"You have to tell me, Ragnar." I keep my eyes locked on his face, urging him to give in.

He shakes his head, sighing. "He likely went back to the oasis you just came from," he finally relents, grudgingly.

I frown, fear flowing like ice through my veins. "The oasis? He went to the oasis?"

It takes days to get there. He already has a head start.

"We have to go after him," I say. "Right now. Before it's too late!"

"We are not going anywhere," Ragnar says firmly. And he doesn't look at all moved by my plea. "He decided on this course of action. I say we let him finish it."

Ragnar is angrier at Ryuth than I realized if he's willing to simply let him go, possibly to his death.

Probably to his death.

It's a harsh stance, but the Zmaj are a harsh people. That is why they live by the Edicts—they know their own natures, know how easy it would be to be taken over by the bijass, revert to their primal selves.

I would leave right now, by myself, but it doesn't make any sense for me to go alone. I wouldn't even be able to make it across the desert in one piece. If the carnivorous wildlife didn't get me, the heat most likely would.

Some help to Ryuth that would be.

No. I need Ragnar to come with me. Even angry, he's the only one who has a vested interest in Ryuth. I wrack my brain for a way to convince him that going is a good idea, to get him to look past his apparently impenetrable anger at his brother.

But something else occurs to me as I struggle along that avenue of thought. The only reason Ragnar is sitting back and letting this happen is because he's so sure Ryuth won't succeed in his plan to kill the queen.

He's sure that Ryuth will die in the process. But why is that a given?

"What if he succeeds?" I blurt out quickly as Ragnar takes a step towards the cliff face. "What if you're wrong and he actually fulfills his mission?"

He stops, hesitating.

"What then?" I push.

"What are you talking about?" he growls, scowling.

I don't care if he's pissed. I can easily match it.

"What if Ryuth succeeds in killing the zemlja queen?" I repeat. "What if he kills the queen and destroys the hive?"

"He won't," Ragnar says flatly. "It isn't possible."

"Isn't it?" I counter. "You remember how he fought when he showed up with the Zzlo, how difficult it was to bring him down. And that was when he didn't have a clear thought in his mind. How much more dangerous is he now that he can strategize? Think his actions through?"

I can see doubt seeping into Ragnar's expression as I lay everything out for him. But he shakes his head again, still refusing to entertain the possibility.

Damn it.

"He is only one Zmaj. I do not care how fierce a fighter he is—one Zmaj could not accomplish such a task. It is not physically possible."

"Even one Zmaj can get lucky," I retort. I need to go in for the kill. Ragnar is on the edge of simply walking away. "And what will happen to all of us if he does succeed?" I point out. "No hive means no more epis. The Zmaj will last longer than us humans, that's true. But eventually we'll all die." I take a breath, feeling a little bad about adding what I say next. But it is the truth. And it might be what I need to sway him. "Including Olivia. Including Malcolm."

Ragnar's face twists in rage and he turns away from me, his tail whipping out behind him in agitation.

I wonder if I've gone too far.

If I pushed too hard and destroyed any chance of him—

"I will go," Ragnar says, his voice deep with rage. "I will go and stop my fool brother from carrying out this insanity." He looks back at me over his shoulder. "Are you satisfied now?"

I feel almost faint with relief. "Oh, good. Can—"

"You have said enough," he interrupts, no give to his voice. "I will collect Melchior and Bashir. We will leave at once. Ryuth is too far ahead of us as it is."

Melchior and Bashir are his fellow hunters and his best friends. I have no doubt they'll follow his lead. Even Bashir, who doesn't exactly have a soft spot for Ryuth after everything that has happened.

I hurry after Ragnar as he starts to walk back to the caves, his stride fast and determined now that he's come around.

"I'm coming with you," I call out to him as I try to keep pace but fail.

All the Zmaj are just so tall, their legs making their strides so much longer.

"No. You are not," he says without turning around. "You will only slow our journey and be a burden in a fight. You will stay here where you are not in the way."

Okay, I'd be lying if that didn't sting.

Even if it is true.

I don't say anything as we near the others, but there's no way I'm staying behind. I need to be there for Ryuth.

"Melchior! Bashir!" Ragnar barks out, his voice pitched to carry.

Everyone nearby turns to look, curious.

"What's going on?" Astrid murmurs, coming up to me. "Did you find Ryuth?"

I shake my head no. "No. We're going after him right now."

Ragnar looks over at me sharply, his expression foreboding. "How many times do I have to explain there is no we," he bites out. "You will stay here, out from underfoot."

Luckily, that's when Melchior and Bashir show up, faces sharp with concern.

"What is it?" Melchior asks, his eyes going from me to Ragnar. "Why did you call for us?"

Bashir stands silently by his side, his gaze curious and watchful.

"My brother has left on an ill-fated mission to destroy the zemlja queen," he says quietly, low enough that the others can't hear, though I'm sure they're trying to. "If he succeeds, it might mean the death of all the zemlja," he lets that sit for a moment before continuing. "And thus the epis they fertilize."

