Tohon had injected them with the Death Lily’s lethal toxin, but they’d survived the poison. Two among dozens of children who had been killed by Tohon’s experiments.
“Can I help you?” their nanny asked.
“Kerrick!” Zila jumped down and flung herself at him, wrapping her thin arms around his legs. The eight-year-old’s bushy brown hair had been wrestled into a braid.
Danny kept his distance. “We heard you’d arrived, but Prince Ryne said you needed some time and we should wait.”
How diplomatic of him, Kerrick thought wryly. He glanced at the young woman hovering nearby. “Can I talk to them?”
“Oh. Sure.” She headed toward another door. “I’ll be in Zila’s room if you need anything,” she said to the kids. “Anything at all.” She shot Kerrick a warning look before leaving.
Danny rolled his eyes. “She’s overprotective.” His black hair was neatly trimmed, and he was an inch taller. No surprise, since at thirteen he was just starting puberty.
Delaying the inevitable, Kerrick asked them how they liked living here.
“Oh, it’s fun,” Zila said. “Prince Ryne visits us every day.
He plays chess with Danny and wins every time.”
“I’m getting better,” Danny protested.
She ignored him. “There’s heaps of books everywhere.”
“You don’t know how to read,” Danny said.
“I do, too. Berna’s teaching me.”
“Berna?” Kerrick asked.
“Our nanny.”
“Ah. Do you like her?”
“She’s okay for a girl,” Danny said, crossing his arms. “She’s the nicest person I know.” Zila chewed on her lower lip. “Well, the second nicest. Avry’s the first.” She peered up at Kerrick with big olive-colored eyes. “Where’s Avry, Kerrick? Prince Ryne said you’d tell us what happened to her.”
He crouched down so he was eye level with the two kids. Trying to break it to them gently, Kerrick explained how Avry died from the plague. Seeing Zila’s pretty eyes flood with tears was worse than being knifed in the gut.
“So if we become healers, we shouldn’t heal anyone with the plague?” Danny asked. His voice warbled, and the tip of his nose turned red.
“You won’t find anyone,” Kerrick said. Although there was a possibility Tohon would use the information he’d learned from working with the Healer’s Guild to create another strain. But this wasn’t the time to express his worries. “There hasn’t been a case in over two years. Prince Ryne had been frozen in a magical stasis to keep him alive until I found a healer.” He gave them a wry smile. “I didn’t think it would take me so long.”
Danny kept up his brave front and returned Kerrick’s grin.
But Zila burst into loud sobs. “You killed her,” she shouted, then ran from the room and slammed the door.
Kerrick and Danny exchanged a glance.
“She’s eight,” Danny said. “Her reaction is understandable.”
The nanny poked her head in, asking what happened. Kerrick told her.
She scowled at him. “They’re children. If I’d known what you were here to talk about I’d have stayed with them.”
“They hardly knew her.” Kerrick tried to defend himself as Berna hurried from the room after Zila.
Danny gazed at him with a pained expression. “She rescued us from Tohon.” He gestured to the room. “We went from lab rats to being spoiled rotten. Doesn’t matter how much time we spent with her. She’s …” He swallowed. “She will always be special to us.”
“Yeah. I get that,” Kerrick said. “Sorry.”
Berna returned flustered and red-faced as if she had been running. “Zila’s disappeared. Don’t just sit there, help me look for her.”
When Berna turned her back, Danny rolled his eyes. “Berna gives up too fast,” he whispered to Kerrick. “Come on, this shouldn’t take long.”
Kerrick followed the boy from the room, marveling at the boy’s ability to shift back and forth from a child to a young man in moments.
However, Danny would be wrong about the search. It would extend for hours, enlisted dozens of seekers and covered the entire fifty-room castle without success.
A new worry swirled in his chest. If they couldn’t even find an eight-year-old, how would they fare against Tohon’s army?

CHAPTER 4
Ursan flourished his knife, threatening me. “Talk, or I’ll start cutting off body parts.”
“Yours? Or mine?” I kept my voice steady despite my insides twisting into goo. “It’s an important distinction.”
Grabbing my left hand, he pressed the blade against my wrist. Blood welled as the sharp steel cut into my skin.
“I see.” I craned my neck to meet his gaze a good six inches above me.
He was as solid as an oak tree. He even had muscles in his neck. A square-shaped head added to his sturdiness. His intent to harm shone in his eyes. I would have been terrified, except he held my hand. Skin contact was all I needed to defend myself. Except if I shocked him, then what would I do?
“I’m Irina of Gubkin Realm. I volunteered—”
“Bullshit. You’re one of Tohon’s magicians.” He drew in a deep breath. “I can smell it.”
Oh, no. He was a magic sniffer. I cursed my rotten luck. The day had just been too easy.
“He sent you to spy on us.” Ursan’s knife cut deeper.
I hissed in pain. “Why would I offer to help train your men if I worked for Tohon?” I sensed a softening. “He’d want me to sabotage your efforts, not aid them.”
“But you’re not an ordinary girl, are you?” Ursan sniffed my hair. “Not a water mage or air …” Another snort. “I smell forest magic and life magic.” His grip tightened. “Only one life magician in the Fifteen Realms, which means you’ve been with Tohon.”
I thought fast. “And there’s only one forest mage left. And they’re on opposite sides.”
“Prince Kerrick disappeared. No one knows where he is. He could be dead or Tohon’s prisoner.”
So Ursan knew Kerrick was a forest mage. I wondered what else he knew. However, this had gone on too long. I made a quick decision and zapped him. He grunted but failed to let go. Sending another blast, I forced him to his knees. What was it with these big guys? Didn’t they feel pain? The third assault loosened his grip on the knife. I yanked the weapon from his hand, then released him.
I stepped back as he sank onto his heels, panting and sweating.
When he regained his composure, he asked, “What magic is that?”
My initial instinct was to lie, but all he had to do was notice the already healing cut on my wrist to figure it out. “I’m a healer.”
A variety of expressions crossed his face. From surprised to suspicious to confused and then back to suspicious. “The healer with Prince Kerrick also disappeared.”
“Obviously, there’s more than one healer.” I waved my left hand. “I can prove it to you in a few hours.”
His confusion returned. “Why are you here?”
“Tohon lifted the bounty on healers and I was sick of hiding.” I shrugged. “I wanted to help.”
“Why aren’t you helping in the infirmary?”
Good question. Did I have a good answer? “Healers are still not welcome.”
“Not around here. That other healer was here for a few weeks last year. She saved a bunch of lives. We owe her.”
Nice to know I’d been appreciated. “It’s still a big risk. And one I’m not ready to take.”
He gestured to the forest. “Who taught you how to go silent?”
“No one. I’ve been on the run for four years. I’ve learned a few things.” I glanced around. The light was fading fast. “What are you going to do?”
“Me?”
I laughed at his shocked expression. “Yes, you.”
Ursan stared at me. “I’d thought you’d … disappear.”
“Then you thought wrong. I’m tired of running and want to help. I’d rather teach your squad for now. But if you want to expose me … I won’t stop you.” Handing him his knife, I waited.
He clambered to his feet and once again towered over me. The desire to cut and run pulsed through me for a second, but I steadied my nerves.
“All right,” he said. “We’ll do it your way for now. But if I see you doing anything suspicious, I’ll drag your ass to the major. Understand?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
As we headed back, I said, “Lieutenant Thea knows you’re a magic sniffer. She asked you to sniff me out, right?”
“Yes, but not many do. We don’t want too many people to know just in case Tohon sends one of his magicians undercover.” He gave me a pointed look.
