“I told you!” a third chided his friend. “Billos and Silvie, that’s what I said.”

“You’re both wrong,” Gabil corrected. “Johnis and Silvie. The two lovebirds.”

A moment of awkwardness hushed the forest. Johnis felt his face flush, and he briefly wondered if Silvie was watching him, but he felt too bashful to look.

More of the Roush settled to the ground, some carrying those too small to fly, some pacing in excitement. The forest floor began to resemble a cotton field.

It all felt very magical and wonderful to him, but Johnis was stung by an eagerness to get to the Horde army before they retreated too far into the desert. Sweat ran down his cheeks although he’d ridden here, not run, and the morning was still cool.

“We can’t help you,” a familiar voice said on his right. There, perched on boulder, waited Michal, the very Roush who’d given them the task of finding all seven missing books before the Dark One did.

The same one who’d also given Johnis his mother’s silver ring.

“You gave me her ring!”

“I can help you!” one of the small Roush chirped.

“Take them to the trees,” Michal ordered. And without delay the young ones were scooped onto backs and whisked skyward.

“I love you, Johnis!” one cried in a high-pitched voice.

“I love you, Johnis,” another called down.

Silvie chuckled. “They’re so adorable! How many—”

“That’s not why we’re here!” Johnis snapped. He regretted the outburst immediately but didn’t bother apologizing. His mount shifted under him.

“I said we can’t help you,” Michal said. “You’re on your own this time.”

“That doesn’t make any sense. You have to at least tell me if she is alive.”

“Why?”

“So I can—”

“Rescue her?” Michal interrupted. The trees above had stilled to little more than the occasional squeals from chicks and the hushes from mothers trying to control them. “I gave you the ring so that you would know she’s alive. Having said that, assuming it was her, and I do believe it was, she is most definitely Horde.”

Johnis felt a surge of anger swell from his belly. “She’s my mother. Not just some Horde.”

“Easy, lad. Her mind is gone. Her skin and eyes are gray. She has no desire to return to the forests.”

“And she left the ring for you to find. Why?”

Michal looked away. “I can’t tell you everything. I sought the ring from her. If you win this war, then maybe one day you’ll find her.”

“Not one day,” Johnis said, suddenly furious at the Roush. “Now!”

“I can promise you one thing, Johnis,” Michal said very sternly. “If you think you can find her now, then you’d better be prepared for far worse than anything you’ve dreamed of. I wanted you to have hope; I didn’t expect you to lose your mind. Patience.”