"What's the matter with the King?" I hiss to Cardan as we're dragged along on yet another of Madoc's awful garden walks. We're surrounded by guards, and Madoc leads Taryn, Birch and the kids up ahead, but no one turns to look at me or Cardan. We're not important: all Madoc cares about is that we don't run off, straight to the crowd of onlookers lurking in the woods surrounding the estate.

"What's the matter with him?" I repeat, whispering into Cardan's ear. I have my arm hooked in his, and we walk slowly; hopefully, if anyone does pay any attention to us, we'll just look like a pair of whispering lovers. "Why won't he respond to your message? Are you sure Heartwood got it out to him?"

"She swore she did," he murmurs back. "And who am I to plumb the twisted depths of my father's mind? I barely ever even knew the man. He'll respond or he won't, but there's nothing we can do to make him."

I sigh, unable to deny this. I look ahead, to where Philomel scampers along, hair shining in the afternoon sunlight. I give a silent, humorless laugh. Talk about not knowing anything about your father. Yet another reason why I am determined that our plan should work. Having Balekin for a father isn't a fate I'd wish on anyone, much less my own niece.

Now Philomel has trotted off, trying to approach our audience, and Taryn runs after her, dragging her back as Madoc gestures and the guards close in. Madoc draws Philomel aside, hissing something. I catch the words "…Again, and I will put you back under the leashing spell…"

Philomel's head comes up angrily, but Taryn takes her hand, and she subsides. Madoc straightens and says something to her, but she turns away, taking Dogwood's hand too. My sister's back is stiff, her face bowed and cold.

I can't stop staring. I still can't believe Taryn is resisting Madoc, and doing it so well, and for so long. "I never knew Taryn had it in her," I whisper to Cardan.

"Neither did I," he whispers back. "But I'm not surprised, either. Your twin sister has always been rather unforgiving."

"What?" I blink at him in surprise. "What do you mean? I always thought she was the kindhearted one and I was the one who didn't forgive."

"In some ways, yes," he shrugs. "In other ways, not so much. You get angry quickly, Jude, but you are willing to give people second chances. Taryn is the opposite: she takes a long time to truly anger, but once she does—once you finally provoke her hatred—she will hate you forever, and there are no second chances."

"How do you mean?"

He pauses a long moment, thoughtful. "If it had been Taryn who came across me, that night after Balekin threw me out," he says at last, "she would not have saved me. She would have walked around me, and pretended she never saw me, and never even mention my name to anyone. She would have left me to my fate."

I think back to the first family dinner, when Taryn sat icy-eyed, refusing to eat, and I thought of a glacier, crushing Madoc beneath its inexorable progress. "That is probably what she'd do," I agree. "So you think Madoc has run out of chances with Taryn?"

"Oh, yes," he says softly. "The Grand General has put himself well beyond Taryn's forgiveness now, and it may cost him dear."

Reflexively, I want to deny this: what could Taryn possibly do against Madoc? But I check myself: Taryn's not some powerless and deeply depressed mortal child anymore. She's unicorn-blessed, the mother of the Lost Heir, and, most importantly, she has allies, inside and outside the house.

And, speaking of which, here come some now. Chieftainess Heartwood sweeps down from the woods, scattering courtiers like the dust from her ragged skirts, smoke trailing from her eternal pipe, the goblin twins just behind. She talks to Taryn and Birch a moment before stepping off in close conference with Madoc. I frown. Just what are she and Madoc up to? Does it have anything to do with Eldred's continued silence?

The kids come scampering back, Philomel running ahead of Dogwood. "Hey, Aunt Jude!" Philomel says. "Heartwood says hi."

"To you too, Uncle Cardan," Dogwood adds judiciously.

"That's good," I say, still watching the adults up ahead. The goblin twins have stepped into place beside Taryn and Birch. I'd give a great deal to know what they're saying. I'm fairly sure Heather is up to something with Alder and Elder, but what?