“It’s a good strategy. I’m sure Tohon has spies in camp.”
“You’re sure as in you know, or you’re sure as in you think?”
Now it was my turn to give him a pointed stare.
“Yeah. Dumb question. No doubt he has spies.”
We joined the lieutenant and the other sergeants a few minutes after sunset. All five of them turned to us. I kept quiet just in case Ursan changed his mind.
“She found me,” he said. “We’ll begin training my squad in the morning.”
The lieutenant said, “What took you so long?”
Ursan grinned. “I cheated.”
Thea failed to see the humor. “Explain, Sergeant.”
“It’s war, sir. Rules don’t apply.”
I followed Sergeants Liv and Wynn back to our tent. They lit a lantern and stared at me as if assessing the enemy. I stretched out on my cot, glad to relax for the first time all day. They remained standing.
“You’re a little young to be a sergeant,” Wynn said. Her frown contrasted with her round face and small nose.
“More than a little. She’s just a baby.” Liv smirked, flashing big square teeth. Her light brown hair resembled a fine fuzz and had been clipped so short the hair couldn’t lie flat.
Liv noticed the direction of my gaze. She ran a hand over her head. “Lice. If you manage to get sent out on missions, you’ll be shaving your head, too. Long hair’s a bitch to take care of when you’re a real soldier.”
“You haven’t been promoted from a grunt.” Wynn pointed to my face. “Too pale.”
Resigned to the interrogation, I pushed up on one elbow. “You don’t have any people from the northern realms here?”
“We do. But we’ve been training outside for months.” She pulled her collar down and showed an impressive tan line, visible even in the soft lantern light. “So what’s your story, Baby Face?”
“Just what Lieutenant Thea said, I’ve been assigned to train—”
“Yeah, yeah.” Liv waved a hand. “Who cares about that? Not us. You show up from nowhere with this uncanny skill. There has to be a reason.”
I considered my options. These two seemed to have adopted the whole hardened-soldier persona. But was it all swagger or a true indication of their characters?
“I came down here to see a bit of action,” I said.
They snorted in amusement.
“She’s cute when she’s trying to be tough,” Wynn said.
“You’re going to see more than a bit, Baby Face,” Liv said. “There’s more to being a sergeant than sneaking around the woods. Think you can handle it?”
“Yes.” No sense selling myself short.
Wynn’s demeanor turned speculative. “That’s rather bold.”
“Yes.”
Liv and Wynn exchanged a glance.
“She’s training the jacks tomorrow,” Liv said to her friend. “If that doesn’t send her away, nothing will.”
“Oh, yeah.” Suddenly in a good mood, Wynn slapped my shoulder. “Good luck with that.” She strode from the tent.
Liv followed her but glanced back when she reached the flap. “Come on, Baby Face. It’s time for the sergeant’s fire.”
We first headed to the mess tent for supper. It was noisy and hot under the canvas. Many of the soldiers sat at long wooden tables, but a few had settled on the ground. While waiting in line, I searched for an empty spot and found none.
After filling our trays, Liv and Wynn led me back outside.
“Those guys are pigs,” Wynn said. “They’ve lost their table manners during the plague years.”
“And they stink, too,” Liv added. “After sweating all day in the hot sun, they’re not going to waste time bathing when they have to do it all again tomorrow.”
“They’ll only clean up when ordered,” Wynn said in disgust.
Before we reached one of the many campfires scattered over the fields, Liv turned to me. “That’s the sergeant’s fire. We eat, talk, gossip, discuss strategy and discipline. But no matter what the topic is, what we discuss at the fire stays at the fire. Understand?”
“Yes.”
The three other sergeants—Ursan, Saul and Odd—had already settled down with their meals. When we approached, conversation ceased. They kept their impassive expressions as I sat next to Liv and Wynn to eat my supper.
Conversation eventually resumed. The bland food was of the standard meat-and-potatoes variety. At least it was warm. I listened to the comfortable banter. It sounded as though the five of them had been working together for a while. A pang of longing touched me.
I missed my guys. Missed the monkeys arguing. Missed Belen’s teasing. Missed Flea’s lopsided grins most of all. He shouldn’t have died. Sudden fury welled, and I realized that it might be near impossible for me not to strangle Jael when I saw her again. She had tried to kill all of us, but only succeeded in taking Flea’s life.
When the topic turned to the patrols disappearing in Vyg, I paid closer attention.
“Tohon’s protecting something in sector five. We need to send more scouts,” Odd said.
“We will, once Belen returns from sweeping Vyg’s southern border,” Liv said.
“But that’ll take weeks!” Odd tossed another log onto the blaze. Bright orange sparks leapt into the air.
Ursan gave me a contemplative look after Odd’s comment. “It’s vital we keep Tohon out of the southern realms,” Liv said.
“Why?” Odd asked.
“So we’re not battling him on two fronts, you idiot!”
“What’s Tohon waiting for?” Wynn asked. “He’s amassed an army in western Vyg and has control of Kaisma, but so far has only sent patrols farther north and east.”
A good question. And no one offered an answer. Why would he wait? The weather was favorable. If he hurried, he could strike before Ryne arrived. Unless he wanted Ryne and Estrid to team up. Tohon never lacked for confidence. He might be planning to eliminate them both in one massive sweep.
Or, he might be creating more dead soldiers. They probably needed time to train. Perhaps that mystery drug was grown in Vyg.
“What’s in sector five?” I asked the group.
“We don’t know,” Liv said. “Haven’t you—”
“I meant, what part of Vyg is in that sector? Are there towns? Forests? Any natural resources like a quarry?”
“Oh.” Liv glanced around. “It’s north of the center of Vyg. Near the Nine Mountains.”
“The area is forested,” Ursan said. “But there are a number of abandoned mining towns up there.”
“There’s your answer,” I said. “He’s protecting one of those mining operations. Probably ore so he can manufacture more weapons.”
“The Nine Mountains are full of ore,” Ursan said. “It would be smarter and safer for him to mine behind his lines in Sogra.”
“Plus he has control of Lyady Realm,” Odd said. “And has captured the president’s daughter to ensure their cooperation. Lyady’s steel mills are still in operation as far as I know.”
He had a point. I considered. “What else is mined in that area besides ore?”
Odd said, “The arms merchant in town claims his weapons are crafted from the liquid metal found at the bottom of the Nine Mountains. He mentioned there’s a shaft in Vyg that goes deep under the mountains.”
His comment caused a riot of laughter.
“You were conned,” Saul said. It was the first time he’d spoken since I’d arrived. He appeared to be the type of person who was content to just listen.
I would have agreed with Saul, but Odd’s statement triggered a memory. Kerrick had purchased my stiletto and throwing knives from a merchant in Zabin. Probably the same one, since he’d claimed my weapons had been crafted from liquid metal, as well. And Kerrick had nodded as if it meant something to him. Perhaps I should pay the merchant a visit when I had some free time.
Tohon’s hand stroked my back, igniting a trail of fire along my skin. His other arm wrapped around my waist, trapping me against him.
“Do you really believe teaching your little trick can defeat my army, my dear?” His throaty chuckle vibrated in my chest.
I tried to squirm free, but his magic flooded my senses. Desire tingled as heat spread from my insides out, turning my willpower into goo.
“You think you escaped, but you haven’t. From the very first time I touched you, you’ve been mine. I’ve already claimed you, my dear.”
My heart fluttered as a wave of intense pleasure rolled through me.
Something jolted my cot, and I snapped awake.
Wynn stood over me. “That must have been quite a dream, Baby Face. Lots of writhing and moaning. Who was the lucky man? Or was it a woman?” She smirked.
