She thought hard. “When I asked about . . . about Poa, about why.” Her voice shook and she bunched her hands into fists. “Morgren said that their master had required it. He said, ‘The more violence, the more chaos and destruction, the stronger he grows.’”

Dog whined quietly. Widge pressed himself against her cheek.

“Those were the exact words?” Hoarfrost asked, frowning.

Twelve nodded.

“A creature that feeds on chaos?” Six said. “I’ve never heard of such a thing.”

“That makes two of us,” Hoarfrost said slowly. “But, according to Victory an’ Morgren, it’s behind all this, an’ they would ruddy well know! It’s recruited allies, returned banned magic to the goblins, an’ managed to gather enough dark critters to attack the Hunting Lodge. Whatever it is, it’s strong.”

“And clever,” Dog growled. “If it feeds off destruction, then it is sustaining itself well.”

“You’re thinking of the attack on Twelve’s village?” Hoarfrost asked.

“Not just Poa,” Twelve reminded them, her stomach churning. “Morgren said there were others.”

Hoarfrost shook his head. “I can’t believe the lodge would not have heard of such a thing.”

“In the last few years, the rifts between the clans have grown wider than ever,” Five said. “Some places have cut themselves off altogether. The floating villages and desert caravans are always on the move anyway. If this thing targeted them, it could be some time before anyone misses them and raises the alarm.”

“But when the alarm is raised you can be sure the blame will fall on one of the other clans, not some mysterious, never-before-seen dark creature,” Twelve said grimly.

“And so the m-mayhem spreads,” Seven said quietly, her expression far away.

“But why?” Six asked. “What does it want?”

“Since when do dark critters want anything beyond their next meal?” Hoarfrost snorted.

“No,” Dog growled. “The boy is right. This thing is not like other creatures. It is clever and organized. It has already achieved a lot. It has a plan. A final goal.”

Silence fell and Twelve shivered. The others looked every bit as worried as her.

“How can we stop it?” Six asked eventually.

Hoarfrost nodded at him approvingly. “That’s the spirit.” He stood abruptly. “Slickering snaverslakes, sitting here ain’t gonna solve anything though!”

His restless energy was infectious and Twelve struggled to her feet, feeling like she’d been trampled by a herd of snagglefeet. Widge trilled his concern, but she shushed him and hobbled over to Dog. He nudged her gently with his nose.

“It is good to see you awake,” he said. “And alive.”

“Thanks, Dog,” she whispered, leaning on him as she ducked out of the tent, wondering what awaited her outside.