"Good of you to convey her greetings," says Cardan. "Do you know what the Chieftainess is saying to the General?"

"No," says Dogwood, shrugging. "She said she wished she could tell Birch, but she couldn't."

Cardan and I exchange looks. This does sound rather suspicious—and exciting. My heart pounds a little, with anxiety and eagerness.

Philomel, however, kicks at the gravel on the path. "I hate all these secrets," she mutters, hair shining white in the sun.

"They do get a bit tiresome, don't they?" Cardan says sympathetically. "Some people, however, can't seem to get enough of them." He gives me a sidelong grin.

"One of us has to," I growl back. I peer ahead again, just in time to see the twins melt back into the trees, cackling softly. Heartwood, meanwhile, continues her conference with Madoc.

Plots within plots. I suspect Taryn's planning something with Oriana, too, over their afternoon sewing sessions, though I can't imagine what. Taryn and Oriana. Heartwood and Madoc—perhaps. The twins and Heather. Me and Cardan. Balekin planning who knows what. Perhaps Philomel is right when she says there are too many secrets around these days. Something has got to give, and soon.

As it turns out, it does give, a few days later, when Madoc summons us all to his study and announces that Heather has a scheme.

Once Heather explains the plan and the shouting's done, things move fast.

I watch Taryn practice wearing Heather's wire, concealing the equipment under her clothes and moving around her sitting room, walking vigorously, waving her arms, stretching and kicking. It's vital that none of the recording equipment shows, no matter what she does. This operation must go off without a hitch, or we're all done for.

Taryn seems to be willing enough, though her face is grim, mouth a thin line of determination. The kids both think this scheme is amazing and clamor constantly for a turn with the wire. But Oriana is furious. She helps Taryn practice, adjusts her clothing to cover up the wire, but her expression is set with rage, and I haven't seen her so much as exchange a word with Madoc since he announced the plan.

"What's the matter, Oriana?" I demand, the day before the full moon. Taryn is going to meet Balekin tonight. All the other knights and I are prepared, ready to secretly escort her to the meeting place and lie in wait, just in case. Madoc will be with us too. Taryn should be safe. But still Oriana seems utterly furious.

She gives me an icy look. "What's the matter, Jude, is that my daughter is going to go face her rapist tonight as part of an extremely chancy scheme that has every possibility of blowing up in all our faces. Tell me, should I be pleased?"

"Well, you've promised to kill Madoc yourself if anything goes wrong," I point out. I still can't believe she did that. "And he's sworn not to put Melly on the throne."

Oriana rolls her eyes. "And you believe him, Jude? Madoc's not going to let a prize like that escape. He'll find a way."

I'm silent, because, in truth, I don't believe Madoc's assurances. Oriana's right: there's no way Madoc is going to let an opportunity like this pass him by. He'll find a way around that promise if he possibly can.

We're standing in one of the garden entryways right now, waiting for Vivienne, Taryn, Birch and the children to come down for a walk—without Madoc for once, though we'll still have guards. Taryn's going to go meet Balekin in a matter of hours. I feel like I'm on tenterhooks, stretched thin with a combination of dread and excitement. This is it.

Perhaps Oriana feels the same way, as she's fiddling nervously with a lacy handkerchief, passing it from hand to hand. I watch the white handkerchief go back and forth, maddeningly. It reminds me of the lacework Oriana's been working on with Taryn, though it doesn't have that strange white glow…

And all at once I realize I know where I've seen that glow before. In Taryn's unicorn-blessed hands, when she's healing people. In Philomel's unicorn-white hair, when she's working magic.

"Oriana," I say slowly, "just what have you and Taryn been doing together?"

The handkerchief freezes. "Whatever do you mean, Jude?" Her voice is altogether too mild.

"You're casting some kind of unicorn-spell, aren't you?" I say, voice soft. "When did the unicorn bless you, Oriana? And what are you using her power to do now?"

