Anxious to reach HQ, Kerrick kept their stops to a bare minimum. Flea dozed in the saddle, leaning forward on him. The boy could sleep all he wanted once they arrived. But calling him a boy wasn’t quite right. Flea might be young, but he’d matured since accepting his magic. While glad Flea no longer refused to use his power, Kerrick lamented the boy’s loss of innocence.

Expecting to be a day ahead of the others, Kerrick stopped Hux in surprise when he spotted Coffee and Tea outside Victibus. Not able to enter any of the buildings without expending lots of energy, Kerrick sent Flea to find the others. While he waited, he unsaddled the horses and groomed them.

Not long after, Flea returned with Avry. She dashed toward Kerrick while Flea retreated inside. He waited for her, growing alarmed as she neared. Dark circles hung under her eyes and most of her auburn hair had escaped her normally neat braid.

Avry slammed into him, wrapping her arms tight around him.

“Easy.” He hugged her. “What’s wrong?”

“The dreams... I don’t want more dreams.” She shook. “I haven’t slept...in days.”

“Hey, it’s okay. I’m here now. I’ll block them.”

“I...couldn’t... He knows about Wynn and Sepp and the Skeleton King. I didn’t want him to learn anything else.”

Avry dropped her arms, but Kerrick wouldn’t let her go. “It’s okay.”

“I found out Tohon saved Zila’s life and wants to adopt her.”

One small but tight knot in his chest eased. “Great news about Zila, but there is no way I’ll let him keep her. We’ll rescue her once we figure out another way to locate him.”

She pulled back slightly. “He’s at the Healer’s Guild.”

“Are you sure?”

“He could have lied, but deep down I don’t believe he did.”

His skin prickled and he scanned the woods, searching for hidden soldiers. “The guild is only three days away. How long ago did you dream his location?”

“Two days. Why?”

“He could be on the way here.”

“He said he’d wait for me there.”

Smug little snot. “Flea and I can go scout the Healer’s Guild, see if anyone is there.”

“And run right into a dead ambush? I don’t think so.”

“But Flea’s a death magician. He can sense the dead.”

Avry rubbed her face. “I forgot about that. But his power isn’t exactly the same at Sepp’s.”

“Then test it. Is Yuri still here?”

“I don’t know.”

“Find out. Did Ryne leave soldiers behind?”

“Yes.” Still she hesitated. “But you’re weak, Kerrick.”

“It’s a reconnaissance mission. We won’t engage the enemy. We’ll just take a look around, but we’ll have to leave the horses so we’ll be gone six days max.”