“Mae.”
“Is there time to save Millflower before they attack?”
“I don’t know. I tried to overhear their plans. The men aren’t careful with their words around us, but they didn’t say much about Millflower. They were heading back in that direction, though, so we better move quickly.”
Mae looked pale and gaunt, with bony legs protruding from her ripped dress. “When did you last eat?” Alina asked.
“This morning. I found some berries.”
“Is that all you’ve eaten since you left the group?”
“I ate leaves off a tree yesterday. I’ve been doing that for days. We don’t get much to eat in Gerard’s company.”
Alina gently took her arm and lifted her onto her back. “You’ve done a service for me. Let me do one for you. I’ll carry you.”
Mae did not object, and Alina took off at full speed. Mae spoke in her ear, her voice breaking as she bounced against Alina’s back.
“We were all pretty healthy when we first entered Carthem, coming from an immortal state. But we arrived two weeks ago, and each day we’ve had so little to eat. Gerard gives us one small meal every other day in the evening. The rest of the time we must scavenge for ourselves. The devotion to Gerard provides some adrenaline, but their bodies are weak. We’re so close to death, little is needed to overpower us.”
“But you’re all so frightening, especially you. I thought you the maddest of them all.”
“I’ve gotten good at it. I’ve been feigning madness for years, hoping Sampson would set me free into Carthem.”
Alina raced down the mountain slope. “Do you think there are others like you? Pretending to be mad?”
Mae groaned as she slammed against Alina’s shoulder. “It’s possible, of course, but I don’t think so. They follow Gerard so faithfully. But if there are, they can only help us because they hate Sampson as much as we do.” Alina chuckled in agreement as she jumped over a fallen tree.
“We’re making great time,” Mae said.
“I can travel faster, if you can handle it. Do you think we can beat them to Millflower?”
“Maybe so. It’s about four days’ travel from Millflower to the mine shaft.”
“Mine shaft?”
“That dark pit you were in. Gerard called it that.”
Alina wrinkled her forehead. “I don’t get tired, so yes, I can go faster. But I want to find you some food.”
“I can last until we get to Millflower. Don’t stop for me.”
Alina worried about Mae but also feared arriving too late. She quickened her pace, and after a few hours they reached the base of the mountain and the flat prairie grasses. Mae’s grip loosened on her back. Alina sensed she was asleep.
As the sun set, Alina ran harder, desperate to reach Millflower in time to warn them. But then what? A knot formed in her stomach. Gerard’s army would be hard to defeat. If Mae was right and the Sad Cases were weaker than they looked, Millflower might have a chance. The citizens might be preparing to defend themselves just in case. She hoped so.
As the light from the rising sun hit her face, Mae stirred. “Where are we?” she mumbled.
“Not far from Millflower, I think. I’ve been running through the prairie all night.”
“I hope we’re not too late.”
“Did Gerard or his men speak about the protection Sampson gives them?” Alina asked.
Mae hesitated. “I think so. Gerard told his men they had to stay close to someone in their group, or they could be killed.”
“Do you know who it was?”
“Yes. A man who used to travel with them, but after you came, he walked a short distance away and kept a hood over his face.”
“Stan!”
“I don’t know his name, but he was the one your friend spoke to the night they took you from Millflower. I spied on them from behind a tree.”
“Baylor! What did you see that night?”
“Gerard led Baylor to this man, who was alone. Baylor spoke with him, then spoke to Gerard, who became so furious I thought he might kill someone. Baylor returned to the gate with Gerard screaming from behind.”
“It must be Stan. But how does he protect them? Does he carry something?”
“I have no idea,” Mae answered.
Alina thought for a moment. “You know, Baylor and Lance wondered why we didn’t encounter more dangers when we traveled from the portal. It’s the most dangerous area in Carthem. But when Stan was nearby, we never met anything. Maybe it’s embedded in him—part of the spying chip or something. That’s why Gerard was so protective of him. I bet if Stan died, they’d no longer be safe.”
Alina jumped over a stream, and Mae paused to catch her breath before answering. “You’re probably right. Gerard kept him concealed, which says he’s concerned for his safety.”
Alina’s mind raced. “Mae,” she said, “instead of going to Millflower, let’s find Gerard and his men. Let’s keep this battle from starting. You don’t have to do anything—I know you’re weak. If we sneak up on them, I’m sure I can kill Stan.”
“Sounds good to me,” she said. “I’ve been worried about Gerard noticing my absence. I don’t think he would, but Sampson might’ve told him to keep an extra eye on me.”
“Why is that?”
“A story for another time. Let’s just say Sampson has good reasons not to trust me. But if we find them, I can slip back into the group unnoticed and perhaps aid you in killing him.”
“Yes, that might work,” Alina mused. “I suppose we’ll have to see where they are when we find them. If they’re a good distance from Millflower, it’ll work. If they’re close and about to attack, we’ll have to think of a different plan. Killing Stan only works if there’s time for the wilderness creatures to get them. But with a large group like that, it shouldn’t take long.” Alina swallowed. “I hope I have the courage to do this. I killed once but out of self-defense, and I didn’t intend to. This is different.”
“I understand. But think of it this way—killing him will save
