Avry rounded on him. “Didn’t you just hear Ryne? He sent the bones of the last two scouts in a box.”

“Those scouts weren’t forest mages,” he said. “You know I’ll be careful.”

“What if he already invaded Mengels?” Loren asked.

“Then I won’t go near the city. Mom’s inn is at the edge, but if it looks like it’s been commandeered, I’ll keep away.”

Except Ryne, no one seemed overly pleased with his plan, but despite Avry’s outburst, no one else argued. It made sense. Ryne kept his face neutral, but Kerrick had known him long enough to recognize the subtle change in his demeanor. Between the addition of two thousand plus soldiers and Kerrick scouting for him again, renewed hope flared in Ryne’s eyes.

Avry returned to her place next to him. She leaned on him and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders, tucking her close. The warm scent of vanilla filled his nose.

She sighed. “I’d go with you, but I’d just slow you down. Besides...” Avry glanced at Ryne. “I’m needed here.”

Again, Ryne impressed Kerrick by not showing his approval over Avry’s good sense. Or commenting on it. Instead, he stood. “I need to talk to Fydelia and determine how to best integrate her women into our forces. Kerrick, let me know if you need anything for your mission. Do you know when you’re leaving?”

Avry stiffened. They both knew he should head out right away.

“In an hour or so,” he hedged.

Ryne nodded and returned to the infirmary. The monkeys lumbered to their feet, stretched, and yawned with jaw-popping exaggeration.

“We’re beat,” Loren said.

“Yeah, dog tired,” Quain agreed. “Time for bed. Come on, Flea.”

“I’ll catch up with you in a minute,” Flea said.

They peered at him, but then ambled off.

Once they were gone, Flea shoved his stick deep into the fire and met Kerrick’s questioning gaze. “I’m going with you.”

Avry drew a breath, but he squeezed her shoulder, warning her to keep quiet.

“Why should I take you?” he asked.

“I can help you when you can’t leave the forest. Like purchasing feed for Hux and blending in with the street rats to find out information. That’s how I survived before I met you, remember?” Flea inclined his head toward Avry. “And I’m not useful here. Besides, all these soldiers think I’m just a kid—even the caregivers. You never treated me that way.”

Kerrick sensed there were more reasons, but he refrained from asking. Avry had said to be subtle with him. While it would be harder to scout with Flea along, he thought the young man had presented a valid argument. Plus Kerrick had a bad feeling he might need Flea’s energy. Every day it was harder to keep the relentless fatigue at bay.

“All right. Go pack and be back here in one hour.”

Flea jumped to his feet. “Yes, sir.” He dashed toward the infirmary.

Bracing for Avry’s anger, Kerrick waited. The silence extended and he worried he’d upset her.

Instead, she relaxed against him, snuggling in closer. “At first I thought it was a horrible and reckless idea to take Flea, but—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—he needs this. It’ll be good for him. And you’ll protect him.”

She had such confidence in him, but Kerrick remembered failing Flea. He’d died under Kerrick’s care before. Only dumb luck had saved him. A Peace Lily and not a Death Lily had accepted Flea’s body, preserving it until Avry returned to awaken him.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Avry said, reading his mind. “Jael—”

“Was after me.”

“No, she was after us. All of us. She didn’t want Ryne healed and knew it would take all of us together to rescue him.” Avry pulled away and gazed up at him. “I think Flea will be good for you, too. I won’t have to worry about you as much.”

Interesting. “Why not?”

“You’ll be extracareful. And he’ll keep you from doing something dangerous or stupid.”

He widened his eyes in mock horror. “Me? Do something dangerous? No way.”

She laughed. The sound flowed through him like a warm brandy, igniting a fire in his heart.

“I noticed you didn’t protest the stupid part,” she teased.

“Ah, my love, I’m guilty on that one.”

“Well, I can’t think of any examples right now.”

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her toward him. “I have one example of my stupidity.”

“Do tell.”

“I should have told Flea to come back in two hours.”

* * *

Huxley arrived at the same time as Flea. Kerrick marveled over the horse’s ability to sense when Kerrick needed him. After giving Avry another kiss goodbye, he slung his pack over his shoulder and mounted Hux. Flea hopped up behind him.

He spurred Hux into a gallop, heading southwest toward Mengels. Just as he’d predicted, it took them three days to reach the outskirts of town. They hadn’t encountered any of Cellina’s patrols, but he sensed a few squads for the Skeleton King’s army. They also didn’t see any citizens once they crossed the border and entered Sectven Realm. Not a good sign.

And his connection with the living green tugged at him, pulling him down even though he remained in the forest. He had noticed it before when it had dug its roots into him to save his life. He’d hoped it would dissipate after he rested. But it seemed more pronounced. Was it just another quirk of his bond with the living green, or something more dire?