“I was about to sort him out once and for all when one of Grasp’s guards crept up behind me with a sword. After that, it was the dungeons. I escaped and then it all went wonky. Me girlfriend tried to cut me in half, and I got stuck in a cage of claws and nearly froze me bits off while a big birdie took me on a little trip over the mountains. And now I find you hangin’ out with a … a goddess! It’s been a holly of a ride!” He looked around the room with its fine furnishings. It might not be a prison, but he still wasn’t sure what this place was.

“I hope you will forgive your Rootshooter friend,” said Corwenna. “It was a necessary deception to bring you here.”

“She weren’t sellin’ me down the woodway, then?”

“No. What I asked of her was difficult. Your religion preaches forgiveness. I hope you might consider it in her case.”

Mucum’s despair slowly lifted like a dawn mist. “She still likes me, then?”

“I hope you’re only pretending to be stupid! Of course she does. Liking is the least of it. I have known and admired the Rootshooters since — well, we have no time for that now.”

Mucum couldn’t get over the living, breathing Ark. “Buddy ‘eck, I fort you was dead wood!”

“Takes more than an apprentice surgeon to finish me off!”

“Yeah. We’ll save ’im up for later.” It was a promise.

All this time they’d been gabbling and Ark hadn’t been able to ask about the most important person of all. “Shiv? You found her in the dungeons? Is she all right?”

“Sorry, mate, shoulda told yer first thing. We both escaped. Now that I know Flo ain’t a total traitor, I reckon yer little sis is in good hands.”

Ark felt hope spring up like sap. “Thank the trees!”

“And she’s got a decent pair of lungs on ’er. You should’ve heard ’er scream to get the guard’s attention. It’s thanks to Shiv we got out in the first place.”

“That’s my girl!” Ark grinned. “But you think she’ll be all right?”

“Yup. Them Rootshooters gonna be all over her. She’ll be in hugs heaven!”

Corwenna backed toward the door. “You two catch up. There isn’t much time. You’ll be leaving tomorrow.”

“I only jes’ got ’ere!” Mucum groaned.

Ark smiled. If his friend was complaining, all was well. Then Corwenna’s words hit him. “Leaving? Where?”

“Have you forgotten your purpose? You cannot stay here forever. Preparations must be made. The battle is coming. Soon you will be ready.”

Ark felt the familiar knot of doubt tying up his stomach.

“Battle? What battle?” said Mucum. But his words floated on thin air and the room was suddenly empty. He shivered. “This Corwenna. It’s really her?”