He flinched and glanced away. After a few silent moments, he said, “I can’t believe Tohon’s still experimenting with the Death Lily toxin. Even when he knows the danger.”

“Besides the obvious, what danger?”

“He could start another plague.”

Not the answer I’d been expecting. “Did he start the first one?”

“Not directly. He was helping the healers develop an antidote to the toxin. What they thought was an antidote turned into the plague.”

“How do you know?”

“I stole their notes after my sister died.”

“And you added to it,” I said.

“I was furious. The Guild had been doing research without taking the proper precautions. They were playing with dangerous substances. I always worried something like that would happen.”

He confirmed my suspicions about the Guild. “You should be happy that the Guild is gone, then.”

“I’m… It’s not like that. I wanted the handful of researchers in the Guild to be held accountable, not executed. I didn’t know the people would kill healers.” He rested his head in his hands. “I regret my actions. How could you even consider healing me when you knew about my involvement?” Ryne gazed at me as if in awe. “Can you even forgive me?”

“I already have.” Saying the words confirmed my decision in my heart and soul.

“How could you?”

“Two reasons. Kerrick and Belen. I trust them. It’s that simple.” I smiled, remembering Flea had said the exact same thing to me long ago.

“You said Belen is safe with Estrid. But Tohon said Kerrick will be here soon. Has he been captured, as well?”

I explained. “Tohon’s pretty confident Kerrick’ll try to free us.”

“Tohon’s confidence is one of his weaknesses. Although in this case, I’m with Tohon. I hope Kerrick finds a way to outsmart him.”

“Kerrick suspected Sepp wasn’t trustworthy.” I told him about the note. “If he’d known Sepp would double-cross us, he’d never let him come…unless he planned for Sepp to show his hand. But did Kerrick guess Tohon would wake you?”

“Tohon hasn’t changed since school. He likes to gloat. He likes to flaunt it when he has the upper hand—more weaknesses. I’m positive he meant to wake me at some point.”

“But now we have…seven days at most.” Until he died. “How do you feel?” I asked.

“Rotten. Everything aches and I’m sweating.” He lay down.

Stage-two symptoms. “At least you’re not throwing up.”

“Small mercies,” he muttered. “I’m not going to waste my time moping. Right now there’s not much we can do—unless you have a set of lock picks on you?”

He seemed so hopeful, I hated to disappoint him.

Ryne glanced at the guards and lowered his voice. “Aside from the guards doing something stupid, we’re stuck for now. Best thing I can do is learn everything I can about what Tohon is planning. Avry, can you tell me about his dead soldiers?”

I told him what I remembered. Thankfully, I hadn’t seen them since being in Tohon’s castle.

“You believe Tohon is putting them into a stasis right after they die. But he’s injecting them with a medicine or chemical to animate them. Right?” Ryne asked.

“Yes.”

“If we can figure out what substance he’s using, we can stop him from making more. Any ideas?”

I thought of my journal back in my office in the infirmary. It was possible, although unlikely, I had jotted down some useful information. “The Guild had lists of hundreds of different medicines from plants alone. My mentor knew all of them, but I only remember a few.”

“You’ve been with Tohon long enough to learn about his experiments. Has he mentioned anything else?”

“No. All he talked about was the Death Lily…” A memory snagged. When Tohon had injected me with the toxin, my essence had detached from my body. I had no control, but Tohon walked me back to my room and laid me down on the bed. My body had obeyed him. What would happen if he injected the toxin into a body without a soul? Would it do the same?

“Avry?”

I told him about the toxin. “It almost seems too coincidental.”

“It makes sense. The body has already died so the toxin won’t kill it.”

“But the body’s been frozen in a stasis. Wouldn’t that freeze the toxin, as well?”

“Good point. Don’t give up. Keep thinking, Avry, you have a fine mind.”

“And look where it’s landed us.”

“This is temporary.”

I laughed. “I’m glad you can stay positive.” And I was beginning to like Ryne.

“Positive thoughts lead to positive results.”

“Did you learn that in school?” I asked.

“Yes. One thing the school excelled in was preparing us for the intricacies of politics and the harsh reality of intrigue and deception.”

“That school certainly had an impact on the students. Kerrick’s still grieving over Jael. Tohon still wants to be king of all the Realms.”

“It was life changing for all of us.”

In the morning, guards woke me from a light doze. Yanking me to my feet, they marched me to the infirmary. One removed my manacles and gloves while the other gave me strict instructions. I could work with the patients, but I must not leave the infirmary without them. They would guard the doors and would bring me back to my cell in the evening.