“I think you answered your own question,” I said.

“Tohon likes to play games. It makes him feel powerful to manipulate people.” Kerrick rubbed his hands over his face. Deep circles of exhaustion hung from his eyes. “We’re at another stalemate.”

Until he sends a company of dead after me. Bad enough in the hands of two, but with more than a hundred chasing me… Revulsion snaked along my skin as I realized that I would have to go to Tohon. But I couldn’t give myself up without knowing more.

“Can Tohon wake Ryne?” I asked.

“No. Only a death magician can,” Sepp said. “Tohon can take a life, but I can stop life and only I can restart it.”

“You or another death magician?”

“Anyone with that power, but I’m the only one.”

“Are you sure?”

He bristled at my question.

“Think about it. Tohon’s special soldiers are not alive. I had thought a medicine might be the reason they can move and obey orders, but maybe there is another explanation. Could you animate the dead?”

Sepp sputtered. “It’s…an affront to life. It’s…perverted. I’ve never tried it, nor would I ever!”

“She didn’t ask you if you would, but if you could,” Kerrick said.

Opening and closing his mouth a number of times, Sepp huffed. “I think I can.”

Kerrick leaned forward. “Are you thinking a death magician is working with Tohon?”

“Not possible,” Sepp said. “I’m positive I’m the only one, and have been for years.”

I considered. “Was Tohon in the cave during the attack?”

The magician squinted as if he peered into the past. “I don’t think so. Unless he came after I’d been knocked out.”

“So he might think that you’re dead,” I said.

“It doesn’t matter,” Kerrick said. “We can’t reach Ryne, and even if we do find him, we won’t be able to leave Tohon’s castle alive. We should join forces with Estrid and hope for the best.” Kerrick’s shoulders sagged. “Sepp, can you unanimate the dead?”

“I believe so. My powers are basically the opposite of Tohon’s. But I don’t know for sure. When they stormed the cave, we were taken by surprise. By the time I figured out what they were and how to stop them, it was too late.”

“How to stop them as in decapitation?” I asked.

Sepp nodded.

“How would you unanimate them? If only you can wake Ryne, doesn’t it make sense that only Tohon can stop the dead?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t had any experience.” Sepp’s tone bordered on snippy.

“Did you sense them before they attacked?”

“Are you deaf or just stupid? I just said we were surprised.” He’d skipped over snippy and went straight into nasty.

I decided to follow Kerrick’s example and keep my expression neutral even though I wanted to slap him. “Allow me to elaborate. Before they attacked, did you feel uneasy or feel something wasn’t quite right and just dismiss it?”

“Of course not. I can’t feel through stone walls.”

“What about when they were in the room with you?” I asked.

Sepp appealed to Kerrick. “This is a waste of time, we should—”

“Answer her question,” Kerrick said.

Sepp gaped at him. “Don’t tell me that you’ve—”

“Answer her question,” Kerrick ordered.

I wondered what Sepp was going to say to Kerrick.

With an elaborate sigh, he said, “Yes, I could. When they were in with us, I knew no life breathed inside them. Although I don’t see why she needs to know.”

Perhaps Sepp thought I’d overstepped my place in this little group. As Belen would say, Too bad, so sad.

Kerrick studied me and I caught a glint of humor in his gaze. “What are you thinking?”

“You’re not going to like it.”

“No surprise.”

“Just think it through before you dismiss it. Okay?”

“All right.”

“You, Belen, Loren and Quain will join Estrid’s army. You spread the word that Sepp died and Ryne is lost. I’m sure Tohon has spies in her organization. Then you convince her to rally her troops and prepare them for an attack against Tohon’s army.”

Kerrick opened his mouth. I shot him a warning look. He kept quiet.

“Meanwhile, Sepp and I will travel to Tohon’s castle. And, hopefully while he’s distracted with Estrid’s preparations, we’ll slip in, heal Ryne and take off.”

“Just like that?” Kerrick arched an eyebrow.

“That’s an utterly ridiculous plan,” Sepp said.

“You’ve never been to his castle before. How are you going to find Ryne in Tohon’s vast complex?” Kerrick asked.

He had me there. I mulled it over as Sepp smirked. What was his problem?

I ignored the magician, focusing on Kerrick. “Tohon’s expecting me. He threatened to send his dead to fetch me if I didn’t go to him.” Holding up a hand, I stopped Kerrick’s retort. “Too many for you and the guys to counter. What he won’t be expecting is a man he believes is dead.”

“No,” Kerrick said.

“Insane,” Sepp said.

“Think about it. Tohon’s been wanting a healer for a reason. If it’s just me there, then he has no one to use against me. Sepp can hide nearby, and when I’ve gained Tohon’s trust and learned where Ryne is, then I’ll figure out a way to make it work.”