As soon as they were out of earshot, Montague held up the Thornblade. “Is this kind of thing really all y’get for that Hero stuff?”

  “She can probably still hear us,” said Ian, “or at least her people can. The whole forest is suffused with fey influence.”

  “Can’t say as I care,” huffed the Captain, “Heroes seem to get the short end of the stick. All that, and this is all we get for it?”

  “Well, we didn’t really do it for the reward,” said Jamie, tucking the Golden Fruit into his bag.

  “We did it because we didn’t have much of a choice!” answered Montague.

  Jamie beamed at her. “That’s exactly it, though! That’s why Heroes do the things they do. They don’t expect rewards, they’re just a nice bonus if they happen.”

  Montague shook the Thornblade at him. “She gave me a stick, lad.”

  Ian smirked at her. “A sharp stick, dear Captain,” he said, “Don’t sell it short.”

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  “I’m going to poke you with my sharp stick, Mr. Blackwing.” She hefted their heavy pack up higher on her shoulder.

  Ian held the Emerald Stone in his hand. “Okay, same rules here,” he said, “I need this to open the lock, but you can hang onto it for now.” He held the Stone out to Jamie. “This will increase your physical strength, so you can help Montague out with carrying the gear, like you wanted to.”

  Montague snatched it from his hand with a glower and shoved it into her pocked. “Give me that. ...I don’t feel any different.”

  Ian shrugged. “I did say they only offered a small boost.”

  The trees seemed thinner. At least they were almost out of the woods.

  * * *

  Adelchis woke in darkness, only the light of the purple flames playing over him. He body still ached all over, days after Lily’s poison spell, and his head was pounding. He looked out of the dingy cell into the corridor beyond.

  Lily could at least have given him the nice one, instead of putting him into the same cell he’d rescued her from. Damsels were usually more grateful about being rescued, in his experience.

  Not that he’d seen her since he woke up here.

  He pushed on the door again, but he was far too weak and unarmed to even think about breaking it—not that it was a very reasonable option even if he’d been at full strength. He needed the key.

  He needed someone to bring the key to him.

  It was really unfortunate there weren’t any Heroes out there coming to rescue him.