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Scrambling to her feet, she yanked the vine from around her neck and looked around a bit wildly. “Did you see that?” she demanded. “That plant was going to choke me!”

“Of course it was,” Ini-herit replied. “That is a Death’s Shade vine.”

Seeing her eyes blaze over the elder’s lack of concern, Quincy asked, “Are you all right?”

She ground her back teeth and nodded once. Then another expression crossed her features. Her deep blue-green gaze moved to a point between Quincy and Ini-herit’s shoulders.

“Who’s that?” she asked.

Looking over his shoulder, Quincy spotted Alexius standing not too far away. The commander watched them with obvious concern, his burnt orange eyes settled on Clara Kate.

“Who?” Quincy asked in increasing bafflement. “Alexius?”

“No…the lady in white standing behind him.”

A thin quality had entered her voice, as though she wasn’t really aware of what she was saying. Quincy exchanged a look with Ini-herit.

“Do you not see her?” Ini-herit asked.

Looking around again, Quincy shook his head. “No. There’s no one like that around here.”

“She’s coming this way,” Clara Kate said, unnaturally calm. It had Quincy’s instincts flaring.

“C.K., there’s no lady in white,” he argued.

He started to reach for her, but she was suddenly propelled off her feet and thrown a far enough distance away that it appeared she had flown. While he froze in shock, Ini-herit ran after her. Quincy realized her complexion was slowly leeching of color.

He sprang forward. Several Waresti joined Ini-herit in swatting at the air just over Clara Kate, as though trying to ward off an attacker.

“What are you doing?” Quincy asked as he reached them.

“Trying to get this demon off of her!” Alexius growled.

“What demon?”

“Do you still not see her?” Ini-herit asked. Before Quincy responded, the elder leaned over Clara Kate. “You must not listen to her, Clara Kate. You must believe that you can fight her. Have faith.”

His efforts weren’t working. She grew so pale she resembled a human corpse. In the brief span of time that he watched his class elder try to aid her, Quincy remembered a legend about the jungle’s guardian spirit. Many beings believed that if harm came to certain elements of this naturally sacred environment—particularly the aged lapuna trees—that the being who caused the harm would be hunted and killed by a demonic spirit.

That spirit often took the form of a lady in white.

Quincy’s pulse raced in understanding. “Get out of my way,” he ordered, shoving several Waresti aside. When he reached Ini-herit, he said, “You must move, sir.”

The words had the elder looking up with a flash of something indefinable in his silver gaze. Quincy wondered over it even as Ini-herit obeyed and stepped away from Clara Kate. Going with instinct, Quincy dropped to his knees beside her. A frigid chill rushed over him, raising the hair on the back of his neck.

“C.K.,” he said, looking directly into her sightless gaze. “There is no lady in white.” Grasping her face in his hands and ignoring how terrifyingly cold her skin felt, he leaned closer. “Listen to me, Clara Kate.”

She blinked.

“That’s right.” Continuing to let his instincts guide him, he pulled forth his Corgloresti power. “Look into my eyes. Believe that what I’m saying is the truth.”

Tears filled her eyes. His power flooded him, making his own eyes light with energy. Much as he did when guiding the Kynzesti into the world, he used it to lure Clara Kate back from whatever precipice she teetered against.

“There is no lady in white,” he insisted. “Come back to me.”

He repeated the words countless times, his power at its height. When his energy flagged, Ini-herit reached over and used his healing energy to bolster his efforts. Gradually, her color returned. And finally, she blinked back to full awareness.

A loud shriek filled the air, causing several stalwart Waresti to cover their ears. The cold temperature dissipated. Apparently, the demon had given up.

Clara Kate studied Quincy as he continued to hold her. She seemed to be trying to figure out what had happened. Eventually, she said, “Thanks, Quincy.”

Breathing a sigh of relief, he shook his head. “No, thank
you
. If you hadn’t come back to us, I don’t even want to think about what your father would have done to me.”

That made her gift him with a lopsided grin. “You’re right,” she agreed. “You’d probably prefer death by a demon.”

