Two—the forest could transport them away from the entrance and then release them. But what would stop them from returning with more armed men and cutting a path? Nothing.

Three—scare them away. How? Every citizen of Ozero Realm was terrified of the priests and acolytes. Perhaps he could... No. If they’d been caught by priests they’d be arrested, not warned off. What about a rival gang? He huffed in amusement. A gang of two—him and Hux—real scary. And yet... Something snagged in his mind. A ghost of the forest. That wouldn’t quite work. But when combined with Quain’s weed boy...

A silly idea popped in his head. He almost dismissed it, but, upon deeper inspection, it might just work if he could pull it off with a straight face. If the monkeys ever found out, he’d never hear the end of it. Best to ensure they didn’t find out.

Kerrick mounted Huxley. The contact transformed the horse’s hide into the colors of the forest. Signaling Hux into a quiet walk, he headed back to the trapped smugglers. Before they reached them, Kerrick stopped Hux and invited the vines to spiral up Hux’s legs. The horse cocked his ear back and turned his head to peer at Kerrick with his left eye, questioning.

Kerrick patted him on the neck. “It’s okay,” he whispered.

The easygoing horse seemed satisfied and stood still while the vines wrapped around them both. Weed Boy, the ghost of the forest was ready to make a grand entrance.

Moving at a slow pace to accommodate the vines, Kerrick and Hux stepped into view. The smugglers’ bickering ceased the moment they noticed him.

With a booming voice, Kerrick asked, “Who dares enter my forest?”

They stared at him for a moment. He hoped they saw a giant leaf creature.

“Uh,” Jack said. “This isn’t your—”

“Silence!” Kerrick raised his arm.

The vines holding Jack gagged him, muffling his cries of distress.

“Anyone else care to correct me?” Kerrick asked.

The rest remained quiet.

“Good. You must leave my forest and never return. Or...” Kerrick urged the vines to tighten around the captives, making it hard for them to breathe. When he was certain they’d gotten the point, he eased the pressure. “Understand?”

They nodded. Even Jack.

“Good. Now be gone!” He swept his arm dramatically—the monkeys would be giggling by now.

The vines dragged the smugglers along the forest floor. Kerrick and Hux followed. When they reached the main path, Kerrick had the vines release the smugglers.

They staggered to their feet and, without a backward glance, bolted down the path. Kerrick wondered if they’d warn their cohorts away, or if he’d have to deal with more intruders before Avry and the others arrived. He resigned himself to the fact that weed boy might be needed again.