A few hours later, Kerrick led the team to the location he’d zeroed in on earlier. Shuffling his feet, he crunched a few dried leaves and snapped a twig. Belen shot him an annoyed look.

However, Belen was the least of his troubles. Soldiers jumped from hiding places and swung down from the trees. It happened so fast that the ambushers’ swords pointed at his team’s exposed necks before they could react.

Kerrick held his hands up, showing he was unarmed. “I know this is a cliché, but take us to your leader.”

They traveled until the early afternoon when they reached a small valley. There more soldiers joined them.

“Kerrick, are you going to explain what the he—” Belen gaped at the tall muscular man who strode toward them.

Kerrick stifled a laugh at Belen’s expression. Poppa Bear had probably never met his match in size and strength.

“Magic Man, this is unexpected,” Noak said. He waved off the warriors. “Did Prince Ryne send you?”

“Sort of.”

Noak waited.

“He arranged for this to happen, goading Avry into not trusting him and doing what she thought was the opposite of what he wanted,” Kerrick explained. “How soon can you be ready to fight?”

“We go now.”

“Not necessary. We plan to attack at dusk.”

Noak gestured to his warriors, giving them the information. “We will be ready.”

“There are soldiers with metal collars. They—”

“Unnatural abominations. We cut off their heads.” Noak sliced the edge of his hand across his throat.

“But the collars are—”

The tribesman yanked his dadao from his sash. Brandishing the weapon, he said, “One chop. Gone.” He pointed to the dadao hanging from Kerrick’s belt. “Yours, too.”

Sweet.

Kerrick introduced Noak to the others. Serious and formal, Noak shook all their hands. When it was Flea’s turn, he gazed at the big man in awe. “Was the ambush at Milligreen Pass just a ruse?”

“Yes. That army is not a threat until snow melts.” Noak kept Flea’s hand. “You Magic Man, as well. You touched by autumn.”

“We call it death magic,” Flea said.

“A part of life. Same thing.” He released Flea’s hand.

Flea rubbed his fingers, looking thoughtful. Kerrick ordered his team to rest while he discussed strategy with Noak.

But Noak wouldn’t talk tactics. Instead, he held out his hand. “Something is not right.”

“I’m fine.”

“Magic Man losing his magic.”

That alarmed him. Kerrick allowed Noak to take his hand. A cold shiver raced down his back.

“Healer bond within you is thin, breakable,” Noak said. “Your bond with winter is stronger.”

“Tell me something I don’t know.”

“You must break the healer’s other bond, no one else. Otherwise she will die with him.”

Chapter Twenty-Three

CHAPTER 23

“Thirty dead soldiers?” I asked the monkeys. “Are you sure?”

“Yep,” Quain said.

“They had the collars, that dead gaze and stood as still as...well...death,” Loren added.