“And with your tree mojo, we can slip in, grab Avry, and sneak out with no one the wiser.” Quain dipped his hand as if sliding it under a door.

Loren grinned, looking years younger. “We need to rescue our healer. Just like old times.”

An enthusiastic chorus of agreement sounded. Kerrick knew it would be a waste of energy to argue. Nor was it the time to tell them his suspicions about his waning tree mojo. Every day it grew harder to access his connection to the living green.

“All right, get a good night’s sleep, gentlemen, we leave at dawn.”

The monkeys pulled Belen with them inside the cave. Flea helped remove Mom’s bundles from Hux’s saddle. He carried them into the infirmary.

Mom patted Kerrick on the arm. “Be careful, dearie. That King Tohon’s a nasty man.”

“Hopefully, we’ll free her before we encounter Tohon.”

“If you do see him, take that big old sword of yours and chop his head right off!” Mom grabbed her bag of teapots and headed for the cave.

Odd watched her go with his mouth open. “Did she just...?”

“Yes. You don’t mess with Mom.”

“Anything else I should know?”

“Let her take over the cooking. You won’t regret it.”

Just then a high-pitched squeal sliced through the night. Melina tore from the cave and tackled her mother. They went down with a clatter of teapots and Kerrick hoped for Mom’s sake the pots survived the fall. Sounds of the happy reunion reached Kerrick and he drank them in, wishing Avry was here to see this.

Melina and her mother clambered to their feet and, with tears streaking their faces and their arms around each other’s shoulders, they went inside.

Kerrick committed the scene to memory so he could recount it in detail to Avry when he rescued her.

“What about if Prince Ryne arrives with reinforcements and wants to go after Wynn?” Odd asked.

“Good question. Give me a minute.” Kerrick crouched down and laid his hand on the ground, seeking irritants to the north and east. Nothing. He sought signs of soldiers to the west. Still nothing. But his range remained limited to a couple miles.

He straightened. “When did you send the message?”

“We sent one right after Gylon’s squad arrived. That was...six days ago. And the second was dispatched four days ago immediately after the attack.”

“On horseback?”

“Of course. Why?”

Kerrick calculated. Ryne should have gotten both messages by now. And according to Odd, except for Melina, the lady warriors had left with Ryne, but they were on foot, so they wouldn’t have gone too far and could have been diverted back to the infirmary. Or at least be within Kerrick’s circle of perception. Or would they? His circle shrank every day.

“Odd, you’re on your own for now. There’s no backup within two miles. Unless they’re farther away.”