Before she can reply, there comes a clatter of footsteps behind us. My sister, the children and Birch all come pouring down the narrow staircase, dressed to go out. "Come on, Aunt Jude!" chirps Dogwood, skipping up to take my hand. "We can go outside without that redcap today!"

"I'll let you all go," Oriana says quickly. "I have things to do in the house." I give her a hard look, but she ignores me, turning to Taryn. "Taryn, are you all right?" she asks, voice gentling.

My twin is white-faced with tension, but she nods. Philomel takes her hand, frowning up at her, and Birch looks concerned too. Taryn erects a smile and nods harder, standing straighter.

I hit her on the shoulder. "Don't worry, Taryn. Everything will be fine." She nods and gives me a watery smile.

Oriana doesn't look entirely convinced, but she leans over to kiss Taryn on the forehead. "Have a nice walk," she says, and stands aside to let us all out. I give her another look, but let myself be swept out, our armed guards closing in around us.

Outside, it's a beautiful day: warm, breezy, the sky a pure, stunning blue. I fall into step beside Vivienne, watching as Birch and Taryn run ahead, playing with the children. They all look so carefree in this moment, like this is a normal day. I wonder, with a kick of guilt, what they'd all be doing if I hadn't led Madoc and Balekin to Taryn's door. If they were still safe in the forest. I sigh, forcing the thought away.

"Well," says Vivi at last, "tonight's the night."

I nod. "You'll be with the kids, right?"

"Every minute," she says grimly. "I won't take my eyes off them until Taryn herself comes back, safe and sound." She gives a sigh, sounding suddenly old and weary. "God, Jude. Do you think this plan has a chance in hell of working?"

"I think so," I say. "Though I wish my own plan had worked."

Vivienne gives a short, humorless laugh. "What, the one with Taryn lying to the High King? That's every bit as dangerous."

"Yes, but at least Eldred doesn't have any personal history with Taryn. You can't say that about Balekin." My hand tightens on my dagger's hilt. I haven't told anyone, not even Cardan, but my biggest worry about tonight is my own self-control. Just how will I react, when I see that evil shit of a prince talking with my sister, like he has any right to? I'm not at all sure I won't just kill him on the spot.

My reverie is broken by a familiar figure heading down from the woods. It's Heartwood, smoke trailing from her pipe. The kids run to greet her. "Hi, Heartwood!"

She gives them both apples, and falls into step beside Taryn, speaking aloud to her signed statements. I frown at them. There's something about Heartwood that's been bothering me for weeks. She swore she took Cardan's messages to Eldred, but did she swear she would bring the King's replies back? Is she the reason why we haven't had a response? No: Heartwood may be working with Madoc, but surely she wouldn't dare disobey a direct order from the High King himself, would she?

Unless…unless she is obeying the High King…

"Hold on," I say to Vivi, and jog forward, just in time to catch Heartwood saying, "She's a beautiful child. Your daughter. A child to be proud of."

There's something about the way she says it. "What's that supposed to mean?" I ask.

"Exactly what I said, Jude," Heartwood says, and gives Taryn a long, horrible smile. A smile that I've seen before, and not on the goblin Chieftainess.

Before I can react, a long, metallic croak rings out overhead. We all look up, to see a mechanical bird swoop overhead. "Dead!" it cries. "Dead! Prince Dain is dead!"

"Ah," says Heartwood, and again I see that other in her face, her voice, "right on time."

And all at once I know.

"Taryn, run!" I yell, drawing my blade and leaping forward, but the creature pretending to be Heartwood punches me, so hard that my blade goes flying and all my breath is knocked out. I go down, laboring to breathe, but roll to my feet again almost immediately. I have to move, I have to save Taryn and the kids, already collapsed to the ground, poison apples rolling out of their unconscious hands…

There's a huge, hissing buzz, and something thunks into my side. I look down, to see the green shaft of a spell-arrow. Oh, no. Oh, damn it. I'm going to die, and there are soldiers pouring out of the woods already, and up ahead Balekin has stripped off his glamour and has a struggling, silently screaming Taryn by the arm—

Then unconsciousness rises up like black water, and I feel the spell-arrow evaporate as I sink down, everything going dark.

