“All right. Go pack and be back here in one hour.”

Flea jumped to his feet. “Yes, sir.” He dashed toward the infirmary.

Bracing for Avry’s anger, Kerrick waited. The silence extended and he worried he’d upset her.

Instead, she relaxed against him, snuggling in closer. “At first I thought it was a horrible and reckless idea to take Flea, but—and I can’t believe I’m saying this—he needs this. It’ll be good for him. And you’ll protect him.”

She had such confidence in him, but Kerrick remembered failing Flea. He’d died under Kerrick’s care before. Only dumb luck had saved him. A Peace Lily and not a Death Lily had accepted Flea’s body, preserving it until Avry returned to awaken him.

“It wasn’t your fault,” Avry said, reading his mind. “Jael—”

“Was after me.”

“No, she was after us. All of us. She didn’t want Ryne healed and knew it would take all of us together to rescue him.” Avry pulled away and gazed up at him. “I think Flea will be good for you, too. I won’t have to worry about you as much.”

Interesting. “Why not?”

“You’ll be extracareful. And he’ll keep you from doing something dangerous or stupid.”

He widened his eyes in mock horror. “Me? Do something dangerous? No way.”

She laughed. The sound flowed through him like a warm brandy, igniting a fire in his heart.

“I noticed you didn’t protest the stupid part,” she teased.

“Ah, my love, I’m guilty on that one.”

“Well, I can’t think of any examples right now.”

He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her toward him. “I have one example of my stupidity.”

“Do tell.”

“I should have told Flea to come back in two hours.”

* * *

Huxley arrived at the same time as Flea. Kerrick marveled over the horse’s ability to sense when Kerrick needed him. After giving Avry another kiss goodbye, he slung his pack over his shoulder and mounted Hux. Flea hopped up behind him.

He spurred Hux into a gallop, heading southwest toward Mengels. Just as he’d predicted, it took them three days to reach the outskirts of town. They hadn’t encountered any of Cellina’s patrols, but he sensed a few squads for the Skeleton King’s army. They also didn’t see any citizens once they crossed the border and entered Sectven Realm. Not a good sign.

And his connection with the living green tugged at him, pulling him down even though he remained in the forest. He had noticed it before when it had dug its roots into him to save his life. He’d hoped it would dissipate after he rested. But it seemed more pronounced. Was it just another quirk of his bond with the living green, or something more dire?