They led me to a big, olive-colored tent near the southern edge of the camp. Guards ringed the outside of the structure. It appeared Horace was worried about an assassin cutting through the fabric. Smart. The two soldiers on either side of the entrance pulled the flaps back as we approached.

It took a moment for my eyes to adjust to the dim interior. A thick center post held up the roof. Cots lined up along the left side and a table and chairs occupied the right. A handful of men and women sat around the table with a few standing behind them.

One of my ladies pushed me farther inside.

The man at the head of the table rose and I stopped. He wore armor crafted from bones. A crown of rib bones adorned his head.

The Skeleton King.

Kerrick

KERRICK

The soldiers had been quick to cuff Kerrick’s wrists behind his back. They’d done the same to Flea, the monkeys, and Belen. Poppa Bear met Kerrick’s gaze, giving him a silent signal with his bushy eyebrows before being escorted away. Kerrick passed the information on to the others before they were all separated.

Belen’s eyebrows had warned them he planned to cause trouble tomorrow night. Kerrick hoped a day’s worth of rest would give him the energy to take advantage of the ruckus.

As his guards led him to a small tent, Kerrick focused on the effort needed to walk. Everything ached and fatigue dragged at his body as if he wore a blanket of chain mail around his shoulders. When they swept aside the flaps, Kerrick merely ducked inside and collapsed on the ground, not caring the men had taken positions blocking the entrance. He’d deal with them when the time came.

He slept all afternoon, rousing only for a meal, but even then he had to force the food down, hoping it would provide a bit of energy. It didn’t.

The living green called to him.

Time for quiet.

Time for rest.

Time to sleep.

Time to wait.

Kerrick fought the summons. He would not go...dormant. Gathering the remaining bits of his magic, he pushed against the living green’s command. And to think he’d complained about not being able to leave the forest. Compared to this, he’d gladly go back to those early fall days.

Memories of lying in the colorful leaves with Avry swirled. He concentrated on her. She needed him. Sepp and Wynn had been neutralized, but Tohon, Cellina, and the Skeleton King had to be stopped.

He doubled his efforts to wake up. Opening his eyes, Kerrick scanned the tent. Nothing had changed, except he’d depleted all his magic.

With nothing left, he could no longer resist the call and break free of the darkness. The living green welcomed him as he nestled in deeper. He’d wake...later.

Chapter Twenty

CHAPTER 20