It was an answer, of sorts, though Ark still felt queasy at the thought of it, the ease with which his dark deed was enacted.

“D’yer fink Petronio’s still alive?” Mucum piped in.

“I spoke to an acquaintance of mine, a certain mud-pirate who told me categorically that no bodies matching the description of the envoy or the Grasp boy were found at the base of the palace trees.”

Ark didn’t want to think about it anymore. For now, they were gone. He took the bag of clams and emptied it by the water’s edge to give them a good scrub.

Corwenna continued. “The events of the Harvest Festival were only a skirmish. Even if that foul boy passed over to the other side, there are many more hungry for profitable change. Maw won’t give up the prize so easily!”

She is right, thought Ark, suddenly tired despite the sun. They had merely stung the hide of a great beast. A brown, curled-up leaf slowly drifted down in front of him. He felt something stir deep within the roots of his soul. If he was of the trees, if their sap truly flowed through him, what was he capable of? The thought both excited and terrified him.

“If they come back again, whoi, Oi’ll be the first to greet them all with moi harpoon!” Flo said.

“And that is why I still hold hope for the Ravenwood and this whole raised-up dream of Arborium. With such words and courage, they will have a fight on their hands.”

“And I can scream them all away!” butted in Shiv.

“Sure you can, little one!” said Mucum.

“I heard that you wielded a certain sewage cannon with great skill, Mucum!” Corwenna laughed.

Mucum blushed. Having started off listening to his colleague gabbling about plots against the King, he’d come a long way. “I reckon we did oakay.”

“And to think I missed the sight of Rootshooters in flight!”

“It was smelting good, warghhh! Moi brothers and sisters forgin’ those leaves into shapes loike feathers that the wind found pleasin’!” Flo beamed at the thought of it and the frightened look on the faces of Flint’s men. Maybe the Rootshooters had been down in the deeps too long. A bit of fresh air was no bad thing.

“Your father gave his life so that all of us could be here today. We are free because of him.” Corwenna’s words were an arrow of kindness, hitting Flo in the weakest of places.

“Yow be too kind. It ain’t fair, though.” Sudden tears trickled down her cheeks.

“No,” said Corwenna, “it isn’t. But his deeds will live on in books and tales. Trust me on this.” She leaned forward to kiss Flo on her forehead.

Ark was surprised. Warden Goodwoody was normally the one for blessings.

“As for the rest of you, I hope the King has recognized your actions!”