I raised my eyebrow. “Really? You’re not going to fight me on this?”

“I’d be fairly useless, wouldn’t I? It’s not like I can use any spells at this point, and I haven’t quite gotten the fighting part of my training perfected yet.” Likh took a sip of his tea and shuddered. “I’m so occupied with trying not to throw up that I don’t have much room in me to protest. I want to die,” he moaned.

“Is tea the best solution?”

“It’s Althy’s concoction that we brought with us,” Khalad said shortly, then softened his tone. “Drink up, Likh, and I’ll make you a fresh batch.”

“It tastes disgusting,” Likh mumbled, but drank obediently.

“I want you here with him,” Kalen told his cousin. “With Likh under the wards, you’re the most qualified to seek out other blighted here in Yadosha.”

“I take it you’re off to join Kance’s fight?”

“The Yadoshans are also interested in coming to his aid. They’re not very happy about being fooled. But Tea and I will be faster on the azi. If Kance is facing off against the Faceless, then time’s of the essence. And if anything happens here, we’ll only be a dragon’s flight away.” He glanced at me, and I nodded. “Stefan is sending word to Istera and Tresea as well. They have no love lost for the Drychta. As soon as we hear word of what the Yadoshans intend to do, we’ll be leaving.”

“Good luck and get back safely. And send my regards to my brother.”

“It might be a good idea to address some other issues while you’re here in Thanh,” Kalen advised gently.

Khalad looked back at Likh, who rested his head on the table. “I suppose you’re right.” He picked up the empty teacup. “I’ll refill this.”

“I’ll go with you,” Kalen said.

“You okay?” I asked Likh once they were gone.

The boy’s head bobbed, face still buried in his arms. “I am never ever going to drink again.”

“Is now a good time to bring up Khalad?”

“You’re an evil person, Tea,” he accused.

“So I’ve been told.”

Likh jerked up. “Oh… I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that.”

“I know what you meant.” I’d been so close to forgetting about Daisy, about Fox. I forced down my own melancholy, stifling a sudden spasm of grief. “Does he know now?”