Jake strode through Valbort’s makeshift gate, pain smoldering in his heart. The dwarven guards pulled to attention. He ignored them. Where was the Emperor?

The keep. If he was anywhere, the monster would be there.

Jake stiffened up and set off. There were no Divine Empire troops in the streets, only slow-moving dwarves giving him strange looks. Jake marched past them, his fists clenched. No signs of battle at all. Had Ardic really just let the Emperor get away?

Most of the beds in the temporary infirmary were empty now, with far less groaning coming from them. The pile of dead was smaller too. Ardic had let him escape, hadn’t he? Jake’s nostrils flared and he stormed up the steps of the keep.

Luther stood at the top with his arms crossed and his lips pursed, backed by half a dozen guards. “Welcome back.”

Whatever. Luther hadn’t moved a muscle to help her, either. Jake grunted and tried to go around, only for Luther to sidestep and block his passage.

Pressure pounded in Jake’s ears. “Out of my way!”

“I know that look, lad.”

Jake scoffed. “If you did, you’d be behind me, not protecting that bastard.”

Luther gritted his teeth and lowered his voice. “The Emperor didn’t stay.”

Adrenaline roared through Jake, demanding blood. “Then I’ll settle for the coward that let him escape.”

“Kill me then. I’m the one who drafted Orlanda. She was my responsibility.”

Jake pulled on his mana and held it ready. “You both stood there and did nothing!”

A grimace flickered across Luther’s face. He stared up and drew in several slow, steady breaths. “Do you think I didn’t want to rip that roknorshak apart?”

Jake turned away and sneered. “You could have fooled me. Now move aside.”

“Anger won’t bring her back. There wasn’t anything we could have done.”

“You could have tried!”

“At what cost? Is one life worth a war that would kill us all?”

“So that’s it?” Pain pounded in Jake’s heart. “He murders someone in cold blood and we’re meant to just forget it ever happened?”

“We move on. That’s what she wanted.”

“Yeah, right, she wanted you to stand there and do nothing as he executed her.”

Luther stared up at Jake and deadpan replied, “Yes.”

Jake froze. That certainty… Jake’s shoulder slumped. Orlanda had been the communications hub at the time. “What did she say… at the end?”

“She begged us not to risk the town for her.” Luther half-chuckled. “Ardic might have been stupid enough to do it otherwise.”

The crappiness of the world weighed down on Jake’s chest and arms. “I’m sorry…”

“She didn’t want you to blame yourself.”

Jake swallowed and pulled himself up straight. “What happened after I… left?”

A pause. Luther’s lips pressed together. “The Emperor collected our taxes and left. He took your sword and staff, but the rest of your things are in your quarters.”

Fiery anger coiled tightly around Jake’s chest. “I’ll avenge her, and every other soul my father has slaughtered.”

“Get some rest, lad. The army won’t be ready to leave until tomorrow.”

“I’ll rest when I’m dead.” Jake stormed back down the steps. Tomorrow? He couldn’t wait until tomorrow!

What the hell was he meant to do? Portal to Erinbar and walk to Tolabar by himself? No Protection magic, no healing, barely any armor, crap Stealth, awful Perception. If he didn’t get ripped apart on the way, he’d only get more good people killed.

Pins pricked behind Jake’s eyes. He squeezed them shut before forcing them open again. It had been a very long day after barely any sleep. Maybe Luther was right. Sleep might not be the worst plan.

That didn’t mean he had to like it.

He headed back to the mage quarters and curled up in bed, but sleep refused to come. That moment played back in his head again and again.

The crack. The way her body had crumpled to the floor, her life snuffed out. What kind of monster would do that?

Jake tossed and turned in his bed. What kind of monster killed their own son?

And this was the man he was supposed to save? No way. He didn’t deserve saving.

Pain ached in Jake’s heart. How had he ever been stupid enough to think his father would make anything better?

Screw his father, screw the quest, screw the world.

It had been an idiotic mistake to believe anyone would be on his side, let alone his father. He pulled out the small hexagonal crystal from the Zelnari ruins. Feeding it slivers of mana, it glowed a dim purple, and a wave of Zelnari concepts filled his mind.

Power. That was the only currency that either world understood. Knowledge was power, especially when it came to magic. What arcane knowledge was locked away in that crystal?

If only he could read it. Jake slammed his fist against the bed. Tantalizing glimpses suggested a trove of magical knowledge, but that was all they were. Glimpses of power just out of reach.

