He rose to look for new clothes, but it was Thero who put a hand on his arm to stop him. His pale green-grey eyes were bleak as he said, “Either Mika is already dead, or she’s keeping him alive somehow. You rushing in there on your own and getting killed isn’t going to do anybody any good, since you’re the only one of us who can, as far as we know. And we’ve got to be ready to confront her. That will take some time.”

“Fine, did anyone bring my Radly out of the palace, and my quiver?”

“Yes. They’re in your tent,” said Micum.

“I’ll get them and Thero can put the magic on them or whatever it is you need to do.”

“You can’t go in alone,” said Seregil.

“You can’t go in at all!”

“Shut up, both of you!” Thero snapped. “Alec, the magic we’re going to need may not work there, like the dog charm and the lightstone. We need more information and an actual plan. We don’t even know how Mika got over to the other side—whether he was pulled or somehow got in by accident as you did.”

“I’ve been thinking about that,” said Seregil. “Mika’s soul was stolen out of his body for nearly a week back in Rhíminee. If you hadn’t called it back into his body, he’d have died then. Maybe he was dead in a way, before you saved him, even though his body was still alive. That would explain his ability to ‘walk with the dead.’ ”

“Fine,” said Alec, more frustrated by the minute. “So he and I died and can get past whatever the seal does to the other plane, but where does that get us?”

“Seregil is right about not going in alone,” said Thero. “If you get yourself killed then we may not be able to do anything for Mika. Please, be patient so we can figure things out. The first order of business is to ascertain whether or not Micum or I can cross the barrier.”

“Or me,” said Seregil, grimacing as he pushed back the blankets and tried to sit up.

“Not you,” said Thero. “That demon almost broke your spine and the drysian only just sewed you up.”

“What do you mean ‘broke his spine’?” asked Alec, going ashen.

“Almost, talí, only almost.” But Seregil grunted painfully as he sank back against the bloodstained pillow. “I’ll be fine—It’s just a few sore muscles. After I rest, and by that I mean a good night’s sleep, then tomorrow—”

“Sore muscles, eh? Don’t be a stubborn fool for once,” said Micum, tucking the blankets around him again. “We’ll have the drysian look at you again tomorrow, but I suspect you won’t be up and dancing anytime soon.”