Page 260 of Phoenix's Fire

Kanik reached over to clasp my arm. "Be safe, okay?" Then he stepped back. "Those fighting with me can group up over here!"

"I'll take that side!" Drozel bellowed, pointing across the open area even as he walked that way.

And from the back, Omden whistled. "Everyone else can come with me. Sounds like we're taking the west side so we'll have it easy!"

Zasen chuckled at that, then turned me toward his sister. "Do you think Tobias will be out there?"

My head snapped up. "I didn't even think of that. What if he's not?"

"Then we'll kill them the way we have been," he assured me. "I'm just hoping he will be there."

"Me too," I breathed.

"Joining my team?" Jeera teased. "I hear you dog owners are a force to be reckoned with."

"She not," Zasen said, "and I came to make sure you're not going to be stupid."

"Nope," Jeera said. "Brielle said that if I get myself killed, she'll take me to the Moles herself. Not really into becoming a meal, so I think I'll stay alive."

"Good," I told her. "And how's Meri?"

"Excited about helping," Jeera promised. "Brielle's worried about her, but seeing the way she's perked up? I think she needs this."

"No one wants to feel like they're locked in a cage," I explained. "Down there, it was a miserable one. Up here, we worry it's a pretty one to show off, but still a cage. Helping makes us feel like we're not only useful, but able to make our own decisions."

"Noted," Jeera said. "And Lessa's helping at the daycare to get everything organized, then she'll be with Rymar. The doctors are all on call until sundown, then the hospital will probably be overstaffed."

"I'm hoping it's all pointless," Zasen said.

"But better safe than sorry," Jeera pointed out. "And yeah, we'll all be happy if we've been worried for nothing." Then she bent to look at my dog. "And you be a good girl. Okay, Holly?"

Holly wagged with enthusiasm, which made Jeera pet her a little more. But Jeera's group was gathering, and the numbers clearly weren't even. Drozel had the most, Kanik the next, with Jeera and Omden having about half as many. That meant Zasen got to convince some people to shift to another group until the numbers were even enough.

Like they had before, people were trading arrows, but this time, someone had a jar of clear fluid. A few people were dunking their arrows in it, which meant it was probably venom. The guys had already prepared my arrows, so I should be good on that front, but it made me think about something else.

"We should give Tobias a poisoned arrow," I told Zasen.

"Why?" he asked.

"For Callah!" I said. "A weapon she can defend herself with." But then I paused. "She won't be able to hide it, though."

"The book is more than enough," he assured me. "It will prepare her for what's up here, break the lies down there, and hopefully we'll be able to get her out before the Moles come again."

"We just need the code and a map," I said. "Which means Tobias better be here."

"Exactly," he agreed.

Soon enough, it was time for all of us to head out. Unlike last time, we were leaving well before sundown. It was early afternoon, which meant we had at least four hours of sunlight to get to the Moles. And while Zasen hadn't announced it, I knew he and Drozel were hoping to find their camp.

If we could surprise them while it was still daylight? The Moles wouldn't have a chance. They'd barely be able to see through their weeping eyes, while we'd pick them off easily. My fear was Tobias wouldn't have his arrows on him, so might get killed.

We should've planned this better. We hadn't had time, and I'd been too shocked at what he'd told me, but I should'vethoughtabout it. Then again, I didn't trust him enough to tell him our plans - which I hadn't known then - because if he did betray us, then more Dragons would die.

I just wanted him to be there. I wanted him to prove he was trustworthy. I wanted everything he said about Callah to be true, but I could never forget that Moles lied. The simple fact that Tobias had always allowed us to think he was an idiot was proof he did it too.

I could understand why, but I couldn't trust him. He wasn't a Dragon. He wasn't one of my friends. He wasn't necessarily my enemy either, so I was giving him a chance, and while I hadn't told the guys, I was terrified I'd been too desperate. I'd accepted everything he'd said because I knew him. Because he had Callah's message. Mostly, because I really wanted what he'd said to be true.

"Hey Drozel?" Zasen called as we made it out of the town walls and aimed straight for the dense trees of the forest instead of the road. "You going to be able to keep your tail intact this time?"