He flopped down on the bed. What delusions of grandeur had made him think he could make a difference? He should have escaped when he’d had the chance.

***

Cara collapsed onto the wooden couch in the corner of the ranger den. Another long day of scouting, and not even a hint of weaknesses to exploit.

“The noose is closing in,” Kegan said, pacing up and down. “Where in the Forest are the other villages’ rangers?”

Aidan sat beside Cara, rolled back his head, and let out a sigh. “We don’t know, any more than we did the last nine times you asked.”

Nola curled up into a tight ball on the other side of Aidan and rested her head on his shoulder. “They’ll come. They won’t abandon us.”

A frown took over Kegan’s face, and his pacing shuddered to a halt. “Assuming they’re alive.”

Would they ever stop bickering? They didn’t use to. Was it her fault? Cara stared out the window at the dying light. Why had she ever agreed to be a Prowler? “That’s enough.”

Kegan paced faster than before. “We can’t feel them!”

“That’s. Enough.” Cara glared at them both with what little energy she could muster.

There was no point arguing about it. The tree-song was weaker than ever, reduced to a background noise of fear and sorrow, but that didn’t mean they were dead.

They’d all seen far too much of the ring of death that circled Tolabar for Kegan not to know why they were cut off. A ring that was now contracting.

Cara drew in a deep breath and continued. “Tomorrow, we take one of those dryads out permanently. Tonight, we relax. I need you all fresh in the morning.”

Kegan’s eyes widened. “Yes, Prowler.”

She rolled her eyes. “Don’t you go starting that again!”

“Is that an order?”

Everyone chuckled, and the tension in the air broke. Thank the Forest! Tomorrow would be hard enough without everyone stressed to the eyeballs. They could leave all the stress to their Prowler.

Why in the Deep-Forest was that her again?

“Who’s up for some dice?” Aidan asked.

Nola laughed and jabbed him with her finger. “What, so you can kick our asses again?”

He shrugged and failed to suppress a grin. “The dice like me.”

“None of the rest of us have Discern Magic,” Nola said, “do we?”

Aidan tilted his head and looked down at her. “Do you really think I’d do that?”

“No, but you’re cute when you blush like that.”

More laughter, tainted for Cara by the pit in the base of her stomach. “You guys have fun. I’m going to go check on Nibbles.” She rose to her feet and forced out a smile. “Don’t let them stay up too late, Aidan.”

He nodded. “I won’t, boss. Besides, they’ll be cleaned out long before then.”

Cara smiled and made her escape. Or not, as footsteps followed behind her. Too light to be Aidan’s, not frantic enough to be Kegan’s. “Nola…”

“Talk to me, Cara.”

Escape had been so close… Cara turned and rolled her eyes. “Don’t you have seeds to be losing?”

Nola simply stared back, smiling expectantly. She wasn’t going to give up, was she?

“There’s nothing to say!”

“You’re not the only one who watches people.”

Cara narrowed her eyes. “Is watching Aidan not enough for you?”

A grin lit up Nola’s face, and she swept her gaze up and down Cara. “I didn’t mean it that way, but if you insist…”

“Ugh! You’re incorrigible!”

“Thanks.” Her grin faded into seriousness. “Feelings can be talked about, you know.”

Panic scrambled through Cara’s head. “So you say!”

“I do.” Nola’s stare refused to relent. “We need you on form too. Don’t make me get Jeremy.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Would she? Cara looked away and pouted. What was with people wanting to talk?

“I’m a ranger. We do what needs to be done.”

Cara let out a long, theatrical sigh. “Fine! I’m scared. Happy now?”

“Nope! We’re all scared. What’s really up?”

She swallowed hard. “What if I’m not good enough?”

“You are, and tomorrow, you’re going to prove it.”

Cara scoffed. That, or they’d end up dead. “At least you have faith in me.”

“We all do. You’ve gotten us this far. Now go get Nibbles and get back here.”

If only. “Aidan hates her.”

“He doesn’t. Believe me, he’s just not fond of anyone nibbling his ears. You’re not spending tonight alone, and neither’s Nibbles.”

Their eyes met, and they shared a silent, grim understanding. Tonight was almost certainly the last night they had left together. Were they really foolish enough to believe in her?

“You win,” Cara said. “But I make no apologies if she tastes everyone’s ears.”

“I’d be disappointed if she didn’t.”

Cara smiled bitterly. One final night. She might as well enjoy it, while they were all still alive.