I sat up, rubbing my face. “Just a nightmare.”
“Ah, too bad. Do you get them often?”
Debating how much to tell her, I hesitated but then decided since we shared a tent, she and Liv should know. “Every night.”
“That stinks.”
An understatement. Before she could question me further, I stood, changed and grabbed a quick breakfast before heading over to the forest training area to meet Ursan’s squad. They stood at attention at the edge of the field. Two rows of five young men known as the jumping jacks. Despite their cockiness, I sensed an undercurrent of hostility from them.
I glanced at Ursan. “Jumping jacks?”
“Remember that move I pulled on you?”
“When you jumped down from the tree?”
“That’s our squad’s signature style for ambushing the enemy,” Ursan said.
“You were jackknifed, sweetheart!” a soldier called from the ranks, and they all laughed.
One look from Ursan silenced them. He had their respect, but I didn’t. Fair enough, for now.
I turned to the group. “Who called me sweetheart?” No one moved. “What? Too chicken? Come on, reveal yourself.”
A soldier in the front row stepped forward with a challenging smirk. I crossed my arms and scrutinized him for a long moment while I wrapped my fingers around the handle of one of my throwing knives.
“You’re not my father or my lover,” I said, causing a ripple of snickers. Boys.
I pulled my knife and threw it at the center of his belt, hoping I put the right amount of heat behind it. I didn’t want to hurt him.
He yelped as the tip of the blade pierced the leather far enough to keep the weapon in place. Staring at me in shock, he opened his mouth, but snapped it shut when I walked up to him.
I gripped the handle of the knife. “If you call me sweetheart again—” I yanked it out “—I’ll aim lower. Understand?”
“Yes.”
I waited.
“Yes, Sergeant.”
“Good. Return to your position, soldier.” I scanned the others. A combination of surprised, impressed and admiring expressions met my gaze.
“Does anyone else wish to call me sweetheart?” I asked.
No one said a word.
“I believe you proved your point, Sergeant,” Ursan said. “Let’s get started.”
I spent the rest of the day teaching the jumping jacks how to move in the forest. Not exactly sure if I could explain the technique in my own way, I taught it the same way Kerrick had shown me.
A few, like Ursan, caught on quick. Others struggled but eventually mastered the technique, and a couple had no sense of rhythm at all. They would have to return tomorrow for more practice.
Lieutenant Thea arrived in midafternoon to watch the session. She consulted briefly with Ursan before leaving.
The next day I worked with Ursan’s two remaining men while the others practiced their new skills. This time Major Granvil visited and asked for a demonstration.
I picked the four best students to accompany me and the major. We walked deeper into the forest until I found a suitable location.
“All right, gentlemen, I want you to take a noisy stroll away from us. Then on my command, go silent. Your goal is to return one at a time and get as close to Major Granvil as possible. He’ll signal when he hears you. Understand?”
“Yes, Sergeant,” they said in unison and with a little too much enthusiasm.
“Go.”
They tromped through the bushes as if they’d get extra points for noisiness. No doubt scaring away all wildlife. Major Granvil regarded their retreating backs before pulling his gaze to me. “I’d thought they’d give you a hard time.”
“They tried.”
“And?”
“They’re smart, Major. They quickly learned this technique can save lives.” I drew in a breath and projected my voice over the din. “Gentlemen, go silent!”
The crunching, snapping and rustling died in an instant.
“They could have just stopped moving,” Major Granvil said. He stroked his mustache.
I agreed. “That’s why I asked them to return. Listen closely, Major.”
He scanned the woods, turning in a slow circle. Although I had picked the best, they still needed practice. Small sounds, off notes and rustlings reached me. I tracked the first soldier. He had gone wide and planned to approach from our left.
When the soldier was about four feet away, the major heard him and called out his location. Major Granvil’s voice remained steady but couldn’t completely mask his surprise.
The next two soldiers were caught a few feet farther away, giving the major a sense of security. The last man looped around us. He showed more patience than the other three, moving when the major moved and stepping with care.
I examined a berry bush so I wouldn’t give the soldier away. He crept up behind the major and grabbed his shoulders. The major jerked but didn’t cry out. He turned and shook the smiling soldier’s hand.
We returned to the exit point. Lieutenant Thea and Sergeant Ursan waited for us with the rest of the jumping jacks in the field next to the woods.
“That was very impressive,” Major Granvil said. “Sergeant Ursan, I want you and your jacks to check out sector five on your next patrol.”
“Yes, sir,” Ursan said.
“No,” I said. “They’re not ready.”
“Explain, Sergeant.”
“They need more practice.”
“How much more?”
“A couple days, at least.” Although I would have been happier with a week. “And I should go along.”
The major stroked his mustache while he considered. “All right, two more days, but you’re not going, Sergeant Irina. I need you here to train my other squads.”
He cut me off when I tried to argue, and left with Lieutenant Thea.
I spent the next two days working with the jumping jacks and Thea, who’d wanted to learn the skill, as well. At the end of the second day, I gathered them around me for some last-minute advice.
“While most people won’t hear you, you still need to avoid the Death Lilys. They will sense you no matter how quiet you are. Bypass them altogether, but if you’re desperate, Peace Lilys smell like vanilla, and Death Lilys have a faint aroma of anise. Also Death Lilys hiss before they snatch you, so you have some warning.”
“I thought both types of Lilys smelled like honey and lemon?” one of the soldiers asked.
“They do, but when you get closer—”
“You’re dead,” Ursan said. “The Death Lily will spit out your bones once it eats all your flesh. Don’t go near them at all.”
I bit my lip to keep from correcting him. It only consumed those who died immediately from the toxin it injected into them. Some were spat out and died later from the poison, and a few, like me, lived through the experience. Those survivors developed healing powers.
Instead, I said, “If you encounter a squad of Tohon’s dead soldiers, the best way—”
Ursan interrupted me again. “We don’t believe the rumors about them, Sergeant Irina. It’s a scare tactic.”
“And you should be scared, Ursan. I’ve seen them. They’re real and hard to stop.”
“You’ve seen them, and Belen claims to have fought them, but no one else has. Not another soul.” His implication clear.
“It’s a good strategy to keep them hidden until the battle starts. The shock and revulsion caused by their arrival will give Tohon’s men an advantage. Think about it.”
But Ursan wouldn’t budge. “Word from General Jael is that Tohon managed to convince Belen that these impossible things exist to spread fear through our ranks.”
“Do you really think Belen would be so easily tricked?”
“All I know is Belen’s loyal to Prince Kerrick, not the High Priestess.”
“What about me? Have I been tricked, as well?”
“Yes.”
And he couldn’t trust me. “You’ll discover the real truth soon enough, and when you encounter the horror, cut its head off. It’s the only way to stop it.”
Ursan and his jumping jacks left for their patrol the next morning. Wearing camouflage and barely discernible in the predawn light, the eleven men melted into the forest. I stood at the edge and listened. They had improved over the past four days. I hoped it was enough.
An odd feeling lumped in my chest. It was as if I had healed them, and now the jacks were headed for danger. So far, no one had returned from that sector. If all went well, they’d be back in ten days.
To keep from brooding over the jacks, I concentrated on training Sergeant Wynn’s squad. Since I’d arrived, I’d worked eight days straight. But I finally had an afternoon off on the ninth day.
Exhaustion dragged at my limbs, but I needed to do a little exploring. Walking through the camp, I scanned faces, searching for Melina. She could have been sent to another training camp or was out on patrol, but I’d promised Mom I’d look after her. I’d figure out how I’d keep my promise once I found her.
