Odd glanced at me then turned to Drisana. “Captain, did Prince Ryne say who is going to lead our part of the mission?”

She gave him a tight smile. “If you have to ask, then it’s not you, Sergeant.”

Quain stifled a snicker.

“My instructions from the prince indicated Healer Avry would take point. You’re familiar with the house. Correct?” she asked me.

“Yes. Has anyone confirmed that Estrid and her staff are still in the ballroom?”

“Our latest intel suggests they remain inside the house. As for their exact location... That’s harder to determine.”

And that would be a no. “All right, where’s the other squad? Do they know how to go silent?”

“I believe Sergeant Saul’s men had the training.”

Odd and I grinned at each other.

“Where is he?” I asked.

“He said he’d meet you over by the rear entrance of the manor.”

Perfect. “Thanks. Good luck.”

“You, too.”

“Let’s go,” I said to my team.

We headed northeast, angling around to stay within the forest and to avoid being seen by anyone near or inside the house. As we drew closer, a few off notes sounded nearby. I stopped the team.

“Come out, Saul,” I called. “You’re good, but not that good.”

He stepped from behind a thick tree trunk. “I didn’t want to startle you.” Saul wore camouflaged fatigues. With his buzzed blond hair and blue eyes, he appeared to be Drisana’s slightly older brother.

“Yeah, right,” Odd teased.

Saul’s gaze swept my companions. “Nice to see so many familiar faces.”

“And we’re back in familiar territory,” I said.

“At least we’re not trapped by the dead,” Odd said.

“Yet,” Flea added, meeting my gaze for the first time in days.

Lovely. I needed to have a little chat with Flea before the mission. Focusing on the matter at hand, I asked Saul, “Where’s the rest of your squad?”

“A little farther north. I figured you’d remembered that back entrance.”

Hard to forget. I’d used it to escape Tohon. “Any activity?”

“Nope. Been quiet all day.”

I glanced at the darkening sky. “Let’s go over the plan and get into position before it’s full dark.”

“What’s there to plan?” Odd asked. “It’s a straightforward mission.”

“Uh-huh. And what happens when we reach the ballroom and no one is there?” I asked.

“We search the rest of the house.”

“All of us together? Or do we split up and search different areas?”

“Oh.”

“And what if we’re attacked? Do we stay and fight or retreat?”

“Gee, Avry, you sound more like a general than a healer,” Odd grumbled.

“I was a healer on the run for three years. I’ve learned the hard way to have plenty of backup plans.”

“All right, you made your point. What are the contingency plans?” Odd asked.