“Then bring your son with us.” The Horde shrugged. “We’ll protect both of you.”

“Ral is under the Guardians’ protection. He’s already safe. But—”

“But that doesn’t mean we’ll let Lith put our grandchild in danger,” Leegaain said. Salaark nodded in agreement. “We won’t allow Ral to step onto a battlefield and be turned into a weapon.”

“And if I can’t bring Ral with me, then I can’t go,” Lith said.

“There’s nothing you can do?” Loma’s orange mist twisted with grief and worry. “We can’t lose another Horde. The next one might not appear for tens of thousands of years!”

“I can point you to the only tracker on Mogar I consider my equal.” Lith turned and pointed at Kalla.

Everyone looked at the Wight. Kalla, meanwhile, looked over her shoulder, trying to see who he meant.