I also searched for my sister, Noelle, although I knew she’d most likely be with Jael. From a distance, the general’s tent near the manor house blended in with the others surrounding it. All the same size, color and shape. Except Jael’s tent buzzed with activity and red-robed acolytes. I settled in a shady spot on a rise to watch the action, noting who entered and who left.
A familiar figure ducked through the flaps. Recognition shot through me like a cold lance. Noelle headed east, walking fast. Only my promise to Kerrick kept me from following her. She disappeared from my sight, then returned with a major in tow.
My heart pumped like I had just run up the Nine Mountains. After a few moments, my pulse settled, but each time Noelle appeared, it quickened. From what I’d seen, I’d guess Jael sent her to relay messages and fetch officers, acolytes, food and supplies.
When the sunlight faded, Jael and Noelle left together and headed toward the manor house. No surprise that Jael wouldn’t sleep on a cot outside when an opulent room and four-poster bed waited for her inside.
Jael’s graceful strides matched her royal bearing. Even with a sword hanging from her belt, she appeared to be more like a queen than a general. Noelle stayed two steps behind her. She had pulled her long black hair into a knot, making her look older than her fourteen years. Or was it fifteen?
I realized with a jolt that she had turned fifteen a month ago, which made me twenty-one. My birthday had been completely forgotten—too busy struggling to keep away from Tohon’s touch when I’d been his prisoner.
When Jael and Noelle entered the building, I debated. With the infirmary on the ground floor, another soldier walking around wouldn’t be too noticeable. But if any of the infirmary workers recognized me, my cover would be blown.
Instead, I made another sweep of the camp, noting the position of the companies and platoons. There was a large, enclosed complex in the northeast corner. The fence around it had been built with what appeared to be two-story oversized barn doors attached to thick posts. I peeked in through the small gap next to a post. Inside the enclosure was a sprawling collection of barns, sheds and a farmhouse. Why would it be fenced off?
Unable to deduce the reason, I grabbed supper and joined the other sergeants at the fire. With Ursan, Liv and Saul on patrol, there were only three of us. I asked Odd about the complex.
“That’s for the prisoners of war,” he said.
“I didn’t see anyone.”
“They were probably all inside. They wear these bright yellow jumpsuits so they’re real easy to spot. We don’t have many POWs yet. The High Priestess values life, so I’d expect we’ll be ordered to capture our enemies instead of killing them when possible. The enclosure has plenty of room,” Odd said in a dismissive tone.
“Unlike General Jael,” Wynn said. “She has no qualms about killing the enemy and wishes to attack Tohon first, but the High Priestess won’t give her permission.”
“She’s stepped up the patrols again,” Odd said. “How much do you want to bet she’ll disobey the High Priestess’s orders?”
“I’ll bet a week’s pay the colonels won’t let her. They’re still loyal to the High Priestess,” Wynn countered.
Her comment stirred a memory. When Jael had tried to kill us, she’d mentioned not wanting to tip her hand to Estrid. I wondered if that meant she planned to gain the army’s support? Not that a ruthless leader wouldn’t be a good thing against Tohon’s troops, but if she defeated Tohon, that would put Jael in a very powerful position.
“How long will the colonels be loyal?” I asked.
Wynn acted as if I’d insulted them. “They obey the High Priestess’s commands. General Jael is just a messenger.”
“A messenger who can suck all the breath from a man and kill him. I think that adds a little incentive to switch loyalties, don’t you?”
Odd laughed. “She has you there. And, I, for one, would appreciate a more aggressive move. All this slinking around, fact gathering and waiting is driving me crazy. I’m craving some action.”
Ursan’s jumping jacks returned twelve days after they’d left. It was the last day of spring, and a few soldiers felt their timing was a sign of the creator’s favor. The knots in my stomach loosened when I counted eleven men. In high spirits, the jacks told the other soldiers about near misses and their various adventures.
Major Granvil called Ursan and Lieutenant Thea into his tent for a debriefing. I followed, and no one commented on my presence.
“We encountered a few of Tohon’s patrols,” Ursan said. “But we avoided them as ordered. It was—” he glanced at me “—easy, sir.”
“Then why are you two days late?” Granvil asked.
“We discovered a factory in full operation in sector five. It was well guarded and so was the constant flow of wagons that brought supplies and delivered large metal containers before leaving, loaded with cargo hidden under tarps. We couldn’t leave until we had determined what they’re manufacturing.”
“Go on.”
“I sent a few team members to follow the wagons with the cargo. A couple tracked the wagons with the containers, and the rest watched the factory. We were only able to glimpse inside, but the beta team managed to snatch one of the cargo items. Although I’m not sure it was the only item being manufactured or not. The wagon team then rendezvoused with us, and we returned to camp.”
“Don’t keep us in suspense, Sergeant.”
“The containers then headed to a quarry north of the factory. The team was unable to get close enough to determine exactly what was being extracted from the ground. And the item …” Ursan reached into his pack and withdrew a short fat circular metal pipe. He handed it to Major Granvil.
Granvil examined it before giving it to Lieutenant Thea. She flipped it around, but shrugged and tossed it to me.
My initial impression of a pipe was correct, except both ends flared out in a cone shape, leaving the middle narrower. The edges were thicker and had been rolled, so it wasn’t sharp. About four inches high and ten inches in diameter, it didn’t resemble anything I’d seen before. I handed it to Ursan.
“It pulls apart,” he said. He demonstrated, breaking it into two halves. “Like a manacle cuff or a gauntlet.” Ursan stuck his forearm inside. “You can cinch it tighter, but only so much. You’d have to have really thick arms for it to be of any use.”
The word thick triggered a connection. Horror welled as I realized what the cuff was for.
They were neck protectors for Tohon’s dead soldiers. If we couldn’t decapitate them, they would be impossible to kill.

KERRICK
“No. Shift your weight to the balls of your feet,” Kerrick said to the young man. “Then move.” He clutched two of Flea’s juggling stones—one in each hand. It helped to keep him from screaming in frustration at the young men and women who had been assigned to his squad.
“Once more, same drill,” he ordered.
Ryne had given Kerrick, Loren and Quain each a squad of eight soldiers to command. They would take point and ensure the passage was safe for the rest of the battalion. In order to be effective in their job, Kerrick and the monkeys had to teach all twenty-four how to move in the forest without making noise.
Ryne would have liked the entire battalion trained before they’d left for Zabin. All eight hundred of them. It sounded like a huge amount, but was considered small for a battalion. Not many people had been willing to leave the northern realms. And Ryne would never force anyone to sign up. Either way, Kerrick wasn’t going to have the patience or the time to train them all.
Kerrick listened as the squad finished the exercise. Not terrible. After five days, they’d finally caught on. Now all they needed was practice. He squeezed the stones. Ryne had been prepping and planning for the past seventeen days, and Kerrick wanted to strangle him.
It has been forty horrible days since he and Avry had parted ways. Once he knew she was safe, then he could concentrate on training and scouting. But that wasn’t going to happen anytime soon. So he sucked in a deep breath and sent his squad into the forest to try again.
At the end of the day, the squad gathered around him as he critiqued their efforts and dispensed advice.
“That’s it for today, gentlemen,” he said, dismissing them.
“Excuse me, sir, but we’re not all men,” one of the women said. She stood with her hands on her hips as if challenging him.
“Sorry, it’s a habit. I meant no offense.”
She blinked at him in surprise. “Oh. Okay.” She followed her teammates to the mess tent for supper but glanced back at him before ducking inside.
