Kerrick shot up. Zila had been in Alga. Cellina had to have crossed the Nine Mountains to kidnap her. Easy to do since only a few Algan patrols guarded the passes. Plus the fighting had been contained to Pomyt and Vyg Realms so the threat level was low. Would Tohon send troops across the Nine Mountains to travel east and then cross back over the Milligreen Pass? A long journey, but that would drop them in right behind Ryne’s army. And with the Skeleton King creeping up from the south, Ryne would be caught between both forces. A perfect strategy.
He’d warn Ryne, but they needed every man here to protect the patients. The prince might have already come to the same conclusions based on the last message Odd had sent. Perhaps that was why Ryne hadn’t dispatched anyone south to protect the infirmary.
Too many questions without answers circled. Kerrick would tell Odd his suspicions in the morning. Avry remained his priority.
* * *
“And just when you think it can’t get any worse...” Odd rubbed a hand over his face. “We’re sitting ducks here. We’re going to evacuate. I’ve been scouting for another location.”
Impressed, Kerrick agreed. “East?”
“I’d rather not say just in case...” Odd gestured.
“He’s too polite to say in case we’re captured,” Quain said.
Odd ignored Quain. “I’m sure you’ll find us regardless of the direction. Good luck.” He shook Kerrick’s hand and retreated into the cave.
“Considering he wanted to murder you yesterday, I’d say that was progress,” Loren said.
“I’m feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.” Quain hugged himself.
“Are the saddlebags packed?” Kerrick asked.
Flea cinched one of Coffee’s tight. “Just about. How are we doubling up?”
“You and me on Hux, the monkeys on Coffee and Belen on Tea. After we rescue Avry, you can ride with Belen.”
“Good to hear you have more confidence than Odd,” Belen said.
“Of course he does! He’s Weed Boy, ghost of the forest,” Quain said.
Belen sighed. Flea chuckled. Kerrick just shook his head. It would be an interesting trip.
He mounted Hux. “All right, gentlemen, here’s the plan. Wynn has a five-day head start, but they’re on foot. We’re going to cover as much ground as the horses will let us. They’ll set the pace.”
“And when we get there?” Loren asked.
“I’ll figure that out then.”
“Just like old times,” Quain said. “Lead on, weed boy.”
* * *
“...it’s the only way,” Quain said.
“And we don’t have time to make anything else work,” Loren agreed.
After three days of hard riding and little sleep, Kerrick wasn’t in the mood for the monkeys’ antics. But that didn’t mean they didn’t have a valid point.
They’d caught up to Wynn’s battalion at the Tobory border near sunset on the third day. Her soldiers had made camp and appeared to be waiting for a larger army—most likely the Skeleton King and his soldiers, traveling north from Dina—to join them. Kerrick had figured out that Wynn and Sepp must have joined forces with him. Why else would she travel south? Plus it explained how the Skeleton King had gotten the new plague virus.
When the king’s forces merged with Wynn’s in two days’ time, the chances of rescuing Avry plummeted to zero. Kerrick had only felt a few flashes of Avry’s presence in the forest. Not enough to pinpoint her location among Wynn’s soldiers and their tents.
“You need all of us to search for her,” Belen said.
“All right. Let me find a patrol to ambush.” Kerrick placed his palm on the ground. The living green was harder to reach with each passing day of winter.
Quain rubbed his hands together. “Now we’re talking.”
* * *
“Pee-ew. Man, that’s rank. Just my luck to get the uniform of the guy who hasn’t bathed in weeks,” Quain grumbled under his breath as he tugged at the sleeves of his stolen shirt.
Kerrick and the others had climbed into the lower tree branches and had, according to the monkeys, jackknifed a small patrol. They’d donned the patrol’s uniforms.
“Don’t call attention to yourselves,” Kerrick said. “Just take a look around and report back here in two hours. Even if you find Avry. Understand?”
Nods and one “yes, sir.”
“All right, go.”
They scattered, each taking a different section of the camp. Kerrick waited until they’d moved into position before leaving. A large cluster of tents near the southern edge of the encampment was his target. With extra guards and the most activity, it appeared to be an obvious location for a prisoner. Of course, it could also be a decoy or a trap. Which was why Kerrick chose it. He could get close without being seen at all.
Lantern light glowed inside the biggest tent. Shadows moved along the fabric as soldiers entered and exited. He crept to the back side and listened to the various voices.
“...never know what hit them.”
“I can’t wait to go home...”
“...enough of this getting-into-position crap, I’m ready for action.”
“...she’s stubborn, that’s for sure.”
“But she’ll be too weak to...”
Hearing the word stubborn, Kerrick lifted the tent’s fabric, peering underneath. A half dozen soldiers sat around a crude wooden table, playing cards and drinking. No sign of Avry. Not letting disappointment slow him down, he moved on to the next tent. And then the third, fourth, and fifth. Nothing.