The others huddled around him, touching his arms. Kerrick’s      magic stopped and we all blended in with the forest. Strange.

“Cool,” Quain said.

“Quiet,” Kerrick whispered. “They’re coming.”

With Kerrick in the middle, we drew in close together, making      our group as small as possible for six people. No one moved.

Soon, soldiers passed us. A few quite close, and one man headed      directly toward us. We braced for impact, but he stumbled, tripping on a vine      and missing us by inches. In fact, many of the soldiers who ventured too close      to us had problems with that pesky vine.

As we sat there for over an hour, I learned a few things.      Kerrick didn’t use his magic on that vine or our camouflage, which was the      opposite of how it worked in the past. And after the fight in the manor house,      we were in serious need of a bath. Except Eva, who smelled like roses and kept      unnaturally still the entire time.

A million questions for Kerrick bubbled up my throat, but I      held them for later. When we escaped this situation, he’d have some serious      explaining to do. Funny, I hadn’t thought if we      escaped. Guess my outlook was rather optimistic. Hard not to be when I held      Kerrick’s hand.

After another hour or so, Kerrick said, “Most of them have      moved east. We can sneak north.”

We stood and stretched, unkinking stiff muscles. The blood had      dried on my clothes. Kerrick had let go of my hand. He no longer blended in with      the forest, but lines of strain etched his gaunt face. Thinner and paler than      I’d ever seen him, Kerrick wiped a hand over the stubble on his chin.

I laced my fingers in his, feeling his magic again. Sharing my      energy with him, I beamed at him. He flashed me a smile in response.

What a night. All that work and we didn’t rescue Estrid. I      glanced at the POW camp. So close.

Flea noticed the direction of my gaze. “How much time do we      have until they come back?” he asked Kerrick.

“The woods are crowded with patrols. Any one of them could      return. Why?” he asked.

“Estrid’s in the POW camp. We could get her out before—”

“Too risky,” I interrupted. “I’m sure the camp is well      guarded.”

Flea grinned. “It is, but we left a back door.”

“Oh, yeah,” Quain said. “Prince Ryne said it might come in      handy someday.”

“Back door?” I asked.

“An escape route,” Loren explained. “When we hid inside during      Tohon’s encirclement, we used a hidden exit to come and go without being      seen.”

“How long would it take?” Kerrick asked.

“Not long to get inside the fence, but the complex has five or      six buildings.”

Kerrick considered. “We have two hours until dawn. You have one      hour to find Estrid, and then you have to return regardless.”

“Are you coming?” Loren asked.

“No, I’ll stay here and ensure no one sets up an ambush,”      Kerrick said.

Eva offered to stay with Kerrick. “Probably safer with you guys      than trying to rendezvous with the captain right now.”

Quain huffed. “You don’t know us very well.”

I hesitated. The desire to remain with Kerrick warred with the      need to rescue Estrid. Duty won.

“Don’t go anywhere,” I ordered Kerrick, stabbing a finger at      the ground.

“I won’t,” he said, but a haunted look clouded his eyes.

“Promise?”

“Oh, yes.” He leaned in and kissed me.

I wrapped my arms around his neck, deepening the kiss.

“Uh...Avry, time’s running out,” Loren said.

Breaking away, I gazed at Kerrick. “I’ll be back.”

He smiled. “You’d better.”

I joined the others.

“Our door leads right into the training ring. So we’ll check      the converted stables first, then the smaller buildings,” Loren instructed.      “We’re only saving Estrid. Most of the guards should be by the front entrance,      but the first sign of unfriendlies, we retreat. Understood?”

Nodding, I found it interesting how Loren had stepped up to      take the lead on this mission. He went first, followed by Quain, Flea, and      finally me. We crept to the complex. Built of large barn doors tied to thick      posts, the solid fence loomed over us. Keeping to the fence’s shadow, we      traveled a few yards to the west.

When Loren signaled a halt, Quain pulled a thin metal pick from      his pocket. He ran the edge of the pick along small cracks in the wood. Then he      hooked the pick into a divot and pulled a three-foot-high panel away from the      fence. Ah, the back door.