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“Can you walk?” Jeddak asked, turning away from me. I tried—and failed—not to feel disappointed watching him pull away again. “We need to find Kah and keep going. By my estimate, it should take several more days to cross through these lands. If—” he cut off, but I already knew the risks.

Ifthe map was accurate.Ifwe could navigate through this deadly maze.Ifthe Bramble tribe didn’t find us.Ifwe didn’t get poisoned by the bramble—again.

But we were in the middle of it now, so it was too late for the list ofifs.

“I’m fine,” I said, though I knew I didn’t sound very convincing. Despite the bramble poison rendering me unconscious for the entire night, I didn’t feel well rested. My muscles ached, my body felt heavy. Even my hair hurt, if that was possible. I had no idea how I was going to stand for five minutes without passing out, let alone hike for days on end. But lingering in the bramblelands wasn’t an option. Somehow, I’d have to find the strength to go on.

“Kah!” Jeddak called out, as we scrambled down from the wet rocks back to the path. His voice was absorbed into thick silence. He scanned the bleak landscape. “He should’ve been back by now.”

“I’m sure he’s on his way,” I said, trying to sound reassuring, despite feeling unnerved. I hadn’t realized how much Kah’s presence had been helping me feel safe until he wasn’t here anymore.

The sound of flapping wings echoed in the distance, but there was no sign of Kah. Why a bird—or any creature—would come to this inhospitable place, I had no idea.

Finally, we heard a rustling nearby. I was about to breathe a sigh of relief that Kah was back when I saw Jeddak reach for his staff.

“What’s wrong?” I whispered.

“It’s not Kah,” he said, his warm breath visible in the cold air. He stepped closer to me. “We’re not alone.”

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw the forest moving like the bramble had come alive. I blinked several times to shake off the effects of the poison and exhaustion.

Then I saw them.

Dozens of tall figures silently materialized out of the bramble like black ghosts.

The Bramblemen.

Jeddak pulled me toward him until my back was pressed against his chest. “Don’t move,” he breathed in my ear.

But there was nowhere to move as the figures encircled us, leveling their spears at our chests. I’d never seen anyone like them. Their skin was as black as the bramble, their pale silver eyes as sharp as the thorns. The leather armor they wore moved like a seamless second skin. Nothing about them said they were there to welcome us.

“Let us pass,” Jeddak ground out, gripping his staff.

I drew the knife from my belt.

“That we cannot do,” said one of the Bramblemen, his footsteps falling silent on the ground as he stalked forward like a panther. He matched Jeddak’s height, but he was leaner, more agile.

“We mean you no harm,” Jeddak said, his hawk-like gold eyes tracking the man’s every movement.

“And yet, you have trespassed on our land.” His gaze flicked back and forth between us. “The harm has already been done.”

My pulse hammered in my chest. This wasn’t going to end well.

“We have no quarrel with you. Let us pass and we will leave this place as quickly as we’ve come,” Jeddak said, wielding a diplomatic tone.

“No one leaves this place.”

More shadowy figures advanced forward. Jeddak stepped in front of me like a shield. I could feel his muscles tighten and his breathing become shallow. He was ready to fight.

Jeddak spoke through gritted teeth. “Trust me, you don’t want to contend with a Kovak.”

The man smiled at the threat, his white teeth bright against his dark skin. “You’re fairly confident for a Kovak who seems to be missing his bear.”

At that, Jeddak flinched. “What did you do to him?”

“Nothing … yet,” the man said, pointing his spear at Jeddak’s heart. I noticed the tips of the spears were made from the thorns of the bramble. “Drop your weapons.”

Jeddak’s unyielding stance gave his answer.No.