Even camouflaged by Kerrick’s forest magic, Harper still remained a big noisy horse. While they traveled twice as fast as Kerrick could on foot, they attracted too much attention. A few patrols already tracked him and soon he’d be too close to Zabin to ride.

He stayed on horseback as long as he dared, releasing Harper late on the second day. Unfortunately, he still had to cover five miles and would miss the rendezvous time by hours. Kerrick hoped they planned to attack during the night or tomorrow morning as he headed south. As long as he caught up to Avry at some point, he’d be happy.

Dodging enemy patrols slowed his pace. And their numbers grew as he neared the city. He stopped for a rest and considered. Ryne had said Cellina pulled most of her forces to Vyg in order to lure him to Zabin and attack his flank. Did his scouts underestimate how many soldiers had remained?

With his new and improved senses, he felt whole companies moving through the forest. Way too many for Ryne’s small forces to handle. Somehow Cellina had managed to trick the scout. Or the scout was one of Cellina’s spies. He remained too far away to sense if any of Cellina’s troops waited south of Zabin.

Ryne’s comments repeated in his mind. You’re my best scout...I really need accurate information. If Kerrick hadn’t been sick, he would have sensed the extra soldiers and averted the major fiasco that was poised to happen.

Despite the danger, Kerrick increased his pace to a run. He had to warn the team in charge of creating the distraction. If he stopped them, then Avry and her team wouldn’t go into the manor house, where Kerrick was sure another ambush waited for them.

He arrived too late. The sounds of fighting reached him before he neared the camp outside Zabin. And through his connection to the living green, he discovered another trap was poised to spring a few yards inside the forest. A wall of soldiers lined up, creating a blockade, which would prevent Captain Drisana’s team from retreating to the north or east.

Kerrick concentrated on the string of soldiers and determined it hooked behind the manor house.

Not good. Avry’s exit was obstructed, as well. He dug his hands into the soil, strengthening his bond, seeking irritations to the south. Sure enough, another one of Cellina’s platoons lurked. Damn. The scout had to be a double agent. How could someone miss the mass of humanity occupying the woods around Zabin?

He pushed his awareness farther out. A group of ten intruders waited to the east. This group was well past the blockade and probably one of Ryne’s.

Kerrick considered. He needed to create an exit for the others. But how? Yanking his hands from the dirt, he jogged east.