“We don’t know that,” I say slowly. “All Nuri told us is that The Others are in the forest and that their main goal is to capture Idalia. She never said they won’t try to hurt us if we don’t have her.”

“What do they want with her?” Torrent asks.

“I don’t know. Nuri can’t see the answer because of the Darkness. All she said is that she’s seen many outcomes and most end with Idalia in The Wood. That’s it.”

“That’s not all she said,” Lin catches my eye, and he jerks his chin toward me. “Tell them.” I rake my fingers down my face.

“There was also something about me. The last she saw of me was in The Wood, too.”

“So, the last the prophet saw of you both was in this Wood?” Lorna grinds out. “And now you want us to leave you in them, alone with her? Are you truly this much of an imbecile!?”

“Tell them the rest,” Lin says, his expression bleak.

“She also said…” My chest tightens, and I struggle to finish. In the distance, music begins. A lovely clanging of metal bells erupts; someone must’ve touched the trees. I twist the cup in my hand. “Nuri also said that this is the only way, the way it must be.”

“The way what must be?” Idalia’s question seems to spring through the air.

Lin jumps, and I whip my head to see her standing on the path. The sleeves of her tunic are pulled down, and her hair is half pinned back. She looks stunning. She looks dangerous. I eye the others, signaling them to say nothing of our conversation.

“Where were you?” I ask and walk towards her.

She shrugs. “Busy.”

“Busy with the Minea again?” I chuckle. “Did she give you more wine?”

“I was given tea the first time, not wine. Not that it’s any of your business.”

“You know, you’re pretty fast for someone so small,” Torrent says with a wide grin as he joins us.

Idalia coughs out a laugh. “I’m full of surprises, as you should know by now.”

“Aye, I do know,” Torrent cheekily agrees.

I hear a scoffing laugh and turn to see Lorna scowl and Lin grimace. Without a word, they walk away. Lin looks back once with a somber stare.

“How have I angered her this time?” Idalia blows loose hair from her cheek and almost skips to the table. She isn’t scowling or even frowning. A promising sign, I hope.

“Lorna just takes time,” I say and decide to press on. “Which now that we’re here in Idizina, we have plenty of.”

Torr throws me a glance before he sits down hard next to Idalia, causing the bench to quake.

“Oh, so you plan to stay awhile?” She picks up her cup and frowns when she sees it’s empty.