“No, we came after the first round of attacks on Tohon’s defenses.”

“We?”

“Quain’s waiting on the other side of the wall. We’d thought it best to have a man on the outside.”

“Where’s Belen?”

“He’s still leading the sneak attacks.” Loren grinned. “Poppa Bear’s quite devious when he wants to be.”

Plus he’d be too noticeable. I studied the two of them. Kerrick had pulled back his brown hair and his face was unshaven. His eyes were now a vibrant green, matching the color of the forest exactly. Both of them wore Tohon’s army’s uniform, but their clothes had been stained with dirt and blood, and ripped as if they just returned from a battle.

“What’s next?” Loren asked.

“You don’t have a plan?” I tried not to let my voice squeak.

“This was it. Getting inside. We’d hoped you’d know all Tohon’s weaknesses by now,” Loren said.

“I do have an idea, but I was hoping with your experience in these things you had something…better.”

“What’s your plan?” Kerrick asked.

So much for my hope. I gave them a brief rundown.

“It could work,” Loren said.

“We’ll make it work,” Kerrick said.

A man shouted on the other side of my door. Then a loud knock sounded. I moved away from the entrance.

“Time to go, Healer Avry,” one of my guards said as he turned the knob.

Kerrick didn’t wait. He yanked the door open, surprising the man. Without hesitating, Kerrick pulled the guard into the room and held him tight.

“Avry.”

I pressed my fingers on the back of the man’s neck and zapped him. Kerrick dropped him and sprinted for his partner, who backed toward the outer door. In two strides, Kerrick tackled him. I ran to them and zapped the struggling man.

Realizing we were in the main room with recovering soldiers all around us, I stood. Loren had drawn his sword.

“No, Loren. These men are not to be hurt,” I said.

“We won’t get far if they raise the alarm,” Kerrick said.

“I know. But they’re mine. I won’t let them be hurt again.”

My patients stared at me. No one said a word for a very long minute. Then, one by one, my patients lay down in their beds, pretending to be asleep. Touched by their silent support, I almost cried. But I didn’t have the time. My infirmary workers would be returning soon.

“Thank you,” I said.

Kerrick and Loren stripped the guards of their uniforms before dumping them in two empty beds. Their dirty uniforms had worked for getting them into the castle complex, but wouldn’t do for escorting me to my cell. They changed.

I pulled on those horrid gloves, and Kerrick manacled my wrists behind my back.

Unable to resist, I said, “Just like old times.”

Kerrick’s smile reached his eyes. He placed his hands on my shoulders. “Except this time, they’re loose enough to slide your hands through.”

I walked between Loren and Kerrick as we headed toward the castle. Once inside, I led the way until we reached the stairs, then paused.

“At the bottom are solid double doors guarded by two men,” I explained. “Beyond those doors is a large room for the guards to relax and play cards or dice between checks. There’s always been at least four, maybe five in there with two or three in the cell area. The doors between the cells and room have bars so any noise will be heard by all six of them.” I bit my lip. My plan wasn’t going to work. There were too many guards. “Can you handle that many?” I asked.

“Think positive,” Kerrick said. “Stage an escape attempt when we reach the inner room. Make lots of noise, too. Okay?”

“Yes.”

We descended. When we reached the outer door, one of the guards grumbled, “’Bout time, I—”

Kerrick and Loren moved. I slipped the manacles off, but didn’t let them clang on the stone floor. Both guards were soon immobilized. I zapped them.

Kerrick placed the manacles back on my wrists. Loren removed the keys from a prone form. He inserted it into the lock. “Ready?” he asked.

No. If anything happened to them…

Kerrick nodded.

He opened the door and we entered as if they escorted me. Two of the four guards playing cards glanced up, but didn’t really see us as the game had their full attention. Kerrick squeezed my arm. My cue.

I yanked my left hand out and grabbed the manacles with my right. Yelling, I ran at the guards playing cards. Zapping one of them before they could react, I dove out of the way as Kerrick and Loren chased me. I screamed and carried on, swinging the manacles around.

“Stop her,” Kerrick called as he slammed the hilt of his sword on a guard’s head, knocking him out. He fought with a single-minded intensity.

“She’s free! Watch for her hands!” Loren shouted. He picked up a guy and rammed his head into the stone wall.

My metal cuff connected on a temple and I grabbed a wrist. Sending my magic into the guard, I held on as he cried out in pain. Then I touched the back of his neck, sending him to the floor.

More voices sounded. Bars rattled.

“Get in here,” Kerrick ordered. “We need help.”

The door squealed as two more joined the fray. Another few seconds of chaos ensued. I darted in and zapped the men Kerrick and Loren held before dodging out of the way. Within a minute, we had incapacitated them all.