Uriel made his way through the dark hallways of Kanika’s home as easily as another being made his way through a well-lit room. The ability to see in the dark ranged for the Waresti based on level of skill, and for him it was a non-issue. He had been able to see perfectly well without light for centuries.

Moving in complete silence, he headed for Kanika’s bedroom. There was no one behind him. He wouldn’t require backup.

When it came to his priorities as the Waresti elder, there was no greater need than the rescue of his fellow elders. In his millennia of existence, he could count on one hand the number of times when his skills were needed in this regard.

This was one of them.

When he reached the corridor leading to Kanika’s bedroom, he lowered himself to the ground. Knowing Mercesti could see in the dark, he eased only part of his head around the corner. As his power had shown him, there were no more than five Mercesti outside the door leading to Kanika’s bedroom.

Maintain your position
, he sent to Enyo.

When he received an affirmative, he then thought,
Mal?

Yes.

I’m outside the bedroom. You ready?

Yes. I think—I mean, I’ll be able to contain the males in here with me.

Okay
.

Taking her at her word, he gave the signal to his team. Then he surged to his feet with his sword drawn and laid waste to the Mercesti guarding the door. Knowing he made a lot of noise as the dying issued screams, he could only pray that Malukali had fulfilled her end of the arrangement and contained the beings around her.

When he dispatched the last guard in front of the door, he broke it down with a flick of his power and then raced down the hidden staircase he had identified from outside the dwelling.

Trusting that Malukali’s power was strong enough, he plowed headlong into the chamber and began fulfilling his sword’s purpose. One Mercesti after another fell beneath his blade until, at last, the room was empty of enemies.

When he completed his mission, he approached Malukali and took her hand. He had a Waresti among his group who could open any lock, but that female wasn’t yet in the room.

“Thank you for coming for me,” she said.

He didn’t need to see the tears on her face to know the emotion that ran through her. Gently squeezing her hand, he said, “Tell your husband you’re safe and we’re going to bring you to him. Let him know he’s free to use his power to the best of his ability. Tell him to get Tate and Ariana back home.”

She nodded and closed her eyes. After a moment, her expression morphed into puzzlement and concern. She opened her eyes. Uriel instinctively connected to her thoughts.

Something’s wrong. Knorbis isn’t responding.

Sophia found the map guiding her to the library absolutely fascinating. Hoygul had eventually bestowed it upon her and Melanthe after they shared tea. She still wasn’t sure why.

Once her new Mercesti friend joined them, the conversation centered around the Mercesti settlement and the various accomplishments achieved by Melanthe, Derian and the others. Hoygul treated Melanthe warmly, speaking to her as though they conversed on a regular basis. Based upon what she’d learned, Sophia figured they probably did.

Finally, Hoygul produced an intriguing glass disc. Sophia watched with rapt attention as the Scultresti murmured a few unintelligible words that caused the disc to glow Scultresti brown. Her eyes widened as an ephemeral map of the Estilorian plane appeared before her. She noticed a dark brown path leading from the cottage to another location. It took only a moment for the map to somehow imprint itself on her brain.

A gasp from Melanthe told Sophia that the process of sharing the map had somehow affected her, too. Before Sophia could plague Hoygul with questions, the Scultresti ushered them out of the cottage. Sophia hadn’t argued. She knew she had to get to the library as quickly as possible.

“Please give me one more moment with Hoygul,” she said to Melanthe. The Mercesti nodded and walked over to the others, and Sophia turned to Hoygul. “I wanted to get your message for Penelope before we leave.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Is that why you believe I gave you the map?”

“No, sir. But I’ll be visiting Central at some point soon. I would be honored to deliver a message on your behalf.”

After studying her in silence for a moment, he turned and went back into the cottage. Sophia stood there for several minutes, wondering if he was actually coming back. She grew more anxious as the night faded to gray, heralding the approaching dawn. Just when Derian told her they had to leave, though, Hoygul once again emerged.

“Please give this to Penelope,” he said, handing her a small bundle wrapped in fabric.

