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“He’s distracted by his wound,” she whispers. “I don’t think he’s noticed me, yet.”

“Where is he?” I ask Melelea quietly, tightly, my hands still ready to snatch her back.

“I don’t know . . .” Melelea murmurs. “The mind-tie . . . it’s trying to call me to his thoughts . . . I can see a dragon and Ilustan’s castle . . . and Adalind . . . ?”

“Don’t give in to the mind-tie,” I tell her softly. “It will just give him an opportunity to notice you. Just find his location and get out.”

Melelea murmurs again, her hands tracing a new pattern over the water. The image rotates and shifts, first looking to the back of the cave, before finding the large, yawning mouth of the opening. Out of the gaping mouth, we can see white-tipped peaks, but they are soon blotted out by imps rushing toward us, screeching and shrieking. Without thinking, I yank Melela backward and Zera, reacting to my action, slaps the water, breaking the image.

Looking over Melelea, I run my eyes over her form, checking for wounds. “Are you all right? Did the imps see you?”

“I don’t know,” the trolless responds. “That was unexpected. I don’t know if that was Grazrath seeking to hide his location or if that was an unfortunate coincidence.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Dame Zera says. “I know where he is.”

“You do?” Melelea and I ask at the same time.

Zera nods. “I’ve seen those peaks many times, since I was a child. My father’s lands are in the southwest of Adrik. Those are the Whitbron Mountains, not far from here, actually. From the view from the cave, I would say that he’s on Baldric’s Peak, the highest mountain in the range.”

“Baldric’s Peak?” I ask, then realize what she is saying. “Oh, you mean Wyrminji. That’s what we call it in Orik. It makes sense. That’s where we had to fight and put down the dragon Wyrmin when he went insane. He’s probably staying in Wyrmin’s old lair.”

“Those bones he was sitting on, then . . .” Melelea begins.

“. . . were probably Wyrmin’s,” I finish. “We left the dragon’s bones in his lair to rest. It’s bad luck to move a dead dragon. But if he found the bones, he could be planning to use the magic left in them for a nefarious purpose.”

“You’re right. If he has them, he will use them for his plans. I saw Castle Ilustan in his thoughts. He is also focused on Adalind a disturbing amount. I think his next step is to summon the archdemons and attack the capital itself to take Adalind. Because she is Fairy-Blessed, there is an endless source of magic in her veins. He wouldn’t need any other magic users if he got his claws on her.”

“We will let nothing happen to the queen,” I reassure her, seeing the fear and worry on Melelea’s face as she speaks and smelling it curdling her delicate scent. Then I realize that my hands are still on her shoulders, and I let go to give her space. “We will find Grazrath and put him down like the dog he is before he can do any more harm.”

“The Whitbron Mountains are treacherous,” Dame Zera says. “Too steep for horses and prone to avalanches.”

“Warbeasts should still be able to handle the climb,” I say. “You can leave your horse in the village and ride up with Gunag.”

Dame Zera pulls a face before she can master her emotions.

I raise an eyebrow at her lack of discipline. “ . . . unless that is going to be a problem? You could always ride back to Ilustan and share what we know with the king and queen.”

“No, it’s not a problem,” Zera says stiffly. “I’ll handle it.”

“Handle what?” asks Gunag, entering the kitchen. He must have finished sending the falcon.

“Grazrath is holed up in Wyrminji,” I tell him. “We ride out within the hour to hunt him. Dame Zera rides with you because her horse cannot handle the mountain’s steepness.”

To his credit, Gunag doesn’t crow about his good fortune. It seems even he is learning that Zera doesn’t appreciate his arrogance.

“I’ll prepare the warbeasts, then,” Gunag says evenly.

“I’ll come with you,” Dame Zera says, standing upright. “I’ll need to move my pack from Stormfury to your warbeast.”

Melelea and I exchange a questioning look. Stormfury must be the name of her horse. Gunag simply nods. “We’ll need supplies as well. Winter cloaks, boots, and heat charms. Wyrminji is as cold as the ocean depths this time of year.”

“I’ll speak to Kirigard,” I say. “They’ll be low on supplies because of the attack, but I’m sure they can scrounge up what we need.”

“We need to hurry,” Melelea says. “Once Grazrath is done nursing his wound, he’ll be using the dragon bones to launch a full-scale attack on Ilustan. We have to stop him before it’s too late.”

“Then we don’t have a moment to lose,” I say. “Wyrminji isn’t far from these lands. You can see it in the distance from the northern watchtower. We should be able to get there by tomorrow morning if we travel through the night. Saddle up for a rough night and chew the bloodroot, Gunag.”

Gunag nods, and in a moment, he leaves the kitchen, followed by Dame Zera, leaving me and Melelea alone in the back room.

Melelea shivers, still sitting on the floor in front of the now still bowl of water. I look at her with concern. “Are you all right?”

“I’m fine,” Melelea replies, though she wraps her arms around her middle. “It’s merely . . . it’s all been happening so fast that I haven’t stopped to wonder, why? Why the mind-tie? Why is it me linked to the demon? His mind is a cold and sadistic void, so unlike my own. So why?”

“You are a sasari of power,” I remind her. “If his aim is Queen Adalind, one whom you love like a daughter, perhaps it is your power that is trying to protect her and your grandchild.”

“Perhaps,” Melelea says, shivering again. “But I do not like being in his mind. It is like being in a place where all hope is gone.”

“Hope is not gone, Melelea,” I vow to her. “This is a chance to rid our world of a great evil. I will not fail in killing him next time. I will take his head from his shoulders, and your sleep will be sweet and peaceful. You’ll never have to mind-share with him again.”

Melelea looks up, her luminous silver eyes arresting mine. “Do you give me your Oath?”

“My Oath,” I tell her seriously, feeling it in my bones, “that we will stop this demon before he can wreak his ruin, or I will die trying.”

Melelea holds my eyes for a moment longer, then nods. “Then we should go gather supplies. There’s no time to lose.”