Kindra's army crossed through the pass just after noon and reached Camden Valley well before dark. There were still plenty of Aledans in the other tribes who had not gone to the wedding or been captured, but they hid when they saw the dark-haired army coming.

She led the Gaerloms upriver to Fie Wain where they could camp for the night and plan. As they entered the field where the kilns were kept, a man walked over, shock registering as he took a good look at her.

"Kindra Odion?"

"Carrick Wain." She stopped before him as he eyed the men behind her. "How did you get out?" She remembered seeing him—and all of the chief families of the Seven Tribes—in the inner circle during the wedding.

"The Gods favor me; it was pure luck." He turned back to her. "And you?"

"A bird got me out."

"Oh yes? One of your new husband's men?" Carrick crossed his arms and glared at her. "I saw his guards carry him out—did he send you back with the rest of his army to destroy us?"

Destroy them? He couldn't be serious. "These aren’t Obsidians. This is the tribe my sister wintered with." He looked doubtful and she frowned. "I went to get help."

He took another long look at the dark-haired men with her. "We thought you ran to safety with Obsid."

Her frown deepened. “Your undying faith in me is truly uplifting.”

“What would you expect us to think?” He crossed his arms. “You accepted Gar’s flute and the next moon you were getting jewelry from Obsid.”

She took a deep breath and narrowed her eyes. “And we all know how much I love jewelry.”

“You divided the tribe. You were at war with Oak. Of course you would go to Obsid for an ally.”

Kindra’s fingers squeezed the spear until it felt like her hands would break. “If you thought I wanted to be chief of the Seven Tribes, why would I marry Obsid? Why would I exile myself? Why…” She looked away, lips pressed together until she could speak without yelling. “I’m not the one who sold us. I bought us back. My life, for all of yours.”

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“Bought us back from who?”

“The Obsidians.” Kindra’s hands finally loosened on her spear and her shoulders sagged. “Oak sold the Tribes to Obsid at the battle for Deer Valley. He killed my father and became chief with Obsid’s blessing. We needed to give Obsid something he wanted before we could kill his puppet chief.”

"And he wanted you?" Carrick raised an eyebrow.

Kindra nodded. "He wanted the last Odion warrior. After the ceremony, Oak would be dead, Petoskey would become chief, and the Tribes would know the truth. But we couldn't tell anyone before the ceremony lest they kill Oak and bring down Obsid's wrath. My husband made that very clear—one misstep and we were all dead."

Carrick grabbed her arm. "Petoskey and Oak are dead."

She expected one, but not both. "At who's hand?"

"Pike's."

So Pike was the one behind the attack, not Obsid. Apparently, the Obsidians were upset enough about the marriage to follow an Aledan into battle. Or Corbin was power-hungry and had been waiting for an opportunity to kill his chief and take control. She bit her lips together and closed her eyes. "And Gar?"

"I don't know. He was injured, but no one who got out has seen him well enough to know how bad."

She stuck her tongue between her teeth so he wouldn't hear them shaking, and jumped when a hand landed on her shoulder. It was Bryant and she took a deep breath. "What of Kaye? And the others?"

"Kaye is unharmed, but taken prisoner with the High Priestess. We don't know what he plans to do with them. Monkey is alive—for now. Osprey is missing."

Kindra shooed the name away with her hand. "If the Obsidians are smart, then Osprey is dead. How many men does Pike have?"

"More than you do." Carrick looked at the Gaerloms, a frown etched deep across his face. "I'd say with all of us combined he still has three to one."

Three to one. Three men took down Fennec, and none of the men Kindra had were warriors. They knew how to hunt, but fight? It was a different beast.

"Surprise will help," she said. "If we can get weapons to the warriors…”

"Three to one against an injured warrior?" He shook his head. "I don't like those odds."

She slammed the spear down into the ground. "I don't care about the odds."

There was a noise in the woods and they all turned, spears ready. Nothing showed itself, but Kindra heard the sound again and heart swelled with happiness. She ran into the woods, scanning between the trees until she found him.

"Thank Eoin," she sighed and wrapped her hand around the horse's neck. Eoin made his ‘puh’ noise as the others followed her into the woods. When she turned to them, Carrick smiled.

"Well then, Monster Tamer, I believe the God has given you his blessing. Let's go to war."