Pain pulsed to my extremities and back again. Noise and sensations faded to a buzz and I might have blacked out. Hard to tell when inside a pitch-dark tunnel.

“Can you see?” I asked Odd once I regained my senses.

“No.”

“Then how—”

“Hush, I’m counting steps.”

Oh. A rubbing sound accompanied a slight vibration along his left arm. His shoulder must be in contact with the wall. Smart.

After a while, I dozed in his arms. When he stopped to rest, I was jolted awake.

“Still with me?” he asked.

“Yes.” I drew half a gulp of air. “And I think I’m past the danger.”

Odd squeezed me to his chest. “Thank the creator.”

I yelped. “Still in lots of pain, though.”

“Oh, sorry.” He relaxed his arms.

“I can try to walk.”

“No.”

“Worried about those vines?” I teased.

“No,” Odd said in a flat tone.

I longed to see his expression. After a few more minutes, Odd lurched to his feet and continued. He navigated with confidence. Impressive, considering he hated tunnels.

Fresh air laced with the scent of living green roused me. Odd slowed, probably thinking the same thing as me. Where was Jael? And what did Kerrick do when the priests had exited the duct? I hoped he’d stayed hidden, avoiding them both. But he might have attacked them in order to protect the escaping women.

My pain forgotten, I worried about Kerrick. “Careful.”

Odd crept to the edge and peeked out, then grunted in either admiration or in disbelief. He stepped clear. The weak rays of dawn shone on the priests all trapped in vines. They struggled and shouted to no avail.

“Your boyfriend’s been busy,” Odd muttered. “Probably exhausted himself.”

Kerrick appeared beside us. Joy shone on his face. “I’ve plenty of energy left,” he said, despite the skin clinging to his gaunt and pale face. He held out his arms.

Odd hesitated before handing me over. Kerrick’s magic swept over me like a healing balm. He squeezed me tight as I snuggled against him, his scent a welcome break from the reek of sewage.

“Thank you,” Kerrick said to Odd in a strangely formal tone.

Odd nodded. “I’d better catch up with my squad. We might encounter trouble before we reach the border.”

“Watch out for Jael,” I said to Odd.

“She won’t bother you,” Kerrick said in his flat tone. “But troops are moving to intercept the women as we speak.”

“How soon?”

“Two days.”

They’d be only halfway to the border with Pomyt. Not good. Unless... “What if they go south to Tobory Realm? It’s shorter and unexpected.”

“Lots of Death Lilys down there,” Odd said.

We both stared at him.

“Will you be able to catch up by then?” Odd asked me.

Already feeling stronger, I glanced at Kerrick.

“We’ll meet you at the border.”

“See you there.” Odd turned to go.

“Odd, wait.” Kerrick set me down.