I wake suddenly, the awakening spell jolting through me. I'm lying on my back, still on the garden path, staring up into Madoc's face.

"You're awake," he says. "Good." He's holding Taryn's salt bag and cold-iron knife, I see muzzily.

"I…" I cast around. Then I remember what happened. "Taryn! The kids!" I sit up, so suddenly I get dizzy.

The garden path ahead lies in shadow from a passing cloud. But I can see, with a ringing sort of clarity, that it is completely empty.

"Yes," Madoc says grimly. "Balekin took them. Here, let me help you up."

I let him pull me to my feet. Everything has gone very clear and quiet in my head. I can feel rage and panic fluttering like a trapped bird in my chest, but I keep it firmly in its cage. I have to think. We all have to think.

"Why would he snatch both children?" I murmur as I follow Madoc back to the house. The grounds are swarming with guards. A soldier is helping Birch to his feet, and Foxfire is doing the same for Vivienne. "Why take Dogwood?"

"Probably as a hostage." Madoc sounds as calm and clinical as I do. Only I can see his clenched fists, clutching Taryn's weapons, how they tremble. "It seems we all underestimated the prince."

Behind us, Birch's voice rises in a shout of incredulous rage. I turn around in time to see him diving for the woods, only to be dragged back by two guards. "No! Let me go!" the tree goblin shouts. "Balekin has Albia! He has the kids! I have to save them! I have to save them!"

"You won't be able to save anyone if you just hare off like that," snaps Madoc. "Come inside. We're all meeting in my study."

And we all head up the garden path, Birch still struggling and swearing, crest flashing red and blue, desperate gaze fixed on the woods where Taryn has disappeared.

Inside, the house is in a state of uproar. Servants and guards run around, some shouting, others just scurrying. Tatterfell comes scuttling up. "Miss Jude! Are you all right? Where is Lady Taryn? Where are the children?"

"Prince Balekin has them," Madoc says, not troubling to lower his voice, and everyone goes still to listen. "Prince Balekin abducted my daughter and grandchildren from my own house. My family, Commander Foxfire and I are all meeting to decide what to do. Meanwhile, I command you all to keep calm and not do anything rash."

"Yes." Oriana comes up in a flurry of skirts, hair shining in a corona of white unicorn-light. She claps her hands sharply, and the servants come to attention. "Everyone, keep calm. Attend to your duties or return to your quarters. The General and I are going to address this matter immediately."

"You'd iron-bloody better," Birch snarls. He's stopped struggling, but he's still stiff with fear and fury, crest rattling, red eyes ablaze.

Oriana merely casts him a look. "Come." She and Madoc lead the way, rushing up the stairs to his study, Vivienne, Birch, Foxfire and I all running after them.

Heather and Cardan are already waiting for us in Madoc's study, pale-faced with anxiety. "Is it true?" Heather comes rushing up, clutching Vivi's hands. "Did Balekin kidnap Taryn and the kids?"

"It's true." Madoc paces around the room, a caged leopard. "He snatched them right from my garden, just after Dain's death was announced."

Just when everyone was distracted. I have to admire his planning. "He'll be claiming Philomel as his heir by dawn tomorrow," I predict.

"The piece of filth!" Birch shouts, crest quills rattling.

Madoc glares at him quellingly. "Jude is right. We have to move fast." Madoc comes to a halt, looking at Cardan. "Your Highness, you used to live at Hollow Hall. Do you believe you could lead a strike team through it?"

Cardan nods. "Yes, General, I could."

"Good." Madoc nods. "You will lead Foxfire and a small team of his officers into the mansion tonight—"

"Wait." It bursts out before I can stop it. Everyone turns to look at me. "Let me go," I say. "Me and Cardan and Vivienne and Birch. Just us."