“I will,” she said. Since she wasn’t wearing a satchel, she’d have to ask Melanthe to carry it for the time being. “Do you have anything you wish to tell her?”

“The gift you bear will tell her everything she needs to know.”

“Are you sure?” Sophia flushed and looked down at the small parcel, avoiding his gaze. “Sometimes a female just needs to hear the words to understand how someone feels about her.”

Hoygul reached out and touched her shoulder, prompting her to look up. Then he surprised her with a smile. “Thank you, Sophia. But Penelope will know.”

Clearing her throat, Sophia said her goodbye and set off with the Mercesti. The sun was fully cresting over the horizon as they reached the edge of the jungle. Although weariness had settled in her bones, Sophia took flight with the others, allowing the amazing map to lead them to their goal.

She had no idea what they would do when they got there. What if Eirik was already there? He’d managed to gather hundreds of soldiers before he reached the first scroll piece. They’d only managed to defeat him thanks to Tiege’s illusions and the timely arrival of Waresti reinforcements. This time, she had about fifty Mercesti as her escort and no backup. The facts didn’t add up to a conclusion that made her very comfortable.

They flew for a couple of hours before stopping to rest. Sophia sensed they were near the library and really wanted to press on, but she knew that the exhaustion she read on Melanthe’s face mirrored her own. The moment they landed in a grassy field, Sophia sank to the ground.

“Can I offer you something to eat or drink?” Melanthe asked a few minutes later. She was making her way among the Mercesti, generating refreshments.

Offering her new friend a small smile, Sophia shook her head. “I’m about to head over to that lovely stream to get a sip of water and try to wash away some of this fatigue. Thanks, though.”

Smiling back, Melanthe patted Sophia’s upper arm and then continued making her rounds. Derian shadowed her, his stride casual but his gaze vigilant. When he passed Sophia, he said, “Do not go off by yerself.”

Remembering a similar warning from Zachariah not even two days ago, Sophia fought a wave of remorse as she gave Derian an acknowledging nod. There were so many things she wished she had said and done differently. Sighing because there was nothing she could do about that now, she rose and headed for the stream only twenty feet away from the group.

Even as she kneeled to scoop water into her hands, she spotted a shadow blending with hers. Looking up—and then up some more—she realized Cleve had followed her.

Yesterday, this enormous male with his tattooed face and fearsome demeanor would have had her shaking in terror. Now, she found his presence comforting. Since he didn’t talk, she continued her drinking and washing in silence. Then she stood up and glanced in the direction of the forest in the distance.

“I need a little privacy,” she said. Her full bladder squelched any embarrassment she might have felt over the admission.

He surprised her with a friendly wink and started walking toward the trees. Relieved, she hurried to follow him. When they reached the tree line, she said, “I won’t go far.”

He nodded. She hurried into the forest, finding a small cluster of trees to use for cover as she saw to her personal needs. Thank goodness for Melanthe and her Lekwuesti abilities, she thought, not relishing the idea of having to use leaves.

She had only just adjusted her skirts back down when she sensed that she wasn’t alone.

“Cleve!” she called out, trusting her instincts although she didn’t see an immediate threat.

The sound of a weapon leaving its sheath had her diving to her left. She rose from her roll and found herself facing one of the Mercesti males who had tracked her as she chased Tate and Ariana.

“Tycho is taking care of your guard,” the male said, telling her she now faced Bertram.

His words made her aware of the sound of weapons clanging. She briefly glimpsed the two combatants through the trees before Bertram swung at her with his sword. She jumped away, her heart flinging itself against her breastbone.

Surely the others were aware of the fight and would soon reach the forest, she thought. She narrowly avoided another thrust of Bertram’s sword. Then her feet went out from under her.

A rope trap.

Disoriented and terrified, Sophia felt her second power surge out of her control. There was no stopping her shift. She fell back to the ground, this time in the form of a panther.

The cat’s incredible center of gravity allowed her to turn mid-fall so she landed on her feet. Unfortunately for Bertram, he stood between her and the ground. She shifted and fell so quickly that he didn’t even have time to raise his sword. Her animal instincts at their full height, she went for his throat.