Jileen stood up allowing Padric to roll away. He retrieved the sword out of the pile and did not sheathe it as Jileen uncovered the husk and helped him to his feet. Slouch Hat was shaped like a man, albeit a gangly one. He was barely taller than Padric, but there was something queer about the way he moved, an unnatural smoothness that sent hackles up the spine. His tunic and breeches must have once been finely made, but were now soiled and torn. Padric watched as he methodically picked every last piece of debris out of Jileen’s shawl before handing it back to her.

“How did you get here?” she asked as she wrapped herself back up.

“I snuck in,” the husk replied, the folds of his sack face moving disturbingly as he spoke.

“But the Sure Finder?” Jileen’s hushed voice was worried, almost desperate. “Slouch, what if…how were you able-”

“Not with ease,” the husk cut her off gently. “Madigan has had his beasts on my heels since I left. I barely managed to stay ahead of them. They harried me through the forests and back again and then…several days ago, they just stopped.”

“He has not returned to the fort,” Jileen said.

“Then the Winetongue has him hunting other prey.”

“Goblins,” Padric put in.

Slouch Hat’s laugh tore almost noiselessly at the air. “He knows well where they are.”

“Speak plainly!” The night’s events had killed any patience Padric possessed.

The husk fixed him with the holes in his face. “Kederic commands the Red Caps.”

It was Padric’s turn to laugh. “Madness! The man distrusts the Fae. Why would he ever conspire with goblins?”

“To rule them,” Slouch Hat said. “To become a Goblin King.”

Padric struggled to keep his voice down. “I’ll not listen to slanderous words from a thing that murdered its own master.”

“He didn’t,” Jileen said. “Padric, Slouch Hat did not kill Brogan.”

“How do you know?”

“He was on an errand for me when the body was found.” She suddenly seemed to remember something and looked to the husk. “Did you find them?”

“No,” Slouch Hat replied. “It was as we feared. They were gone.”

“Gone?” Padric was confused. Angry and confused. “What was gone? What errand? Jileen!”

“There is no time to explain this to some warrior whelp,” the husk snapped. “Jileen, we must end this now, before it is too late.”

Jileen hesitated before speaking. “What do you propose?”

“I will kill Kederic.”

Padric brought his sword up so rapidly Jileen jumped. Slouch Hat remained perfectly still. “I will not allow that.”