“When he woke, I’d expected him to not remember a thing,” Mom said. “A blow like that should have scrambled his brain. But that thick skull of his saved him. Once he found out how long he’d been asleep, he’d wanted to charge right off.” She smoothed her apron with a quick flick of her hands as if still affronted by Belen’s lack of good judgment. “Of course, his leg muscles couldn’t hold his weight and he’d had nothing to eat but broth and bits of soggy bread for months. Took my bartender and two of my regulars to get him back into bed.”

“I’d bet Belen fussed about that,” Flea said, grinning.

“Oh, yes. Mr. Belen wasn’t the best patient. He kept insisting he needed to get back, but between the dizziness, headaches, and weakness, I wouldn’t let him go. And he listened to me until that horrible Skeleton King invaded Jaxton.”

“Was he better by then?” Kerrick asked.

“Much. But I’d hoped he’d be back to full strength before he left.” Mom fisted her apron. “I’m worried he’ll run into trouble.”

Kerrick rushed to assure her. “Belen can be impulsive, but he’s smart and a good scout.” As long as he kept his distance from the Skeleton King, he should be fine...unless he ran into one of Cellina’s patrols, or priests from Estrid’s army. “What happened to the priests that were staying here?”

“Ran off as soon as they heard about the High Priestess’s surrender to King Tohon.”

“Where did they go?” Flea asked.

“Don’t know. Don’t care. I was just happy to see the backs of their robes.”

“Have you heard anything about Cellina’s army?” Kerrick asked.

“Who?”

Interesting. The news about Tohon’s status hadn’t reached her. Perhaps Cellina was keeping it quiet. Kerrick filled Mom in on the news.

“Goodness, such a to-do. Poor Prince Ryne is stuck in the middle and surrounded by enemies.”

Her comment sounded a warning inside his head. “Why do you say that?”

“Because the High Priestess is to the east, and this Cellina is to the west, and the nasty Skeleton King is south.”

“More like southwest,” Flea said.

“South,” Mom insisted. “He’s taken the city of Dina in Tobory Realm, too.”

Shocked, he stared at Mom. Ryne’s information was dangerously out of date. No wonder he’d been so anxious to have Kerrick scouting for him.

Kerrick stood. “Flea, take Mom and Huxley and return to Grzebien. I’ll—”

They both protested.

“I’m going with you,” Flea said.

“No need to babysit me,” Mom said. “I can take care of myself. Have been for days. You boys go and find Mr. Belen, then we’ll all travel together.”

Kerrick calculated. Jaxton was three days away on horseback, which would add six days at the minimum to this trip. “Avry—”