Once Kershov had led the Saw Tooth brigade into Abendrot—consisting of a male named Henadin and Queen Moth herself—the arctic dragga felt a piercing need to get away from them. He left them at the entrance of Channing’s makeshift den, certain that these strangely honorable wolves would not stray too far from their comrade, and forced his paws toward Abendrot’s center. There he’d be able to find peace and quiet. There the trees grew together so intimately that shadows forever splashed the ground. Once, Ker had tried to avoid cutting directly through the heart of his territory; as a tundra creature he was accustomed to wide-open spaces and endless horizons. Now the sweet press of forest growth on either side of his sleek white sides felt like a welcoming embrace.

He smelled Skeletor before he saw her.

Her scent had been erratic throughout the kingdom, marred with whatever sickness or injury had befallen her since that horrifying flood. Kershov did not worry about her—he didn’t really worry about any of his subjects—but he still felt curious as to how the young warrioress was holding up. She hadn’t sought out help from any of the healers . . . although, to be honest, it seemed the healing guild had waned as of late. Hopefully fair relations with Saw Tooth would fix such a problem. Altering his path slightly, Ker wove through clinging branches and fragrant piles of decomposing leaves until he discovered a shivering, miserable bundle of black fur.

“Skeletor?” murmured the polar phantom. He reached out a paw and laid it experimentally on her trembling shoulder. Then he moved that same massive paw to rest on her brow, feeling the heat of her radiate from her soft-furred forehead. She had not succumbed to disease, apparently; this crippling pain had been brought on by some unknown injury. “Answer me, Skeletor.” With surprising delicacy, Kershov deftly used one curving talon to gently lift one of the girl’s eyelids, watching her iris contract with interest sparking in his own. . . and vague concern. One of his pawns was clearly broken. He needed them to be operating in top condition at all times. “How long have you been like this? If you don’t tell me, I cannot restore you.”