The leader huffed. “Not like before.”

“A sickness has taken many, but those that remain—”

He waved. “Ours now.”

“No, it isn’t. However, we might be able to work something out. To share—”

“No. We stay. You die.” Noak gestured.

The warrior to Kerrick’s right swung his dadao. Kerrick dropped to the ground. Pulling magic, he blended with the forest floor, then sent the limb crashing down nearby. The slight distraction allowed him to encourage the vines to tangle around the warriors’ ankles and yank them off their feet. Then he shook all the leaves nearby, signaling his waiting army.

Keeping the surrounding warriors off balance, Kerrick heard his men approach and doubled his efforts. He just needed to survive a few more minutes. Kerrick snaked along the ground, remaining on his stomach.

Just when he grasped his sword, a pair of white snufa-skinned boots blocked Kerrick’s way. He glanced up and met the leader’s cold gaze. The man could see him despite his camouflage. And his big sword was pointed at Kerrick’s throat.

CHAPTER 10

Flea met my questioning gaze. His light green eyes crazed with confusion and alarm. But most important, life shone from them. He hadn’t been turned into one of the dead. I released the breath I’d been holding as joy filled me.

“Wh—” croaked from his unused vocal cords. “Who?” He looked over my shoulder. He squeaked, dropped my arm and scooted away in panic. He was going to bolt.

“Back off,” I said to Thea and Saul as I dove for Flea, tackling him. I sat on his chest and grabbed his bare shoulders. “Flea, it’s me. Avry.”

“No.” He struggled.

“Stop or I’ll zap you with my healing powers.”

He paused, and I hurried to continue. “I taught you how to juggle.”

“You don’t look—”

“I’m wearing a disguise.”

“No.” Shaking his head, he muscled me off and tried to stand.

Loath to cause him pain, I clung to his waist and dragged him back to the ground. “Kerrick and Belen rescued you from the stockade.”

He hesitated.

“Kerrick gave you the name Flea because you’re fast and hard to catch,” I said.

Confusion still swirled in his gaze.

“Belen calls Loren and Quain the monkeys.”

Flea yanked my shirt sleeve down, revealing my healer tattoo on my right shoulder—a circle with hands radiating out so that they resembled the petals of a daisy from a distance.

Instead of relaxing, his agitation increased. “Jael!” He scrambled to his feet and scanned the area.

“She’s not here. We fought her off.” And  you died—but I wasn’t going to add to his distress right now. I stood, brushing dirt off my pants.

“Where’s Kerrick? Who are they?”

“Thea and Saul. They’re with me.”

“What’s—” He finally noticed his lack of clothing. Color flushed through him, and he covered himself with his hands. “What’s going on!”

I glanced back. “Saul?”

“On it.” Saul dug through his backpack and pulled out a pair of pants. The sergeant approached Flea as if the boy could jump as high and as fast as his namesake.

Thea and I turned our backs, giving Flea some privacy. The bright daylight had faded, and it would be dark soon.

“Now what?” Thea asked me.

I considered. Flea needed a few hours to adjust and hot food. His ribs protruded farther than his shrunken stomach. Calling him skeletal would be an understatement.

“Okay,” Saul said.

Flea wore Saul’s extra set of fatigues. I bit my lip to keep from smiling at how much the uniform’s sleeves and pant legs had been rolled up. A belt cinched tight kept his pants from falling down. The extra material was bunched around Flea’s waist. The desire to hug him bloomed in my chest, but I kept firm control of my emotions. Flea still acted shaky and uncertain.

Searching my memories, I recalled the cave we had stayed in the night after we’d given Flea to the Lily. It was a couple miles away from here. Stricken with grief at that time, no one had any energy to travel far. I was surprised I even remembered the way since I had shuffled behind Kerrick with tears blurring my vision.

I suggested we overnight in the cavern, so we could build a fire without risk of discovery.

Flea gave me an odd look.

“I still dislike caves,” I said. “But it’s our best option at the moment.”

Thea agreed.

Before Flea could protest or ask questions, I said, “And I’ll explain everything to you once we’re there.”

Thea gestured for me to lead the way. By nightfall, we’d reached the cave. The stone walls seemed to settle Flea’s nerves. We built a fire, cooked a hearty stew and set up our bedrolls. Since one of us would be on watch throughout the night, Flea could sleep in mine.

As if by unspoken agreement, we ate dinner in silence. When everyone had finished the meal, all three gazes turned to me.

“Time to explain,” Flea said.

“Yes, Avry, please do,” Saul added with a smirk.

Keeping my secret had ceased to be a priority. Flea was alive!

“Avry, quit staring at me with that goofy smile and start talking,” Flea said.

I told him about Jael’s attack. He seemed to handle the news of his death well. But when I mentioned his burial, he interrupted.