Flea hefted the stones. “This is just going to get more and more complicated, isn’t it?”

“Yep.”

“Just like you,” he said.

“What do you mean?”

“It was supposed to be simple. Find you, take you to Prince Ryne and it’s done. But it’s all complicated now. And what if Kerrick doesn’t come back?”

A strange little feeling tugged deep within me. Flea had voiced what I’d been unconsciously worried about—Kerrick. Which was utter nonsense. I concentrated on Flea’s question. “Then we’ll go find him and rescue him if we can.”

“But Kerrick said—”

“Think about it, Flea.”

He didn’t take long. “Belen won’t listen.”

“Not that complicated when you stop to consider all the variables.”

“No, but…sometimes I don’t have an answer for all the variables.”

“No one does. We do the best we can with what we have. And good leaders stay about two steps ahead of the rest of us. I’m beginning to understand why your prince assigned this mission to Kerrick and not Belen. A certain amount of ruthlessness is needed.”

Kerrick failed to arrive on the tenth day. Belen paced and fretted and growled at anyone who dared suggest we pack up or we search for Kerrick. He kept his angry bear routine all during the eleventh day, as well.

Near sunset, Quain, Loren, Flea and I gathered outside the cave and out of Belen’s sight and hearing.

“Do we follow Kerrick’s orders despite Belen’s…ill humor?” Loren asked.

“Or do we find out what happened to Kerrick?” Quain asked.

“We should leave,” I said. “If Estrid has him, she’ll eventually learn where we’re hiding. We can launch a rescue attempt from our new location. If he’s delayed, he can easily track us to our new hiding spot.”

“Leave tonight or in the morning?” Loren asked.

“Tonight, under cover of darkness,” I said.

“What about your sister?” Flea asked.

“She’s safe enough where she is. If there’s a chance to get her before the spring, I will, but I won’t risk all of you. I can always come back for her later.” Without thinking, I had assumed the leadership role, and, like I had said to Flea, a certain amount of ruthlessness was needed. In this case, my sister would have to wait.

The men returned to the cave to start packing despite Belen’s protests. Before I entered, the wind shifted and I caught a whiff of spring sunshine and living green. I turned into the wind, expecting to see Kerrick standing there. Disappointment panged until I remembered I hated him. Until I realized he had probably been hanging around to see what we’d do without him. Typical.

Breathing deep, I walked north, following Kerrick’s scent until I lost it as quick as I had found it. I pulled off my gloves and pressed my palms to the cold ground. Strong magic tingled along my skin, pulsing to the south. He had moved downwind of me.

I straightened and spun around. No one, but I wasn’t going to trust my eyes this time.

“I know you’re there. No sense wasting any more energy,” I said.

Kerrick appeared next to the tree a few feet in front of me. He had used his magic to blend in with the darkening forest. His expression was unreadable.

“How long have you been back?” I asked, trying to sound annoyed in order to cover my relief.

Instead of answering, he said, “You sniffed me out, didn’t you?”

“I asked first.”

“You had to,” he mused more to himself than me. “You didn’t resort to feeling for the magic until I—”

“Yes, I followed your stench. It’s not that big a deal. Not when you’ve been playing around, making your men worried and considering mutiny.”

“My men? As of an hour ago, they were your men, willing to take on Belen so they could carry out your orders.” He cocked his head to the side. “Funny, I didn’t put you in charge when I left.”

I crossed my arms. “Did you or did you not order Belen to leave this place if you didn’t return in ten days?”

“I did.”

“In case you missed it, we’re still here. A dangerous place to be if you were in Estrid’s or even the mercs’ custody. Belen is too kindhearted to leave without you. Someone had to be the voice of reason.”

“You? The voice of reason? That’s hard to believe.”

His nasty comment was uncalled for. I struck back. “Since I didn’t care if you returned or not, I had no trouble making decisions based on logic.”

Not wanting to continue this useless conversation, I headed toward the cave. Belen’s angry voice reached me well before I arrived. He held Quain in a headlock. Bedrolls and blankets had been strewn about the cavern. Flea and Loren kept their distance from the raging Poppa Bear.

“Belen,” Kerrick said.

Everyone turned. The tension dispersed as grins of relief replaced the strained expressions. Belen released Quain, who puffed for air and rubbed his neck.

“What happened?” Loren asked Kerrick.

Kerrick shot me a look before saying, “I was delayed. But I’ve good news. Estrid’s people are returning home, and there’s no sign of mercs, either.” He scanned the mess. “We’ll leave tomorrow night after Avry and I fetch her sister.”

Flea and the monkeys gathered their belongings, but before Belen could join them, Kerrick said, “Belen, a word.” He led Belen outside.