The two of them rode off, leaving me and Volusian behind. I gave him orders to patrol the area and let me know immediately if he heard or saw something concerning. Of course, it was hard to imagine anything much more concerning than my present situation. Despite all the life and noise of the forest around us, there was an eerie silence at the lagoon. It just didn’t feel right to be sitting with five other people and have none of them make a sound. Those freaky, glassy-eyed stares also creeped me out.

Still, I had a job now. Volusian had said I needed to give them all a reason to come back. That sounded more like a job for my mom the therapist. I wasn’t a prickly person, not exactly, but I hardly had that easy bedside manner for exploring feelings and making others feel better. The guys had apparently had a chance to gather food before the dryads came, and I’d helped carry their haul when we transferred everything to the lagoon. Most of it was fruit, but the blight was still too fresh in mind for me to even think about eating any more dried meat. Finding a banana, I sat cross-legged and studied each guy in turn, trying to think what would appeal to him.

When I finished eating, I decided to start my therapy with Rurik. I sat down beside him, feeling a little foolish at first, but knew I just had to jump right into it.

“Rurik, I know those dryads didn’t really enthrall you. You’re too crazy about Shaya to let those tree strumpets have any effect. If Shaya was here, I bet she could’ve kicked all their asses. I mean, she controls plants ... so maybe her magic would’ve done something to them since they’re into trees. Or maybe she would’ve just walked up and punched them. That’s what I’d probably do. Wipe those smirks off their little nymph faces. You have to get better so you can go back to her, you know. I’m still not sure what you did to win her over, but it must have been a lot of work. You can’t let that all go to waste, and no matter how ‘frivolous’ she thinks it is, I still think you guys need a honeymoon. I’m going to order it once we’re all home and this blight is put to rest. I can do that because, you know, I’m queen. So, if she’s not reason enough to snap out of this, I don’t know what it is. I mean, I suppose I’d miss you too if you die here. You don’t always have the most respectful attitude, but you do get things done. I hate to admit it, but I’d have a hard time replacing you. I guess I’d have to appoint Davin in your place.”