“I’ll take a strong dose of sleep powder. That should prevent him from invading my mind.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.”

“All right. We’ll leave in the morning,” he said.

Saul and Flea left to start their sweeps. The monkeys and Belen settled near the fire.

“So it’s our last night together in a while and you brought the boys,” Kerrick said.

“There’s safety in numbers.”

“Uh-huh.” He waited.

She huffed. “They refused to stay in HQ.”

Figures. He pouted.

“This just means we’ll take an extralong honeymoon.”

“Are you asking or telling?” he asked.

“Telling. You’re better at following orders.”

He couldn’t argue with that. Happy she didn’t preface her answer with an “if we’re alive,” Kerrick kissed her. And with that kiss, he promised to do everything within his power to ensure they had that honeymoon.

Chapter Twenty-Two

CHAPTER 22

“Are you sure Sergeant Hogan isn’t here?” I asked a private with bright red hair.

“Yes, sir. He accompanied the battalion that went northeast. Prince Ryne only left a few squads behind.”

Shoot. “Any reports from the battalion?”

“They reported that the enemy hadn’t crossed the pass before the winter snows closed it.”

Good news. “Are they coming back then?”

The private’s young face creased with confusion. “No, sir. Prince Ryne ordered them to remain there to ambush the enemy when the pass opens.”

“Why?”

“Sir?”

I’d exceeded the girl’s knowledge base. “Never mind. Is there anyone else here who knows how to navigate the mine shafts?”

“Private Beau has been helping Sergeant Hogan.”

“Can you find him, please?”

“Yes, sir.” The girl saluted and bolted.

I mulled over the information I’d gleaned so far. It would be two months before the pass opened. Why keep the battalion there when the enemy still occupied Vyg? Unless Ryne believed Tohon had sent all his forces to the south and north. It didn’t sound like Ryne would be that...gullible.

My head ached. I rested it on the table, glad the mining machinery all around me remained silent. The maps Ryne had left hadn’t helped me discern the enemy’s western positions. Which made Kerrick’s mission all the more vital. He’d been gone for two days and I missed him so much.

“Are you all right?” Belen asked.

I sat up. “I’m fine.”

He set a large box on the table. “I found the maps of the mines.”

“Great.”

Belen set the lid aside. “Don’t get too excited.” He pulled one from the box and unfolded it. “They’re written in code.”

“Code?”

“Yeah, you need a key to figure them out.”

I spread the map out. It appeared to be normal except strange symbols had been written along the lines at intersections, starting points, and ending points.

“Do you think these are marked on the mine shafts?” I asked. “I remember seeing numbers and words on the walls.”