Gylon’s squad no longer lay in their cots. They sat together, talking animatedly. As soon as they noticed me, they insisted I allow them to fight.

“No. You are to stay here,” I said.

“Why not?” Gylon asked. “We feel great.”

“You might still be contagious, and I don’t want you getting our soldiers sick.”

“Oh.”

A scuffle sounded from the main cavern. “However, if the enemy attacks you here.” I pointed down. “Feel free to defend yourselves.”

“Yes, sir!” Gylon and his squad rushed to arm themselves.

I hurried out, arriving in time to see the two guards at the entrance drop their swords and backpedal into the cave.

Oh, no. I palmed one of my knives, but wilted when Odd, Loren, and Quain arrived with their hands on their heads. Bloody, bruised, and pissed off, they led a stream of soldiers who fanned out as soon as they entered, with their swords at the ready. Cellina’s? Or the Skeleton King’s?

Once my friends reached the center, they turned. Holding my breath, I waited. It was the enemy’s move. Sure enough, a soldier strode into the cave as if she owned the place.

She put her hands on her hips and surveyed the area with a cocky smirk on her face. The smirk spread when the traitor met my gaze.

“No hello for your old friend?” she asked me. “Don’t be rude, Baby Face.”

“Go to hell, Wynn.”

Kerrick

KERRICK

Strong fingers cut off Kerrick’s air, rendering him unable to speak. He tapped on the arms holding him in the air. Come on, you big oaf! Remember the signals!

“Belen,” Flea said in a loud whisper. “Stop, you’re choking Kerrick.”

“Flea?” Belen rasped, confused. His grip relaxed a bit, then he tightened it again. “Hell. You almost fooled me, you filthy cannibal. Now back away or your man dies.”

“It’s me. Flea. A Peace Lily and Avry saved me. And if you kill Kerrick, Avry’s gonna kill me and then you even if you are Poppa Bear.”

Belen tossed him aside. Kerrick landed hard and remained on the ground, gasping for breath as Belen scrambled from the pit.

“Flea! You’re alive,” Belen cried.

Kerrick didn’t need to see them to know Belen had Flea wrapped in one of his famous bear hugs. Having felt the same thing about the boy, he understood Belen’s reaction.

“Not if you keep making so much noise,” Flea said in a muffled voice.

Lumbering to his feet, Kerrick rubbed his throat. “Hey,” he croaked.

A big shadow loomed over the opening. “Sorry, Kerrick.” Belen reached down.

Kerrick clasped his friend’s hand and Belen pulled him up with ease.

Then Belen wrapped an arm around his shoulders. “Thanks.”

“What’s taking so long?” The Skeleton King appeared at the entrance, then stopped as he noticed the prone forms.

“It’s an escape,” Belen said, tackling the king.