Tang, the young guard who’d defected, was a good fifty feet ahead of us as we walked in the direction of where Burn, Ruck, and Sneak were waiting. We’d continue through the night to put some distance between us and Bedlam.

We were already a couple of miles out, and I was still waiting for King Harvos to send someone after us. I wasn’t sure if I was afraid for us, or to see what would happen to them.

Ryker noticed me looking back every few minutes. “He won’t come for me head-on again, not now. I walked through his trap too easily. It’ll take him a while to come at me again,” Ryker said as I turned back around.

“King Harvos told me some interesting things,” I said, looking for something other than a mound of dead bodies to think on.

“Did he now?” There was no surprise in his voice, as if he’d expected this.

“Yes. Nearly unbelievable things.”

“Everything is possible.” He shrugged.

“I did think maybe what he was telling me was true. But then I figured that someone who’d lived that long would be wise and patient, so it couldn’t possibly be true. Someone like that wouldn’t have tossed a person into a lake.”

“I think there might be limits to the most patient person, like getting punched in the mouth.” It sounded like he’d said the word while smiling.

“You could’ve told me who you were.”

“Before or after you suggested we keep on hating each other?”

“I hope you don’t expect me to call you king.”

“Definitely don’t call me the Cursed King, unless you want the Valley to empty out in a day. I don’t have the best reputation. I was hoping for a clean start.” His teasing wasn’t going to stop my questions.

“How many know?” As I waited, a fear that I really wasn’t going to like his answer kept growing.

“If King Harvos is telling you, probably too many.” His sigh said it all.

“Did you get what you needed?”

“Yes.” The word didn’t hold any happiness, though. It was more as if he were resigned to his actions, for better or worse.

“Are you going to tell me what it is?”

“No. I’m going to show it to you.” He pulled a piece of rock out of his pocket and held it up.

“What is that? Please tell me I didn’t risk my life for a small piece of stone.” Along with a pile of other people.

“It’s a very special piece of stone.”

Even in the moonlight, a glint of rainbow sparked from it, as if it were lit from within. This wasn’t a stone.

“What is that?” I lifted my fingers, itching to touch it but scared. You never knew what magic would do to you, and this thing was definitely strong magic, but I hadn’t felt it.

He smiled. “It’s part of something much larger.”

“Do I want to know what it’s a part of?”

He put the stone back in his pocket, looking forward as he said, “That’s up to you. Once you know, it’s going to be hard to walk away.”

“I didn’t think leaving was an option.”

He turned to me, eyes intent on mine. “I don’t know how to release you, but after we go to the Debt Collector, if you want to leave, I’ll find some way.”

I didn’t say yes or no, only stared at him until I chickened out and looked forward. I didn’t know what I wanted.

We walked back into camp, Sneak sitting beside where Burn was leaning against a boulder, all bandaged. Ruck turned and ran over, giving me the best bear hug I’d ever gotten in my life.

“Who’s the newbie?” Sneak asked.

“Tang,” the kid said.

Sneak walked over, quizzing him as I moved over to Burn.

“How you feeling?”

“Well enough to make a blow torch if needed,” Burn replied.

I smiled and patted the shoulder furthest from his bandaging.

His smile faded and he turned deadly serious. “Thanks for drawing them away.”

“I didn’t see a reason for both of us to get caught.”

“I owe you one,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll pay you back at some point though,” he added, winking.

He thought I was stuck with Ryker, and I might be. Or I might not.

I nodded, keeping that to myself.