“She likes you,” Quain said as he joined Kerrick.
“Shut up.” Loren punched his friend on the arm.
Quain didn’t flinch. With wide shoulders and thick muscles to match his occasional thick head, Quain was as solid as Belen. However, he was a foot shorter than Poppa Bear.
“Why? I’m just stating a fact. Doesn’t mean anything,” Quain said.
“To you, but—”
Kerrick interrupted Loren. “While I’d love to chat with you, I’m late.”
Loren smirked. “Got another tea party to attend?”
“Yep.”
“Don’t forget to bring Mr. Bunny a carrot.” Quain sniggered.
“Good idea. Thanks for the tip.” Kerrick strode to the castle, leaving the monkeys behind.
He avoided everyone as he headed to a tiny dining room beside the kitchen. Zila and Danny were already waiting for him. Smiling, he joined them at the small table. Far better than eating in the mess tent with dozens of sweaty and smelly soldiers.
Zila beamed at him and described her day in minute detail. As he listened to her, he remembered how she had managed to avoid being found that night he’d told her about Avry. Little imp had slipped back into her room soon after they had all left to search for her. Kerrick had figured it out only after the entire castle had been torn apart and he’d put himself in Zila’s place. He’d found her sound asleep in her bed.
Ever since then, he’d been taking his evening meal with both kids. For him, it was the best part of the day.
When Zila finished listing all the books she’d read that afternoon, Danny jumped in before she could start with another topic. “When is the army leaving?” he asked Kerrick.
“Soon. We’re almost finished with the preparations.” He hoped.
Danny twisted a napkin in his hands. “I want to go with you.” Before Kerrick could reply, he rushed on. “I can help. Do stuff like fetch water for the troops, fix armor, work in the infirmary. Whatever they need. I’d be safe behind the front lines. Please?”
Kerrick’s first instinct was to say no. However, he’d learned … or rather, Avry had taught him … that just because he said no didn’t mean the other person would listen. She certainly hadn’t.
Instead, he considered Danny’s request. The boy might develop healing powers, which would make him very valuable. Tohon was aware of Danny and Zila’s potential, and he had to know they were staying here. Would they be safer with Kerrick and Ryne? What if Estrid discovered their potential? Or Jael?
Flea had only been a year older when he had joined Kerrick’s group. And look how that turned out. You couldn’t keep him safe.
Danny stared at him, waiting for an answer.
“I’ll talk to Ryne.” He held up a hand before Danny could celebrate. “Don’t get your hopes up. His decision is final.”
Later that night he discussed Danny’s request with Ryne in his office.
“No. He’s safer here,” Ryne said.
“Tohon—”
“I’m leaving an elite squad to guard them. They’ll be fine.”
“Even if Tohon sends his dead after them? And a couple of ufa packs?” Kerrick shuddered at the thought.
“You’re the first to see the ufa pack. It may be the only one he has. Tohon probably doesn’t have the time to create more and train them. Estrid’s been harrying his troops.” Ryne tapped his fingers on the table. “Still, it would be even safer to have them staying at an unknown location. How’s that?”
“Danny won’t be happy, but I will.”
Ryne smiled. “Good. Now about the point squads—”
The door opened, and one of Ryne’s guards poked his head in. “Sorry to interrupt, but there’s a messenger here from Krakowa.”
Krakowa was in northern Ivdel near the border with Gubkin Realm.
“What’s the message?” Ryne asked.
“He won’t tell me. Only you.”
It was a bit unusual. Most messages didn’t need to be given directly to the prince.
“All right, let him in,” Ryne said.
Kerrick gave him a questioning look. Ryne motioned for him to stay. He stood behind the prince with his hand resting on the hilt of his sword in case the messenger had been sent by Tohon.
The man hardly glanced at Kerrick. His pale face was drawn, and he looked as if he hadn’t slept in days. Bowing to the prince, he waited for permission to speak.
“Go on, man, don’t keep us in suspense,” Ryne said. “What news do you bring?”
“Terrible news, sire. The northern tribes have invaded Krakowa.”
Kerrick leaned forward. Did he just say the tribes had invaded? Ryne drilled the man with rapid-fire questions. When? How many? And so on. But Kerrick couldn’t focus on the answers. If the northern tribes were on the warpath, then they had bigger problems than Tohon.

CHAPTER 5
I took the two halves of the metal protector from Ursan and fitted them around my throat. Even at its tightest setting it was a little big, but it covered my neck. “Still don’t believe Tohon has reanimated the dead?” I asked.
“It’s a piece of armor,” Ursan said. “No big deal, we all wear armor in battle.”
“Around your neck?”
“It’s too awkward, but not unheard of.”
“Uh-huh.” I glanced at Major Granvil. Did he understand the danger? Did he understand Tohon could send his well-protected dead soldiers and there’d be nothing we could do to stop them?
“The High Priestess and General Jael have ordered us to stifle all rumors about impossible creatures,” he said. “The creator would never allow such things to exist.”
I looked at Lieutenant Thea. Did she believe this bull? Her expression remained neutral.
Interesting how the army’s belief in the creator was invoked only when convenient. They didn’t act like true advocates. In fact, the soldiers behaved more superstitiously than devout. At least they stayed casual about the religious aspect. I didn’t worry about being turned in for not being spiritual enough. Piety wasn’t a requirement to be a soldier, unlike with the acolytes, whose devotion had to be pure.
“I hope the High Priestess has an explanation prepared.” And a strategy. I pulled the neck protector off and handed it to the major.
He dismissed us. As we walked back to our tents, I considered the situation, trying not to panic. It seemed odd that Estrid hadn’t believed Belen about the dead. From the few times I’d met her, she’d come across as intelligent and practical. Unless she didn’t know. Belen and Jael had been in school together along with Kerrick, Ryne and Tohon. Belen might have told Jael, believing she’d inform the High Priestess.
Why wouldn’t Jael pass along the information? She’d spent six years in boarding school with Tohon, attending magic classes with him and Kerrick. She should know what Tohon was capable of and how his warped mind worked.
Unfortunately, I was also well acquainted with Tohon’s magic. His voice continued to haunt my dreams, his magic tricked my body into desiring his touch. I shuddered. No. I wouldn’t be claimed.
When Ursan rushed off to join his celebrating jacks, Lieutenant Thea turned to me. “Speaking hypothetically, how would you kill a soldier who is already dead?”
“Decapitation.”
“And if they’re wearing a metal collar?”
I searched my memories back to when I’d had the misfortune of encountering them. My skin crawled just thinking about their cold flesh and lifeless gazes. They obeyed simple commands and could be trained, so some intelligence must still exist. “You could try crushing their heads so they can’t follow orders.”
She fingered the handle of her sword. “Hard to do with a metal blade.”
“Mallets and hammers would be better. But would still require some effort and time. You’d have to be pretty strong to break the skull.”
Thea grimaced.
“A crossbow bolt might pierce the bone,” I mused aloud. “But the archer would need excellent aim, and one bolt might not be enough. A knife in the eye might—”
“That’s enough, Sergeant. I get your point.”
“That we’re screwed? Hypothetically, of course.”
“Of course.”
Thea had raised an important question. We needed a counteroffensive to fight the armored dead. Hard to plan when no one believed it would be necessary. Belen needed to know. He could inform Prince Ryne and Kerrick when they arrived.
“Lieutenant, when is Belen’s squad due back?” I asked.
“In a couple days, why?”
“Can you tell him about the neck armor?”
“Why can’t you?”
“Last time I talked to him, he threatened to tear my arms off,” I lied. Belen would never hurt me.
