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“The man who was once the Kennelmaster is dead,” Tallu said. Sagam straightened, and Asahi dropped his hand. “I have my Kennelmaster. What has happened in our absence?”

Tallu headed into the captain’s cabin, not waiting for an answer. Behind us, Spider shook her head. “Of course, use my cabin as you please, Your Imperial Majesty.”

At her sarcasm, Saxu turned his head, but some of her men made softly annoyed sounds, muttering amongst themselves. Saxu glanced at Commander Rede and the other tilted his chin, touching four fingers together and raising his pinky.

We headed inside just as I saw the blood monks appear on the deck. They always looked terrible—caught in the moments of their own death—but this time they looked even worse.

“The pull was terrible,” Lerolian said. “I believe we might need to try to ride with you next time. Something about this forest, the magic in it, wants to keep us. It was difficult to break free.”

I nodded, trying to make the motion seem like I was merely observing the deck. I glanced significantly at the sailors, and Lerolian huffed.

“Back to work, I see?” he muttered to his fellows. “No sense in thanking us. Why express gratitude when you can set us to spy? I hope it will be more interesting than the children. There are only so many times I can listen to them pretending to be flatulent. I do not remember being so childish as a child.”

One of the other monks spoke in the language of the blood mountains, as they usually did when they weren’t speaking directly to Tallu. Only Lerolian continued to speak in Imperial.

“I know I was the Inner Heart!” Lerolian said. “I still do not remember being quite so childish.”

Turning, I entered the captain’s quarters, finding everyone else looking over a map of Tavornai. Tallu was talking about what we had seen as we flew over Tavornai on our way back. Saxu watched him with complete focus.

“That aligns with what we have seen as well. When Prince Airón defeated half of Kacha’s army, the other half circled around and began launching attacks at us from the shore.” Saxu tapped on the map further down from where Naî had built her ice bridge. “We believe it was only a distraction. He used our distraction to attempt to slip in four military ships, attacking us while we were still on the island.”

“Kacha tried to attack you with four ships, when you have the entire pirate navy at your disposal?” I asked, incredulous.

“I do not think he realized that,” Saxu said. “With Namati and his men hanging back, most here at his base, Kacha may have believed there was a rift within Namati’s forces, or between us and Namati.”

“You sank his ships?” Tallu asked. Saxu nodded, pointing to the map where it had happened. “Were there any survivors?”

“No. The creatures in the water ate them before we had a chance to save any.” Saxu frowned. “You wished to question them?”

“These actions seem careless for one as smart as Kacha. Attacking us in the forest with his two thousand men makes sense, but attacking us from shore, using what was left of his Navy as disposable… What is he planning?” Tallu asked. “Based on his actions, I suspect he has more than two thousand men.”

“It is possible. He may have conscripted some or may have retained more of his men than we originally assumed.” Saxu looked down at the map. “If that is true, what would his next move be?”

“Do you have any idea where he is now?” Tallu asked.

“No,” Saxu said. He turned his head and looked at me. “Iradîo offered to go scouting with some of our men, but we thought it best to wait until you returned.”

“I believe that if we do not know where he is, we can still make use of forest magic to force him to where we want,” Tallu said.

“Force him?” Saxu said, then he blinked in understanding. “Just as he used the fire to force us out of the palace, you wish to put something around the edges of Tavornai that would push him onto a battlefield of our choosing?”

Tallu looked at me directly and I blinked, suddenly understanding. Nodding, I turned to Spider. “How many of your men can still use forest magic?”

Her eyebrows went up. “None as well as me. I have some men left who survived the first war with the Imperium, and a few more who escaped having their tendrils removed. Those without tendrils have much less control over the magic.”

She glanced at Sagam who stood still in the corner, his eyes watching for danger, even in this room full of people who should have been allies. He blinked, straightening, glancing at the two men who were actually Dogs. I could see the expression on his face shift as he realized he was there as Kennelmaster, not as Emperor’s Dog.

He came closer to the table. It was impossible to miss the way Asahi followed him with his eyes before letting his gaze snap back to Tallu.

“What do you plan to do with forest magic?” Sagam asked.

“With their help, we can regrow the dark forest wherever we want.” I waved my hand over the map. Trying for a smile, I said, “Where do you want it, my lord?”

“We know where Kacha is not, but we cannot find out where he is without risking more of our men. Even if we were to ask Naî to fly over the entire nation, I would not risk her life or spend her energy on the task.” Tallu looked down at the map, then up at General Saxu. “You are the one who has battled him most recently. What would you advise?”

Saxu took a long breath, considering his words before touching his fingers to the map. “I believe our initial suspicion was correct. He brought the majority of his men through the pass with the Ariphadeus Desert. I suspect he left some there, to guard his main camp and his supplies. If we grow the forest starting here, we can cut him off from that camp.”

“And what if General Kacha is at that main camp?” Tallu asked.