"Just you?" Commander Foxfire raises an eyebrow. "You're hardly experienced at this sort of thing."

"No, but Balekin won't expect us." I hardly know where I'm going with this: I'm just spinning words, as fast as I can. "He'll be on guard for soldiers like Foxfire, but he won't expect you to send us. He won't be watching for mortals, or goblins. And Birch is a woodsinger. He can help us break in."

"I can, I can!" Birch is practically quivering with eagerness. "You'll have to let me go after them!" he adds passionately.

Madoc looks between us, obviously debating. I hold my breath.

Finally he nods. "Very well," he says. "You four will go into Hollow Hall, after dark tonight. Get Taryn and the children out. Commander Foxfire and I will be waiting outside Hollow Hall. We'll attack if we have to, but only as a last resort. This is a covert operation: you get in, you collect Taryn and the children, you get out. Give a light-signal when you're out, and we'll all go to safety."

I salute. "Yes, sir."

One by one, Vivi, Cardan and Birch all agree too. The rest of the afternoon passes in a haze of frantic planning as Madoc interrogates Cardan for information about the layout of Hollow Hall, how Balekin's guards are positioned, what security spells he has in place, and we start to formulate a plan around his knowledge.

Suddenly, the kitchen servants are bringing in dinner. I look at the window: darkness is falling outside. I wonder what Balekin is doing to Taryn and her children, and feel my heart squeeze.

"Foxfire, let's go marshal the troops," Madoc says as we begin eating. "The rest of you, get prepared. You'll be leaving in a few hours."

I salute as he and Foxfire head swiftly out, followed by the servants. Everyone—Birch, Oriana, Cardan, Vivienne and Heather—stands silent as the door closes behind them and their footsteps fall away.

Only then does Cardan turn to me. "All right, Jude," he says. "What's the plan?"

"Plan?" Birch, still jittering by the window, blinks.

"Well, you hardly think Jude Duarte is going to let an opportunity like this go by, do you?" Cardan says equably. "So, Jude? What's the real plan?"

"Exactly what Madoc just said," I say. "We get in, get Taryn and the kids, and get out. But we don't signal Madoc once we're out." I turn to Oriana. "Oriana, can you get Heather out tonight?"

Slowly, she nods. "Where should we meet you?"

"The east beaches, near Hollow Hall. Get Heather out, and wait for us there. We'll come meet you with Taryn and the kids. We'll all head Ironside together."

"And leave Madoc hanging?" Heather sounds half-impressed, half-terrified.

"And leave Madoc hanging." I feel no guilt about what I'm about to do, nor triumph, nor even fear. I just have a vast, burning desire to get it done. To save my sister and her children. To get them out, once and for all. "This is our chance to escape him. We can decide what to do from Ironside."

One by one, they all nod. Vivienne's staring at me in fascination. "You know, Jude," she says in admiration, "I never thought you'd turn against Madoc."

"I'm done with Madoc." I hear the bleak, flat certainty in my voice. For every word of what I'm saying is true. "I should have been done with him years ago, but I was blind. I'm not blind anymore." I take a deep breath, my left hand clenching. My restored finger tingles. "He will never use me again. And he will never use Taryn, or Philomel, or Dogwood. Not if I can possibly prevent it. We're getting them out, and we're getting them away. Tonight."

Oriana nods, face grim with fear and determination. "Tonight."

"Yes." Birch's crest is raised, his tail lashing slowly.

Cardan, staring at me, lets out a low whistle. "You know, Jude," he says, grinning slowly, "even if I didn't want to save Taryn and the kids, and stop Madoc and Balekin, I think I'd go along with your plan anyway. You just look so sexy when you're this ruthless."

I roll my eyes. "You just can't resist, can you, faerie-boy?"

"Perhaps not." He lays a hand on my shoulder, warm and solid. "But I'm with you, Jude. To the end."

I raise my hand to cover his. "I know, Cardan. I know."