She shook her head. “Did you insult his prince?”
Yes. Many times. “Something like that.”
Thea stared at me so long, I wondered if I was in trouble.
“I hope someday that you’ll tell me who you really are, Sergeant. Ursan doesn’t cover for anyone, so you must be very special.” She strode away.
So much for my disguise. At least she didn’t threaten to expose me. A minor comfort.
The next day was the first day of summer. I resumed the silent training under a bright sun. The leaves rustled in the warm humid breeze. This time, I taught both Sergeant Saul’s squad and the Odd Squad, which was Sergeant Odd’s men … or rather, boys. They had to give everything a nickname. Liv and Wynn’s squads were out on patrol. Ursan and his jacks helped, so the lessons went faster. Around midday a familiar voice stopped my heart.
“Sergeant Ursan, General Jael wishes to see you. Now,” Noelle called into the woods.
As the message was relayed, I crept closer to my sister. She scanned the trees in impatience. Standing in a patch of sunlight, she reminded me of our mother. She had the same long black eyelashes and light blue eyes. Allyn had also favored our mother while my older brother, Criss, and I resembled our father—reddish-brown hair and green eyes.
The skin between Noelle’s eyebrows puckered as she frowned. “General Jael is not a patient woman, Sergeant.”
Was there a hint of fear in her eyes? Instantly concerned, I stepped from my hiding spot.
She rounded on me and I froze. That was stupid.
“Where is Ursan?” she demanded.
“He’s on his way.” I pitched my voice lower than normal.
“Good.”
“Why does the general wish to see him?” I asked.
“That’s none of your business, Sergeant,” she snapped, then ignored me.
I should have been happy she didn’t recognize me. Noelle was supposed to believe I was missing and presumed dead. Yet, I couldn’t stop the disappointment and pain from spreading. My little sister had changed so much over the past three years. At age ten, Noelle had cared for our mother and Allyn while they died from the plague, leaving her all alone for the first time in her life. So I shouldn’t have been surprised by her behavior when I’d tried to rescue her from Estrid’s training camp five months ago.
Ursan arrived and they left. I debated following them. Jael probably wanted more information about his scouting mission. Plus I doubted I could get close enough to the tent to overhear anything important. I returned to my group.
That night around the sergeant’s fire, I tried to act casual as I inquired about the summons. “Did the general congratulate you on your successful mission?” I asked Ursan. He had been unusually quiet, letting Odd do all the talking while Saul listened as usual.
“No.” Ursan cleaned his leather scabbard with saddle soap.
“What did she want?” Odd asked.
Ursan glanced at me for a second before he said, “Intel on the enemy patrols we encountered. Locations, numbers, that sort of thing.”
“Why not get all that from the major?” Odd asked.
Ursan shrugged. “Don’t know.”
“What did she think about that armor you found?”
“How do you know?” Ursan glanced at Odd with a neutral expression, but the muscles in his arms tensed.
I sensed trouble, but kept my mouth shut.
Odd grinned. “The question should be who doesn’t know. Come on, Ursan, you know nothing in this camp stays a secret for long. Plus, it’s no surprise Tohon would want to protect his troops. Just seems strange for him to be manufacturing new equipment when there’s a ton of stuff lying around.”
“Oh, yeah, it’s everywhere. Just the other day I tripped over a shield,” Saul teased.
“I meant each realm had at least one armory.” Odd’s tone bordered on huffy. “Before the plague there were thousands of soldiers in each realm. The dead don’t need armor.”
I choked on my tea. Ursan glared at me, but soon the conversation turned to other safer topics. All along I wondered what the general had really inquired about.
When it grew late, we headed toward our tents. I pulled Ursan aside and asked him.
“I’m not surprised that you’re concerned,” he said.
“You didn’t answer my question.”
He considered. “She’s been hearing good things about our training. You know what that means, don’t you?”
Unfortunately. “She wants to know more about me.”
“Yep.”
“What did you tell her?”
“The truth.”
I suppressed my fear. Jael knew no other healers had survived the panic during the plague. And the last time I’d seen Jael, she had tried to kill me. I’d buried two of my throwing knives into her in self-defense. One into her upper arm and the other in her thigh. She wasn’t the type to forgive and forget. And without Kerrick’s help, a second attempt to kill me would no doubt succeed.
“The whole truth?” I asked.
Ursan studied my expression. “No. I left out the healer part.”
“Thanks.”
“I didn’t do it for you.”
Uh-oh. Blackmail time. I waited.
“I did it for us.” He swept a hand out, indicating the tents, campfires and soldiers. “Right now, we need this training. So I’m being selfish.”
“Will you let me know when you decide to stop being selfish?”
“I can tell you right now when I’ll stop. Do you want to know?”
“Go on.” I braced for his answer.
“When we move from skirmishes to full-out war. Casualties will unfortunately be much higher and more serious than the sprained ankles and cuts suffered out on patrols.”
“Fair enough.” And another reminder that my time was limited. I needed to talk to Noelle and find Melina.
On my next day off, I walked into Zabin to buy a few needed items. It had been fifty long days since Kerrick and I parted. I calculated the time it would take for him to reach Ryne’s castle. Then added the approximate days Ryne would need to assemble his elite troops, plus the fact that a bigger group would move more slowly, especially when crossing the Nine Mountains.
My spirits sank. Kerrick and Ryne probably wouldn’t arrive for another week at the earliest and more realistically, not for another two weeks.
The hustle and bustle of the market helped to take my mind off Kerrick. Dressed in my fatigues, I blended into the crowd, and no one gave me more than a passing glance. Handy.
I browsed the stalls, purchasing new undergarments and leather ties for my hair. During Liv and Wynn’s last patrol, I had reapplied Mom’s lightening cream and dyed my hair again. Mom’s estimates of how long my disguise would last didn’t quite match for me. My healing powers accounted for the faster recovery.
After I finished my shopping, I paused in front of the weapons merchant’s table of goods. I hoped it looked as if I hadn’t been planning to stop there. The owner appeared at my elbow. I recognized him from before, but he didn’t show any signs that he remembered me.
He launched into a sales pitch for each weapon I touched. Under his easy, affable personality, I sensed tension, as if he chose his words with care. It made sense, considering this town was basically occupied territory and his livelihood could be shut down at any time by Estrid or Jael.
I played along, asking questions about one or another sword or knife. When he mentioned liquid metal, my heart squeezed harder.
“What’s so special about liquid metal?” I asked, keeping the same noncommittal tone.
“It’s mined from the bottom of the Nine Mountains and the edge never dulls.”
“Never dulls? That’s hard to believe.”
He demonstrated with two different blades, dragging them along a rough surface. The liquid metal kept its sharp edge. Impressive—reminding me my stiletto was also made from the same metal. I hadn’t had to sharpen it yet, but then again, I hadn’t used it that much either.
“Why doesn’t it dull?” I asked.
He floundered for a second. “Well, it’s unique to all the Fifteen Realms. It’s also very flexible, lightweight and near impossible to break.”
In other words, he didn’t know. “Do you have any armor made with liquid metal?”
“That would be useful, especially in these trying times. However, the supply is limited. The mines have been shut down since the plague. I’ve only a few knives left.”
That last bit sounded like a sales ploy. But in the end, I bought a small dagger with a boot sheath so I could hide the weapon.
On my way back to camp, I spotted Belen leaving Jael’s tent. No mistaking the bear of a man who towered over everyone. The sudden desire to run up and hug him pulsed in my veins. Instead, I changed course so I’d avoid passing him.
