“The Crowleys came out ahead in this. I know they’ve got a reputation that makes people underestimate them, but their own people were just attacked. They’ll be out for blood, and the Fallen have far more reach than you’d imagine.”

“I don’t know what you’re getting at,” I said. I checked my charge. Rain was limp. No fight, no response to anything.

“Let Cradle go. I’ll keep him and Love Lost out of your way. He promised to help me after I helped him here. Do that for me and I will help you.”

“You were talking about the Fallen.”

“I’ll coordinate. I can get you March and what’s left of Prancer’s band. The Crowleys are already on their way out, they’re hitting the road, we can hit them before they get where they’re going.”

“I don’t know what games you’re playing, Tattletale, but one of mine might be dead. Someone I pledged to help and keep alive. You pointed the killers to him. You were a cog in Snag and Prancer’s thing, and that turned out pretty shitty. How much of that was intentional?”

“That’s the kind of conspiracy thinking that gets you put in an institution,” Tattletale said.

“Either you’re incompetent or you’re malicious,” I said. “Neither lends themselves to us working together.

“Or I’m wrestling with bigger things, Victoria,” she sighed out the words, sounding exasperated, annoyed.

I spotted the first glimmer of color in the trees. I flew closer.

“I made my offer. Feel free to accept it,” she said.

“She’s gone,” Looksee said.

There was a pause.

“Is he really that bad?” she asked.

“I don’t know,” I said. I wasn’t willing to spare the time to check, either. “But if this doesn’t work—”

I didn’t finish the sentence.

If this doesn’t work, thinking about all the responses I couldn’t give Cradle… would I be willing to try another route?

Another healer?

I dropped down the rest of the way, through the largest gap in the foliage.

Not Advance Guard. Prancer and his team—half the size it had been, and that was after the defection of Beast of Burden.

Prancer had no Velvet at his side, and he had no Moose. He did have a dark expression on his face, one that darkened further as he recognized me.

“Advance Guard?” I asked.

He pointed.

Northeast.

No fight, no resistance. I just hoped he hadn’t lied.

He hadn’t lied. Advance Guard was with the Patrol block, and the Patrol block was trying to corral a hero team and somewhat hostile evacuees who outnumbered them four to one.

I landed in the center of the camp.

I spotted Mayday with Gilpatrick.

“Healer?” I asked.

I saw the hesitation, and my heart sank. The sick feeling was worse.

“Is your healer hurt?” I asked.