“The Impatient Made Small Under Moonlight,” Ilondrel said.
Timtim bore himself up on his hind legs.
“No heart is so strong as the hare’s,” Ilondrel said, “and yours is mending already. Whatever you do, trust your strong heart, dear Timtim.”
Timtim nodded and hopped over to Lorzok, who picked him up and put him in the muslin Lorzok had wrapped around himself as a sling.
“Peace to you in the starless days,” Kell said. “Everyone, let’s go.”
He didn’t look behind him as he ran after Saeldian. Their presence was there, but he couldn’t point to it until he ran past the ash and the almond…
There.They weren’t far away. Did they stop to wait for the rest of them to catch up?
“They didn’t get far,” Kell called.
Jubilee ran abreast of him on his right side, and Lorzok did so on his left. Saeldian was there, their presence bright and strong—he could find them anywhere, no matter how far. He would be able to point to them at a moment’s notice. He would always know where they were.
Every step took him closer. Around him, the wide-trunked firs gave way to fragrant mossy green humped over fallen logs. The way before them was wide and flat. Between those trees in the distance, Saeldian stood unmoving, their arms clasped so tightly to their sides, he could nearly see the magic binding them still, and the witch they had run from on their first morning in the Feywild raised her hand as if she held a leash.
Too far. Kell leapt, and the ground pleated underneath him, Lorzok, and Jubilee, just as he needed it to.
The witch looked up. She raised her staff. Saeldian broke free, shouted, “And elsewhere!” and vanished.
“Ha!” Kell shouted. He pointed, and a puff of dust blew into her face. She flinched and tried blinking the dust out of her eyes. Jubilee raised her hand, and a little bolt of fire launched itself from her palm, but the woman batted it away even while trying to rub at the dust.
Lorzok smacked the ground with his staff, and vines wrapped around the witch’s ankles, but she disappeared out of sight after shouting, “And elsewhere!”
Kell spun around just in time. She had stepped to land right behind them, but Jubilee had been as ready as he was. Only Jubilee had a crossbow raised and aimed.
“No!” Kell knocked Jubilee off-balance, but too late. She shot a bolt at the witch, and Kell watched in horror as it sped forward and crashed to a stop in midair, one foot shy of the woman’s heart. She watched it fall before lifting her terrifying attention to Jubilee. She clicked her tongue behind her teeth.
“Rude,” she said, and Jubilee vanished.
“Hold!” shouted Lorzok.
Kell stopped his lunge at the witch. Lorzok bent and scooped a toad off the path.
Kell swallowed his sickness. She’d been right underfoot. “Jubilee?”
Lorzok nodded.
Kell turned to the woman. “My apologies. My friend is a stranger who saw her friend in peril. She acted in defense.”
“Where is your friend now?” the woman asked. “Seems like they’re gone.”
Saeldian materialized beside them. “Let her go.”
“Not until you give me what I want.”
“This?” Saeldian touched the amulet at their breastbone. “Why do you want it?”
“It’s mine.”
“Why couldn’t you take it from me?” Saeldian asked. “You said I didn’t know something. What?”
“Why do you think I’d tell you?” the witch said. “And it doesn’t matter. The bargain’s changed. Give me the amulet, and I’ll restore your friend.”
“There has to be a reason why you couldn’t take it from me,” Saeldian said. “Osalor gave it to me years ago.”
