“That’ll be me soon. Won’t it?” he asked.

I wanted to lie to him. “Yes.”

“Ah, hell.” He sank back down and hooked his arm over his eyes.

I stood there unable to speak. There were no words of comfort to offer. My healing powers were useless. Nothing would stop the inevitable. Instead, I held Phelix’s hand until he fell asleep.

After I cared for the others, I searched for Ryne. It appeared as if he hadn’t moved from the corner. Noak sat with him and I hesitated, unwilling to interrupt them. Scared of the ice giant? Who, me?

Ryne noticed me and gestured for me to join them.

“What’s up?” he asked.

I glanced at Noak. No icy chill raced over my skin. A first. Was it a good sign or bad? Ryne misinterpreted my silence and asked Noak to give us a few minutes.

Noak nodded and headed toward the main fire. Danny sat with the monkeys and a number of other soldiers. They held bowls of stew, and Quain demonstrated an attack move with his spoon. Laughter echoed until Noak arrived. Then quiet descended in a heartbeat.

“No one is quite sure what to make of him,” Ryne said.

“The logical part of our minds knows he’s here to help us, but, let’s face it, he’s the monster under the bed.”

Ryne laughed. “That he is!”

I stared at Noak’s broad back. If he was the monster under the bed, who was Cellina? The ghoul in the closet? The jack-in-the-box?

“What’s wrong?” Ryne asked.

“Do you know what Cellina’s planning?”

“No.”

“How about theories? Is there something you’re not telling me?”

Ryne tapped his finger on the table. “What brought this up? Another dream?”

It irked me that he’d guessed right. “That and experience, Ryne. You’ve a tendency to keep information from me and disappear. I’d just like a little warning this time.”

“I’ve a theory about Cellina’s plan and I think she’s sending her troops farther north to loop in behind us. I’m going to send half my troops to intercept her. You should be safe here.”

“Should?”

“We’re at war. My theories are just that—theories. I can only control the actions of my army.”

“She’s not going to catch you by surprise?”

“I hope not. That’s why you saved me. Right?” He grinned.

“So you could save us.”

“That’s the plan.”

“And you’re not going to use me as bait?”

“Avry, I won’t knowingly use you as bait. I promise.”

“Knowingly?”