A stunned silence from both his friends.

But it doesn't last long at all.

"We are going after him?" Bashir asks, his face grim. "To stop him?"

"Yes."

"Good. We can pack supplies and weapons and leave right now." Bashir looks over at Melchior who nods at him in agreement.

"I'm going with you too," I insert before they leave.

The two don't greet this news with grins. Way to make a girl feel unwanted. Too bad I don't care if I'm wanted, or frankly, liked. I have more important matters on my mind.

"If I have to tie you down, I will," Ragnar snaps at me. "Do not be stupid."

"If anyone here is being stupid, it's you," I retort. His nostrils flare and his head lowers as he glares at me. I glare back. "Who's going to stop Ryuth if we catch him? Huh? Who's going to convince him to abandon his ridiculous plan? You?" I scoff. "You lost that chance when you let him leave last night. He's not going to listen to you." I look over at Bashir. "He's definitely not going to listen to you." I turn back to Ragnar. "None of you will get through to him. You need me."

Silence.

"She is not wrong," Bashir murmurs after a tense moment, surprising me with his agreement. "This will go more smoothly if we can reason with him."

I look at Ragnar expectantly.

Come on.

Admit I'm right.

He looks up in exasperation, throwing his hands up. "Fine," he concedes. "You may come."

"Thank you!" I exclaim, taking a step back, already thinking of what I have to pack for another trip to that place.

"But you will follow every order we give you," Ragnar continues, his tone brooking no arguments. "If I say jump, you will not first ask me why. You will simply jump because I have ordered it. Understand?"

"Yes. Loud and clear," I say seriously. And the demand doesn't bother me. I don't have an ego when it comes to something like this. "I know you know what you're doing much better than I do."

Contrary to what he might think, I'm not stupid. Looking somewhat mollified, but still unhappy, he nods. "Go prepare," he says, turning to Bashir and Melchior. "You as well. We will meet at the wall as soon as we are ready."

We all murmur our agreement and break. It doesn't take me long to grab my backpack and fill it with the supplies I wish I had during that first trip to the oasis.

The entire time I'm gathering them, I'm thinking of Ryuth. Why didn't he talk to me? He knew he was leaving. That was why he was so distant last night. It must even be why he tried to push me away when we left the oasis.

And his past-- that was why he kept telling me he wasn't good enough for me. That I would find someone else, someone better.

Didn't he know he's it for me? That I don't want anyone else?

Idiot.

I'm going to have to set him straight.

I shoulder my backpack, my mood grim. I don't know how everything could be so perfect one second and be so completely upside down the next. Did he really even understand what he was doing? How could the reasoning he'd first used to come up with this plan still apply now when his entire world is so different? When we're living post-Devastation?

When almost nothing is left?

Doesn't he understand that killing the queen means killing me?

There's just so much I need to tell him, to explain to him. He has to listen. I'm not even going to consider that he won't.

Adjusting my pack, the lightness of it worries me. There isn’t enough epis for me to pack some. Our supplies are getting low plus it doesn’t last long once it’s harvested.

On my way to the wall, I'm stopped by the women again. By my friends. I open my mouth, not knowing how I'm going to explain what's actually going on, when Olivia interrupts.

"We know you're going after Ryuth," she says, smiling a little. "I understand. I would go after Ragnar too."

"We just wanted to wish you luck," Penelope explains.

I smile, feeling a little misty-eyed by the support but trying to hide the reaction.

Stupid eyes.

"Thanks guys. That's really sweet of you."

They all hug me in turn. I bolster myself with each one, with each show of solidarity.

"Oh, and we also wanted to ask you to bring back some more of that fruit," Astrid says, with a grin. "Might as well multi-task while you're out there trying to save your man, right?"

I let out a wet laugh, shaking my head. "I'll try."

With one last wave goodbye, I close the rest of the distance to the wall. There's no time to waste. Ragnar, Melchior, and Bashir are already waiting, packs and lochabers in hand.

Ragnar nods as I approach and steps closer to me.

"We must leave," he says, wrapping an arm around my waist. "The only way to move swiftly is if we help you."

I nod. I was going to ask him to anyway.

"Let's go."

The wall, the last bit of protection between us and the rest of Tajss, is behind us. And then we're heading into the sun-baked desert at a swift pace, Ragnar keeping me from sinking into the sand. I can't help but wish for Ryuth's arm around my waist instead.

I can't wait to have him in my arms again.

After I've given him a thorough dressing-down for this ridiculous plan, of course.

But he has such a big lead. What if we don't make it in time? What if that last time with Ryuth was the last time, like he'd intended it to be? What if he'll never call me his treasure again? What if I can never speak with him again?

What if . . . what if he's already gone?

I shake my head, trying to dispel the thought.

Hold on, Ryuth.

We're coming.