Twelve relented. “Someone brought dream milk to the dungeons last night and they put this next to . . .” She broke off. With a sickening lurch, she realized she’d forgotten to bring dream milk. Her mouth felt suddenly dry.

“Who brought it?” Six asked as Twelve’s mind whirled. She would just have to make sure she didn’t fall asleep tonight. Doubt crawled through her though; she was so very tired.

“Must have been a student; they were too small to be a Hunter,” Five answered for her. “But it doesn’t make sense. No student would have something like this. We’re not allowed to keep anything from before, not even our names. This is clearly worth an absolute fortune. Why give it to her?”

“Hold it up,” Dog growled. He peered into its swirling depths and then stepped back and shook his head, half blinded. “Flawless,” he said simply. “It is priceless.”

“That’s ridiculous!” Twelve sputtered, outrage quelling her rising fear and uncertainty.

“Flawless moonstones are incredibly rare,” Six said, his eyes still fixed on the stone in her hand. “Maybe one mined every century, if that.”

“I have only ever seen one,” Dog nodded. “During the Dark War.”

Five’s and Six’s jaws dropped and Twelve blinked in amazement. That would make him hundreds of years old, perhaps more.

Dog kept on talking, oblivious. “I have heard stories though. Moonstones like that may do more than provide light.”

“More?” Five asked. He looked as baffled as Twelve felt.

“A regular moonstone provides light,” Six said, frowning, “but a flawless one can pierce illusions, show the truth.”

Five wrinkled his nose, but Dog nodded again, looking thoughtful. “That could be useful.” He glanced at Twelve. “Maybe there is more to you than I thought.”

The compliment was so meager that Twelve almost laughed. Widge, on the other hand, preened.

Six’s face lit up. “It could be useful right now! With this light, we can follow their trail in the dark. We might catch them asleep. We could get Seven back tonight!”

Excitement fizzled through Twelve. He was right. “Then what are we waiting for?”

Six was already saddling Surefoot when Twelve turned to Dog. He looked utterly dismayed.

“Go back.” His tail wagged hopefully. “Please?”

Twelve shook her head slowly. “I can’t,” she said, “for the same reason you can’t. I have to find her.”

Dog made a sound that was half sigh, half groan, but finally he nodded and let her climb onto his back again.

Twelve’s heart soared twice: once for Dog’s acceptance and once for the jealousy on Five’s face when she jumped onto the Guardian’s broad back.

Then they were off.

Chapter

Twelve

Dog and Twelve raced ahead, the moonstone held high to reveal the trail. Her heart pounded as the group sped onward, excitement and disbelief mingling with disgust that Five and Six were now with her.