The wise one’s tunnel opened into a small gap in the middle of a patch of thick brush. Damien followed Leah out, with Jen bringing up the rear. After what seemed like a long time underground, the fresh breeze and smell of evergreens made a welcome change. Judging from the shadows it was around midmorning.

Damien’s stomach grumbled. Some breakfast would have been nice, but all their supplies were back in the temple and he wasn’t anxious to go and get them. Damien conjured a bird and added a transformation so it would shift into the letters “ok” when it reached the archmage’s office. It wasn’t an ideal solution, but at least she’d know they were still alive and working on the problem.

The moment Jen’s foot cleared the tunnel it collapsed in on itself. No one could reach the wise one now, not without a lot of digging. Leah stared at the ground and spun in a circle. When she finished the slow-motion pirouette Damien raised an eyebrow. “Which way?”

“East.” Leah walked toward the thick brush and it parted for her.

Damien expanded his shield, conjured another around Jen to protect her clothes, and followed Leah into the brush.

They hadn’t gone more than thirty feet when the thick scrub gave way to huge old trees that towered over them, blocking most of the light. Shadows danced in the corner of his vision as the wind made the branches sway. This would be a perfect place for an ambush. Lucky no one knew where they were.

Leah trudged on, her gaze fixed on the ground like a hunting dog. Damien wished he could see what she saw, even just for a moment. He hated being completely dependent on someone else. The woods were open enough that Jen could walk beside him.

“When you charged me with your sword drawn I thought you’d lost your mind.”

Damien glanced at her and smiled. “Didn’t you hear the soul force eater coming up behind you?”

“I was so drained it was a wonder I could put one foot in front of the other. You killed it without using sorcery?”

“You sound surprised. I kept up with my training even while I studied sorcery. I might not be a warlord, but I can still fight.”

“I know, but it would have been interesting to see the look on Dad’s face if you came home twenty pounds overweight and barely able to swing your sword.”

“Interesting for you maybe. I doubt I would have survived.” Damien stopped. A faint hint of corruption swirled through the air. Weak and still distant, whatever he sensed lay dead ahead of them. “Leah.”

Jen stopped, but Leah kept going like he hadn’t spoken.

“Leah!”

She stumbled and turned to face him. “What?”

“Can’t you feel it? Maybe half a mile ahead of us. Something nasty is waiting.”

She turned back and a few seconds later stiffened. “It’s so…wrong. I’ve wandered this forest my whole life and I’ve never felt anything like this. What is it?”

“Demonic corruption. We’ve seen it before,” Damien said.

“Is there another demon?” Jen asked.

He couldn’t decide if she was nervous, eager for another shot at one, or a little of both. “It’s too diffused. When we fought the goblins the power was all in one place, this is different. Is there another way to our destination?”

Leah turned back toward them, her forehead creased. “I’m sure there is, but the line I’m following leads straight through it. We might be able to find a way around, but I couldn’t guess how long that might take.”

Damien grunted and looked at his sister. “What do you think?”

“The longer this takes the better the chance of something else happening to the capital. I say we plow through and deal with whatever gets in our way.”

Damien nodded, not especially surprised. It might be tricky. Jen could take care of herself, but Leah was just a normal woman, leaving aside her ability to see earth force. He’d have to keep a shield around her at all times. Somehow he doubted the plants up ahead would be inclined to do as they were told.

The changes started ten minutes later. The trees turned scabrous and their bark started to peel. The ground cover thinned then vanished, leaving only dead ash behind. Birds fell silent—or more likely they’d abandoned this part of the forest. Over it all lay the perfume of rot.

Ahead of them Leah trembled as she walked. She was probably more sensitive to the changes than he and Jen. She kept her gaze down and her step firm. If anything stopped them it wouldn’t be her lack of determination.

A high-pitched shriek came from above them an instant before a gray blur struck Leah. She staggered and tore at whatever had hit her.

Damien and Jen rushed to help. They reached her side just as she threw it away from her. The ball of fur scrambled to its feet and spun to face them. Red eyes glowed above the fang-filled mouth of the meanest looking squirrel Damien had ever seen. Its fluffy tail had been replaced by a clump of quills that would have made a porcupine jealous.

It hissed and Damien blasted it. “You okay?”

Leah touched her face, but Damien’s shield had held. “How can I be okay when things like that exist in the world? I never imagined such a thing was possible.”

Damien decided not to mention the raccoons from the slaughterhouse. “If demon squirrels are the worst thing we run into we’ll be fine. How does the earth force look?”

“It’s still pure. The energy comes from the planet core. I can’t imagine how much power it would take to corrupt that source. Thanks for the shield.”

“Sure. If you’re ready we should move on.”

Leah took a steadying breath and set out at a determined march. She had guts, no doubt about it. He suspected she’d need all she had before this unnatural hike was over.