Belen’s return created problems for me. After a couple days, the camp gossip must have informed him about the silent training. He showed up during one of our sessions, no doubt curious.
At first, he watched or, rather, listened to the exercise. None of the men learning the technique heard his near soundless entrance into the woods, which, considering his size, always impressed me. I knew right away. After traveling with him for three months, I could detect his subtle movements.
He waited until after we had finished for the day to appear as if by magic from a clump of bushes. Two members of the Odd Squad cried out in surprise. I used the distraction to fade into the forest.
“Not bad, gentlemen,” Belen said in his friendly baritone.
“You need more practice, but not bad at all.”
They stood a little straighter at the compliment.
Belen glanced around. “So where’s this Sergeant Irina that I’ve been hearing about?”
I kept still, hoping no one saw where I’d disappeared. The men exchanged looks as a murmur rippled through the two squads.
Ursan came to my rescue. “She’s out on a special assignment. Can I help you?”
“No need, Sergeant,” Belen said. “Just wanted to compare notes. When she returns, can you tell her I’d like to talk?”
“I’ll let her know. Will you be around for a while or are you heading out soon?” Ursan asked.
Standing next to Belen, Ursan didn’t appear to be as tall or as muscular. Belen had a few inches on Ursan and was thicker. Lines of fatigue creased Belen’s face, and he sported a few cuts and bruises. He rubbed his big hand over the black stubble on his jaw. His hair had also grown. The ends brushed the collar of his shirt.
“I’m staying for a couple more days,” Belen said.
“Another patrol?”
“No. It’s personal, Sergeant. I need to find my friends. They’ve been gone too long.”
Belen hid his emotions, but I knew Poppa Bear must be beside himself with worry over us. He’d protected Kerrick since childhood. It had to be hard not knowing what had happened while we’d been in Sogra, rescuing Ryne from Tohon.
Then it hit me. Belen needed to be told Ryne and the others were safe. Otherwise, he’d search Sogra and Vyg for us. And he’d get caught and killed.
How could I give him this information without revealing myself? I considered my options as Ursan, Belen and the others left the forest, returning to the camp. I could send him an anonymous note, or start a rumor. But would he believe them? It was worth a try. If he decided to leave regardless, I would stop him.
After waiting a few more minutes, I headed back. When I reached my tent, Ursan stepped from the shadows.
“That’s the third time I’ve covered for you,” he said. “You owe me some answers.”
I glanced at his hands, checking for weapons. None. Relaxing slightly, I crossed my arms. “For what questions?”
“Why did you hide from Belen?”
“Didn’t Lieutenant Thea tell you?” I couldn’t keep the surprise from my voice.
“She doesn’t confide everything.”
Interesting. I’d thought he was her go-to guy for advice. Was this a test? “I had a run-in with Belen a few years ago and would like to avoid another encounter.”
“But he knows your name.” Understanding lit his expression. “You used another name then.”
I gave him a tight smile.
“I’m tired of guessing. Tell me who you are. You owe me,” he said.
That was the second time he’d said I owed him, and this time it pissed me off. “Two squads disappeared without a trace in sector five, Sergeant. Yet you and all your jumping jacks returned alive and well from that very sector. I’d say we’re even.”
He opened his mouth, but I said, “Think about it.”
“I have. It was too easy getting there and back. It could have been all a ploy to get us to trust you.”
“And look at how well it worked.” I didn’t bother to suppress my sarcasm. I continued before he could reply. “Are you going to arrest me?”
Ursan frowned but didn’t reply.
I pushed past him and entered my tent. Not much I could do if he decided to expose me. I had bigger worries. Like how I would stop Belen from leaving the camp.
Except a couple days later, my problem had been solved. A messenger on horseback arrived, announcing that Prince Ryne’s troops would be here in about a week. The gossip zipped through the camp, igniting a variety of emotions.
A majority thought we didn’t need Prince Ryne and his elite troops, others welcomed the additional soldiers, while two of us—me and, I was sure, Belen—were ecstatic to hear the news.
Ten days later, Ryne rode into camp. He sat on a huge chestnut-colored horse. Quain and Loren rode just behind him on two piebald mares. They led a small battalion.
I scanned every single one of those faces—approximately four hundred soldiers. My heart thumped up my throat. Just to be certain, I looked a second time, but the results were the same.
Kerrick wasn’t among them.

KERRICK
“No. Absolutely not. You can’t have them,” Izak said.
Kerrick kept his temper … barely. “I’m not asking for your permission—”
“Good, because you won’t get it.”
Izak’s stubbornness matched his own. It was about the only thing the brothers had in common. While dark-haired Kerrick had grown over six feet tall, Izak was five feet ten inches with white-blond hair. Izak’s icy blue eyes stayed the same color all year. Kerrick had been the only family member to be gifted with magic, which had always been a source of conflict between them.
“Let me rephrase,” Kerrick said in an even tone. “I don’t need your permission. I—”
“You haven’t been here in three years. What you need is to reacquaint yourself with what’s going on in Alga Realm.”
He gave Izak a cold stare. “Just what has been going on?”
Izak gestured to the windows. They were in the sitting area of their father’s royal suite. When King Neil died from the plague five years ago, Kerrick had inherited the position. However, he had stayed in his own rooms and refused to allow anyone to call him king. But Izak had moved into the expansive suite of rooms right away. He also had no qualms about being called king.
“Peace and prosperity,” Izak said. “Alga is a safe haven for the plague survivors.”
“Because of Prince Ryne, you idiot. Without his help, Alga Realm wouldn’t exist.”
“And I’m grateful, but I can’t let you take my soldiers because of some crazy rumor.”
By pure force of will, Kerrick did not strangle his brother. Avry would be proud of him, provided she’d speak to him after he failed to show up with Ryne and half his army. The other half was bivouacking in the fields north of Orel, Kerrick’s hometown. Ryne had asked him to gather more troops and address the threat from the northern wildlands. He couldn’t refuse. It was too important. But he had insisted Quain and Loren go with Ryne, despite their protests. Kerrick knew they would protect Avry once her secret was out.
“They are not yours, Izak. I did not abdicate the throne.” He held up a hand, stopping his younger brother’s outburst. “It isn’t a rumor. If the northern tribes reach Alga, then the peace and prosperity you’re so proud of will be gone.”
Izak pished. “We can defend against the tribes. The message could have been from one of Tohon’s spies. What a great tactic. Lure all our soldiers north while he sneaks in over the Nine Mountains.”
“Ryne already ruled that out. The source of the message is reliable, and he detailed hundreds of warriors. The tribal people are ruthless, they—”
“Probably have been decimated by the plague, as well.”
Kerrick ceased arguing. It was a waste of time. He strode to the door, yanked it open and ordered one of the guards standing outside to fetch General Zamiel.
“You can’t …”
Kerrick waited, but Izak didn’t finish. Good. “Before General Zamiel arrives, I’ve another matter to discuss.” He settled into his father’s favorite armchair.
Wary, Izak perched on the edge of the desk, crossing his arms. “Go on.”
“I brought two children with me. Zila and Danny and their nanny, Berna. The kids are … special. And they’re going to need protection while I’m in the north.”
“How much protection?”
“A squad dedicated to keeping them safe.”
Izak dropped his arms. “That is special. What are you worried about?”
“Kidnappers sent by Tohon.”
He stood in alarm. “Why did you bring them here? We’re closer to Tohon. They’d be safer in Ryne’s castle.”
Kerrick agreed. However, with this new threat from the north, Ryne believed they’d be better protected in Orel. “You have the pass between Alga and Sogra guarded, right?”
