The men continued on to HQ. Unable to keep still, Kerrick walked in circles. He didn’t need to remain in that exact location because as soon as Ryne or Avry entered the forest he’d know in a heartbeat.

Hours later, or so it felt, Ryne arrived. Not in the direction Kerrick’d been expecting, but from the opposite way. His life force popped up from seemingly nowhere. Strange. The prince had at least a dozen bodyguards with him. Considering he thought Kerrick was dead, he guessed he shouldn’t be insulted by the soldiers.

One person was missing. Avry. Worry flared.

When Ryne approached, Kerrick drew power to appear normal and then made noise before stepping out from the bushes. Tense bodies and expressions relaxed.

Ryne grinned and rushed him, grabbing him in a tight hug before pushing him away. “You bastard, where have you been?”

“Long story.”

“And why couldn’t you come inside?”

“Even longer story. I’ll tell you all about it, but first, where’s Avry?”

“She’s at the new infirmary site down near Grzebien.”

Disappointment stabbed deep.

“She’s going to be ecstatic.”

“I need to catch up to her.”

“Not until you explain what you’ve been up to.”

Every fiber of Kerrick’s being wanted to bolt. To leave Ryne without an explanation. The desire to catch up with Avry pulsed with each heartbeat. And despite Ryne’s entourage of guards, it’d be so easy to disappear.

Chapter Seven

CHAPTER 7

My heart skipped a few dozen beats. Did Flea just... “The plague? Are you sure?”

“At first, I thought he had an upset stomach. He couldn’t keep anything down, but now he has flu-like symptoms—aches, pains, fever, and that unmistakable oily sweat with the sugary rotten smell.” Flea’s nose crinkled.

Classic stage-two symptoms. Oh, no. “Is anyone else showing signs of the plague?”

“No, but I moved him so he doesn’t get anyone else sick.”

A good idea. “Where is he?”

“In the back, I’ll show you.” Flea grabbed a lantern and led me deeper into the cave system. “I thought everyone who survived was immune to the plague.”

“They are, but not every single person in the Fifteen Realms has been exposed to the disease. Ryne managed to go a number of years before getting sick.” When Tohon had sent an assassin to infect him. Except Ryne’s sister had been among the first wave of people to die from the plague. They’d been in Pomyt on a diplomatic mission. Why would he survive only to sicken later? And why hadn’t I thought of this before?

“In here.” Flea held up the light.