“Girls, Kerrick. Not girl. The beast has done it before and will do it again. You hold your prince in such high esteem, what would he think about you abandoning Melina and Mom for him?”
Anger twitched on his face, but Kerrick held his temper.
Belen answered for him. “Ryne would be appalled.”
That was the first good thing I’d heard about Ryne. Unfortunately, the argument had no effect on Kerrick.
Time to make a concession. “Find Melina, and I won’t make any more escape attempts. We’ll be able to travel faster if I cooperate,” I said.
“And you’ll heal Ryne?” Kerrick asked.
“No, but I’ll give you until we reach him to change my mind. How’s that?”
“Will you swear to it?” he asked.
“I, Avry of Kazan Realm, give you my word.”
“Agreed.” He held out his hand.
When I clasped it, a strange tingle of magic zipped up my arm. I let go quickly.
“Okay, gentlemen, looks like we’re going hunting,” Kerrick said.
Everyone rushed to get ready. Before Flea hustled from my room, he touched my shoulder. “Thanks, Avry.”
“Are we friends again?” I asked.
“Yep.” He flashed his lopsided grin and ran after Quain.
I stopped Belen. “Do you have my knapsack? I need to change into my travel clothes before we leave.”
“You’re staying here,” Kerrick said.
“No. Melina might need me.”
“We’ll bring her back here.”
“If she goes with you. She might be traumatized and not trusting a bunch of men. Forcing her will only make it worse.”
He considered.
I added more incentive. “The town watch is combing the woods—there’ll be no one here to protect me if the mercenaries catch up to us.”
Belen hid his smile as Kerrick’s shoulders drooped just a smidge. “Fine.”
When Kerrick left, Belen shook his head. “Flea argued and begged Kerrick to help Melina. I tried and so did Loren. No luck. But you changed his mind.”
“Only because I gave up my freedom.”
“I don’t think so. You can really get under his skin. This has been a most interesting trip. I can’t wait to see what else happens.”
“I can.”
When Belen returned with my knapsack, I asked him why Kerrick was the one in charge. Belen was a few years older, stronger and more personable.
“Prince Ryne asked him to find a healer.” Belen turned his back so I could change into my extra set of black travel clothes. Which were now my only set. I folded the tunic and skirt, tucking them into my pack just in case.
Belen handed me his two daggers. “Keep them with you just in case.”
“Won’t Kerrick be upset?”
“He never ordered us not to give you a weapon.”
I smiled, thinking how he and Kerrick acted like brothers. “Kerrick and you are both from Alga Realm. So how did you meet Ryne?” I asked.
“Long story. Let’s find Melina first.”
Easier said than done. Despite Kerrick’s magical connection, we couldn’t find the man who had taken Melina. When dawn woke the colors of the forest, I hoped we’d find a trail to follow. No luck.
I worried that Kerrick would give up the search, seeing it all as a colossal waste of time. When we encountered yet another large group of people, I remembered how the forest reacted to intruders. Finding two people among all these searchers would be almost impossible.
“We need to talk to Mom,” I said to Kerrick during one of our breaks.
He sharpened his sword with a stone. “Why?” he asked without looking up.
“Only she can empty the woods for you.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know.” I gestured at the surrounding trees. “How the intruders feel to the forest, like an infection or pox on a sick patient.”
Kerrick stopped in midstroke, glancing at me with suspicion. “How do you know that?”
“From you.”
“I didn’t tell—”
I huffed. “When you grabbed me from the mercs. Remember? Your skin and hair turned the colors of the forest, and—”
“I know what I did. I just didn’t know you could … feel it, as well. I never could explain the experience to anyone.” He considered. “You’re right. We should ask Mom to empty the forest of searchers.”
Shocked that he admitted I was right, I almost missed the next thing he said.
“But Mom doesn’t know,” Kerrick said.
“Doesn’t know what?” Belen asked. He had returned from scouting and sat down next to me.
Kerrick stared at me with a hint of amusement as I realized Belen didn’t know about his forest magic, either. And Kerrick wasn’t inclined to tell him. Though he didn’t seem worried I’d tell Belen. Hell.
Magicians tended to be skittish, as well. When a family discovered their child was gifted with powers, they kept it quiet until the child learned control of his magic and could protect himself. Kidnapping of young mages had been an unfortunate problem before the plague. Children with magic could be sold for a thousand gold pieces to the northern tribes living in the wildlands.
“Mom doesn’t know I’m a healer, so if we find Melina and she’s injured it would be better not to have anyone around.” I don’t know why I covered for Kerrick. Perhaps I could use it to my advantage someday.
“Oh.”
We sat in silence for a while. I thought about the problem.
“The kidnapper has gone to ground,” I said. “We’ll tell Mom we know where, but he won’t emerge until everyone has given up. Mom will understand and order everyone but us out.”
“And what if we still don’t find them?” Kerrick asked.
“Do you have another idea?”
“No.”
Kerrick