“Of course. And I’ve a couple battalions along the coast in case Tohon decides to invade from the Endless Sea.”
“Tohon’s been too busy with Estrid to worry about the northern realms. The kids should be fine,” Kerrick said, trying to convince himself.
“I think you and Ryne are being rather naive regarding Tohon.”
An odd statement. Izak’s demeanor set off a warning, but before Kerrick could question him, the door burst open.
Great-Aunt Yasmin entered with a swish of skirts. She clutched her shawl tight, but her sharp gaze sliced right through Kerrick. Uh-oh.
“Three years, Kerry.” She held up three gnarled fingers. “You’re gone three years and I have to hear about your return from my maid.” She radiated indignation, anger and guilt-inducing energy at him.
Izak’s smirk died when she rounded on him. “Don’t be so smug, young man. You haven’t seen your brother in years and you’ve been fighting with him! What kind of welcome is that?”
“How did—”
She harrumphed. “I’m old, not stupid. Now come here, Kerry, and give your favorite auntie a hug.”
Kerrick bent over and gave her a gentle squeeze. She was half his size and all bones. Her white hair had been pulled up into a neat bun. Great-Aunt Yasmin looked pretty good for a ninety-year-old.
She rested her hand on his cheek and smiled. “Ah, Kerry. You’ve found your heart. Who is she?”
He shouldn’t have been surprised. Despite her claim to have no magical abilities, she had a canny knack for reading a person’s soul.
“A healer, but she’s … gone.”
She patted his cheek as if consoling him, but the shrewd gleam in her gray eyes told him she wasn’t buying his act at all. Great-Aunt Yasmin stepped away instead of questioning him further.
“What have you boys been arguing about?” she asked.
They exchanged a glance.
“I’m old, not fragile. If it’s bad news, you’d be better off if I heard it from you and not my maid.”
Kerrick explained about the northern tribes invading Krakowa. “I want to take at least half of the Algan army and drive the tribes back into the wildlands.”
Surprised, Great-Aunt Yasmin turned to Izak. “Didn’t you tell Kerry about the deal?”
Izak’s face paled. “How did …? Never mind. Old, not stupid, I know.”
“What deal?” Kerrick asked.
Izak stepped back as if expecting a blow. “You weren’t here. I did what I could for our people.”
“He was too young when you left him in charge, Kerry. Don’t blame him for panicking and making a deal with King Tohon.”

CHAPTER 6
I scanned the soldiers’ faces a third and fourth time, hoping Kerrick had decided to arrive at Estrid’s camp incognito. It would have been an excellent idea since Jael had no qualms about killing him either. However, no one even resembled him or matched his build.
Disappointment and worry flared in equal measure. Had Tohon’s men caught up to him before he’d reached Ryne’s? Was he hurt? Captured? Or killed? Despite the danger, I edged closer to the procession as they paraded right past Jael’s tent and headed straight for the manor house.
Jael watched Ryne and his men go by with an icy glare. Would she try to harm them? Noelle stood by her side and studied the passing soldiers with a keen interest. Was she looking for me? Did that little smile mean she was happy about my absence?
Belen was far from happy. He strode right up to the procession and blocked Prince Ryne’s path. The horse stopped. Smart horse. Belen grabbed the horse’s cheek strap and spoke to Ryne.
He had to be asking about Kerrick. I hurried to catch up, but Ryne leaned forward and said something to Belen. It must have soothed him, because he released the horse and walked next to Quain and Loren. From atop their horses, both men gave Belen queasy smiles before returning their gazes to Ryne’s back.
They dismounted in the courtyard in front of the manor house and then entered with Belen in tow. I grunted in frustration. Who could I ask about Kerrick? None of the soldiers waiting patiently outside looked familiar. I couldn’t just stroll into the building with both Estrid’s and Ryne’s armies watching.
Frustration welled. I would just have to wait for the camp gossip to reach our company. Or did I? One of the reasons for this ruse was so I could gather information about Estrid’s army and operations. Who could I tell this to now? I’d have to reveal myself, and I still hadn’t talked to Noelle or found Melina.
I sucked in a breath, settling my racing heartbeat. No need to rush into a decision. News about Avry the healer and Prince Kerrick would reach me, and I’d get a better sense of how to proceed.
Having a plan didn’t make me feel any better, so I decided to spend my morning searching for Melina. I walked through Dagger, Cutlass and Garrote’s companies’ areas, asking a few young girls Melina’s age if they knew her. Nothing. Then I swept through the others, scanning faces. No Melina.
On the way back to my area, I heard Ryne’s name. Without thought, I stopped to listen.
“… left half of his soldiers behind. The marauders had invaded,” a private said.
“Sergeant Vic said they’ve taken over the northern realms and everyone is dead,” another said.
“Then why would Prince Ryne leave, you dolt!” He smacked his companion on the head. “You can’t believe anything Vic says.”
“I heard Prince Kerrick is working for King Tohon as a double agent,” yet another chimed in.
Wild rumors and speculation weren’t helping me. I would have to check with a more reliable gossip source, such as Lieutenant Thea or Major Granvil. Continuing on, I wondered how long I should wait before approaching them. Perhaps tomorrow.
Hurried movement caught my attention, and I spotted Noelle running an errand for Jael. I needed to talk to her alone, but she was either out in the camp in plain sight or with Jael. Fingering my stiletto, I considered another option.
“Excuse me, Sergeant,” a voice sounded behind me.
I turned around. A very young private snapped to attention. He appeared to be eleven or twelve years old, but had to be at least fifteen—the minimum age to be a soldier in Estrid’s army.
“At ease,” I said.
He relaxed his stance but ran his hands down his shirt as if nervous. “Uh … are you the one looking for Melina from Mengels?”
“Yes. Do you know where she is?”
He wiped his hands on his pants, leaving damp stains behind. “Uh … can I ask why you want to know?”
“I’m a friend of her mother and I promised to check on Melina.”
His gaze darted to the side before returning to me. “I mean no disrespect, Sergeant, but you’re new here, aren’t you?”
I wouldn’t consider two months new, but I nodded.
“I’m guessing you haven’t encountered the Purity Priestess yet?”
Uh-oh. I had dodged her and her goons before. “Go on.”
“Um … well, as members of the army, we are the creator’s weapons and we must be pure of heart and soul. But Melina didn’t pass … inspection.” His prominent Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. “She was sent to the monastery in Chinska Mare to atone for her … misdeeds.”
Various emotions swept through me. First, relief that Melina was alive and reasonably safe. Second, outrage that she had been incarcerated for life because she wasn’t a virgin. And third, surprise that she hadn’t passed. Sixteen seemed too young to me. Regardless of my views, it didn’t change my feelings for her. Or the fact that I needed to rescue her … somehow. Yet another worry, and an addition to my already long to-do list.
“Thanks for telling me, Private.”
He dashed off.
That solved one mystery. Feeling better about my situation, I found a comfortable place to sit and watched the manor house.
Ryne, Belen and the monkeys emerged after sunset. Shouting orders to his troops, Ryne directed them to bivouac in the fields north of the manor. Loren and Quain guided them to the proper spot while Ryne and Belen were joined by the High Priestess Estrid.
A ripple of sound emanated all around me as Estrid’s army jumped to attention at her appearance. She wore a red silk gown with gold brocade glinting in the lantern light. From this distance she looked elegant and younger than her fifty-two years. Ryne offered his arm, and she rested her hand on the crook as they descended the steps.
Her hand remained on his arm as they crossed to Jael’s tent. A sign to her troops that they were working together as equals. Impressive. My opinion of her intelligence rose a couple notches.

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