If she’d hoped she’d lose me, she was in for a surprise. After all those months of walking, she’d have to run full-out to shake me. I stayed a step behind her as we hurried along hallways, down stairs and through various rooms.

She wore a pale lavender silk tunic and deep purple skirt. Her long blond hair had been twisted into a knot and held in place with a comb that flashed with amethysts. Her regal bearing and fine clothing contrasted with the sword hanging from her waist.

As we traveled, Cellina would stop on occasion. Each time, she pointed out a door or set of stairs that I was forbidden to enter or use. “See that symbol?” Cellina gestured to a circle with three crossed keys inside it. “That means keep out. No one who lives and works in the castle or the buildings in the compound is allowed in those rooms and areas. Understand?”

“Even you?”

“No. As Tohon’s top adviser, I have full access.”

Top adviser? She appeared to be around twenty-five or -six. Close to Tohon’s age. “Your name is familiar. Are you a friend of his?”

“No. I’m another of his…collected. I met Tohon in school.”

“Cellina of Lyady! Kerrick mentioned you had been one of the people trying to be king.”

Her mouth twisted in disgust. “A foolish kid’s game. At the time, I thought it would be fun to be crowned king. In Lyady we didn’t have a monarchy. The people voted for my father to be the president. That game…was just a whole nasty experience. The others took it far too seriously.”

Lyady shared a border with Sogra to the east, Alga to the north and the Endless Sea lapped on its western and southern edges. “Tohon invaded Lyady.”

“Last year. Nothing we could do. The plague had wiped us out.”

“But you’re helping him?”

She shrugged. “So are you.”

Point.

“And it’s better than being locked in some dank prison, rotting.”

True. Although I sensed there was more between them besides school friends. Strange that so many of them should survive the plague. I almost tripped as an evil notion occurred to me. What if Tohon was still playing the king game? But then how would he have protected his classmates from the plague? No one could have predicted the outbreak.

Cellina continued with the tour, showing me the kitchen, dining room and the offices for the advisers. She led me outside. The chilly morning fog lingered in small pockets of white, but the day promised to be warm. The air smelled of spring, reminding me of Kerrick. I cursed under my breath. When I was finally free of him, he still haunted me. This would be a long season.

Behind the castle, the other buildings spread out in an arc. A stable, a couple of barracks for the soldiers, an armory, a kennel and finally the infirmary. Before we entered, Cellina headed toward the thick wall that surrounded the compound. Except, on this side, it wasn’t black, but more of a green with patches of white. As we drew closer, I realized there were huge plants growing next to the wall. Their topmost stalks reaching the top of the wall.

Cellina halted twenty feet away. “I wouldn’t try climbing over if you decide to escape. The only way out is through the front gate.”

“Are they—?”

“Yep. They cover the interior of the entire wall. Tohon can be brilliant at times. Too bad he also has no conscience. At least he’s consistent.”

I stared at the row of Death Lilys guarding the wall. No one could sneak in or leave. It was genius. A memory tugged of Belen in the Guild’s record room and the desiccated corpse protecting the broken crate of Death Lily seeds. Did Tohon murder that man for the seeds?

“Are there any more?” I asked.

“He has a whole garden full of the wicked things back in the northwest corner of the compound.”

As we returned to the infirmary, I considered the abundance of Death Lilys. Sepp could move through them without worry. And I might be able to keep Ryne safe from them. The seed of an idea started to grow.

I stopped in the doorway. The smell of excrement and unwashed bodies polluted the air.

“This is where I leave you. Good luck,” Cellina said, backing away.

“Wait.” I chased after her. “Are there any of Tohon’s…dead in there?”

“No, just Tohon’s injured soldiers. He keeps the dead ones in a barrack.”

Relief flowed through me. I returned to the infirmary. Pausing at the threshold, I scanned the big room. Rows of cots packed tight together were filled with patients, and only a few people walked among them. The workers had covered their noses and mouths with kerchiefs. Closed windows lined two walls. On the opposite side, I spotted an entrance.

Tohon forced me to be here, but these people needed me. This was my responsibility, regardless of a contract. I drew in a deep breath of clean air before plunging into the mess. Obviously, Tohon didn’t care too much about his injured.

I strode to the first worker I encountered, and asked, “Who’s in charge here?”

She pointed to the back room. Trying not to look at the patients just yet, I entered. The space had been divided into two sections. An office and an examination area. The office was the only clean thing in the entire building. Five people lounged on chairs, talking.

“Who’s in charge here?” I asked.

A man behind the desk eyed me with a lazy insolence. “Who’s asking?”

“My name is Avry of Kazan. I’m here at Tohon’s request. Answer my question.”