Hunter rode smugly in front of her, warm back against her belly. Refusing to look at her, refusing to show the slightest concern.

“We’re far enough from the village; I’m going to let you talk,” Darsal said, stopping below a large nanka tree that hid the sky. “Nod your head if you swear not to give an alarm.”

The winged creature squared its round shoulders and sat still as if he hadn’t heard.

“You’re refusing to help me find Billos, the man whom I love?”

Hunter turned his green eyes up and peered into Darsal’s. He finally dipped his head.

“Yes, you’re refusing to help? Or yes, you’re agreeing not to sound an alarm?”

“Hmmm, humm . . .”

Darsal couldn’t understand, so she slipped the loop off his mouth.

“Fine. Thank you for allowing me to swallow my own spittle.”

A cloud of regret and sorrow suddenly settled over Darsal, and she had to lift her face to hide her stinging eyes.

“I won’t raise an alarm,” Hunter said. “But you know this is a mistake. No good can come of trying to find Teeleh.”

“You’re afraid of him?”

“I spit on his face. I detest the air he breathes; I vomit at his sight.” Hunter had gone from settled to heavy breathing in three phrases. If you hadn’t abandoned your search for the books, I could see your going after that beast, but there’s—”

“But I haven’t abandoned the search! To find Billos I need a book. That’s exactly what I’m doing: I’m going after a book.”

The revelation made the Roush blink its round, green eyes. “On your own?”

“Never mind the questions; it’s not your place to understand my logic. If anyone knows more about the books’ whereabouts, it’s the Shataiki, so—”

“What makes you say that?”

“If the Roush knew more about the books, Michal would’ve told us. According to Johnis, the Horde know nothing more. That leaves the Shataiki, who are obsessed with finding the books. If anyone knows more, it’s them.”

“You’d have to be both foolish and desperate to go after Teeleh. Besides, it’s not Teeleh you want. If anyone does know more about the books—which I doubt, mind you, I sincerely doubt—it would be that other mangy one under him. Alucard.”

“You’re sure about that? Alucard?”

“Cut from the same rotting flesh.”

Darsal’s heart slammed. “Where can I find Alucard?” she asked, then swallowed.

“The Black Forest, naturally.”

“It’s gone! We—”

“Not that one. A forest two-days’ ride north. There are seven such forests, all hidden to you humans. This one’s hidden in a hole west of your Northern Forest. But I have to tell you, it’s not a place you want to . . .”

Darsal kicked the horse and turned it north.