She squeezes my hand, her fingers like ice. It’s only through our connection that I can even tell she’s afraid. Her expression is unreadable as she tilts her head back to survey the woods before us.

The trees are much taller than I expected, many nearly the height of Kendara’s tower. The forest must have been old even before the souls took root here. A dusty, unmarked path leads into the trees, one I don’t notice until we’re standing on it. The path begins as a few cobblestones set into the dirt but quickly disappears into the gloom. There are no leaves, nor anything green at all. The branches twine and crowd into such a thicket that very little sunlight reaches the ground.

I draw a deep breath, rallying my courage. Then I release Saengo’s hand and climb down from the saddle. Yandor grunts unhappily. He turns his head and nudges my arm until I wrap it around his neck.

“It’ll be okay, my friend.” I close my eyes and rest my forehead against his warm scales. “We’ll see each other again.” When I lean back, his tongue flicks out, licking my cheek.

Prince Meilek pulls up beside me, his mouth set into a frown. “Are you ready?”

“Yes,” I say before I can give the question much thought. Saengo murmurs her agreement, chin held high—ever the reiwyn lady, even now. “What will happen to us after we’ve spoken to Ronin?”

He looks troubled as he says, “I’m afraid I don’t know. It depends on Ronin.”

One of Ronin’s soldiers withdraws a white cloak that seems to absorb the sunlight from a leather bag. He hands it to me. “Spidersilk. Sturdy and difficult to penetrate. It carries an echo of Ronin’s power. It will help to deter the trees.”

My fingers brush over the fabric, slick and light as air, the softest I’ve ever touched. I drape the cloak around my shoulders. It’s like wearing clouds. I fasten the cloak at my throat and say, “Spidersilk is quite rare. Has he an army of Spinners at his command?”

Predictably, the soldier doesn’t reply. He turns to Saengo to present her with her own cloak.

“You’ve traveled the path before?” Saengo asks him. “I didn’t know there were any paths left.”

“This is all that remains of the watchtower that once guarded Evewyn’s eastern border. The Dead Wood claimed it some time ago. We’ve traveled the path before but not often.”

If even Ronin’s own soldiers are wary about traveling the woods alone, then that certainly doesn’t bode well for us. Still, there’s nothing to do but trust in his protection. I somehow doubt he extends such protection to just anyone.