They halted to let their eyes adjust in the predawn light. Four others waited for us. All wearing black clothing and hoods that exposed no skin, like my captors. The three soldiers who had been stationed to guard the cave lay on the ground. Knocked unconscious and not dead, I hoped.
“This way,” one said, gesturing. “Quickly.”
We followed. After a few steps, the trees rustled. Thuds followed curses and yells. The two holding me fell forward, pushing me down as something heavy landed on top of us. Pain ringed my chest and all my breath whooshed out.
More cries sounded before the weight lifted off my back. I curled into a ball, gasping for air. Once my noisy inhalations eased, other noises of a scuffle reached me.
“Area secured,” a voice said.
“Send a team to sweep the cave,” another ordered.
“What’s the status on the frontal assault?” a familiar voice asked.
Odd? I sat up, wiping dirt from my face. Odd stood amid a group of soldiers.
“The remaining ambushers have retreated. Should we give chase, Sergeant?”
Odd glanced at me. “No. Join the others and help with the evacuation.”
Evacuation? I struggled to my feet.
Odd helped me stand. He pulled a leaf from my hair. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. Thanks. What’s—”
“I’ll explain later. Come on.” He sheathed his sword and strode away.
I didn’t follow.
Odd stopped. “You’re a target, Avry. We need to get you to a more secured location.”
“And I need my boots and pack.” The rising sun wouldn’t dispel the cold air until much later.
“Prince Ryne ordered—”
“I don’t care.”
“You should. If it wasn’t for him, my squad wouldn’t have been here to rescue you.”
Interesting. “How long have you been here?” I asked.
“A couple days. He suspected Cellina would send a unit after you.”
“So you allowed them inside the cave?” Had I been used for another one of Ryne’s tactics?
“Uh...” He rubbed a hand over his face.
And that would be a yes. I waited.
“Prince Ryne wanted us to make sure they—”
Refusing to listen to the rest, I checked on the three soldiers who’d been guarding the cave. All alive, but with nasty bumps on their heads. Relieved, I called over a handful of soldiers and asked them to carry the men inside. They looked at Odd for permission. He fisted his hands, but then nodded.
I headed into the cave and almost ran into the monkeys and Flea.
“Told you,” Flea said. “I knew she wouldn’t leave.”
“Why would I leave?” I asked.
“For your safety.” Loren glanced at Odd looming behind me.
I rounded on Loren. “So you knew about this, too?”
“Only since one of his men informed us of their plans.”
“When was this?” I demanded.
“About five minutes ago.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
“You should still go.” Quain held my pack and boots out.
“Not until I make sure my patients are in good shape to travel.”
“They are. You know that, Avry,” Flea said.
And he knew it, too. Shoot. No one else had their packs. “What about you guys?”
“We’ll help with the evacuation and meet you at the new site,” Loren said.
“Fine.” I snatched my stuff from Quain. Sitting down, I yanked on my boots then stood. I gave each of them a stern look. “You be extra careful. Okay?”
They nodded.
“And keep Flea close.”
“Hey,” Flea protested.
But the monkeys promised.
Before I left, I pulled Flea aside. “After everyone’s packed up, can you leave a note behind?”
“For...Kerrick?”
I nodded. “Just in case.”
“Yeah. I’ll use our old signals from back when we were searching for you.” Flea gave me a wry smile. “Never thought I’d miss those days.”
I hugged him then followed Odd. His odd squad fanned out around us. As soon as we entered the trees, we all matched our gaits to the sounds of the forest, going silent.
As I recalled the attack, a hundred questions bubbled up my throat, but I only asked one when we stopped for a break. “Did you jackknife the ambushers?”
Odd grinned. “Yes. Seemed the best strategy. We had a few men on the ground as well because there was no guarantee they would have crossed under our trees.”
“Ursan would be proud.” That had been his squad’s signature move, jumping down on the unsuspecting enemy from a tree limb high above. They had earned the nickname the jumping jacks.
“I don’t know. I think he’d be mad we stole his idea. Although...” He gazed at me. “He’d be glad our mission was a success.”
“And how exactly did you determine that?” I kept my tone neutral.
“Since they went after you, we now know Cellina plans to heal Tohon. According to Prince Ryne, that knowledge is important and will help him.”
“Lovely.”
“I don’t know why you’re being so pissy about this. You weren’t in any real danger. We were there the entire time. Plus Cellina needs you alive. That should make you feel better.”
It didn’t. But Odd had been acting under orders. No need to vent my annoyance with Ryne on him. Instead, I asked about our destination.
“HQ.”
A surprise. “Not the new infirmary site?”
“Not yet.” Odd kept his gaze on the ground.
Not the best liar, Odd was hiding something. I considered. Pulling out my Lily map, I unfolded it. “Where is HQ?”
He pointed to a spot a couple days northeast of our location. We’d pass close enough to a Lily cluster to check for Death Lilys and possibly harvest its toxin. It was also outside the area we’d searched for Kerrick, so there’d be new ground to cover. And once we reached HQ, I would get to be pissy to Ryne in person.
A bright side after all.
* * *
Clouds covered the sky on the first day of autumn. A damp breeze rustled the leaves, sending a few spiraling to the ground. Most of the surrounding forest remained green, but a brush of yellows, orange, and reds tipped the trees.
Before leaving our camp, I touched the ground, pressing my palm to the cool soil.
Come on, Kerrick. Where are you?
No response. Not even a faint tingle. I closed my eyes as grief escaped the tight knot inside me, expanding like a bubble, threatening to overwhelm all my senses.
“Avry, you okay?” Odd asked.
“Give me a moment.” My voice cracked.