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But when I glance behind me, the line of people saddled on horses and walking beside the line spurs me on.

They somehow believe in me. Surely I can summon enough energy to believe in myself too.

As we approach, the closest tree to our dirt path twists around, swinging branches like a baseball bat.

“Hold!” Basil yells.

A few stray leaves crackle as they fly past.

“How do we get close enough?” I ask.

Basil waggles his fingers and one of the soldiers from the other night trots up. Ty, I think his name was.

“What do you think?” Basil asks him.

We form a line at the head of the group and assess what stands before us.

“I don’t want anyone to get hurt because of me,” I tell them.

“I think we need a distraction,” Ty says. “And as long as we stay quick on our feet, we should be able to dodge them. The trees may be strong, but they aren’t fast.”

“While they’re distracted, I’ll take the axe to their trunks,” I say.

Ty glances at me. “No offense, but how fast can you chop?”

“No offense taken.” I sigh and Sabil whickers beneath me. “I chop wood on the farm all the time.”

“But an entire tree?” Ty asks.

“Less experienced.”

Basil snorts. “That means no experience.” He guffaws to himself, his belly shaking.

He’s not wrong though.

Ty tips toward me in his saddle. “I have a little more faith in you.”

“Thanks.”

“I’ll put us into formation,” Ty says, taking up the reins of his horse. “Let’s start with the tree closest to us and we’ll work our way back.”

I should have carb-loaded before this. I should have devoured as much bread and pasta as I could possibly fit in my stomach. It would have been the perfect excuse to indulge.

“That sounds good. Thank you, Ty.”

He nods and canters off, shouting orders as he goes.

Basil and I stand off to the side observing as the soldiers and the others who’ve volunteered for this mission fall into a semicircle around the nearest fighting tree.

The tree is immediately aware of the encroaching presence and starts swinging violently, and one of the branches catches a man who stood too close.

He flies back and knocks into another woman astride a horse, and they both topple over to the ground.

I let out a breath of relief when both man and woman stand up, seemingly okay.

Ty gives me a hand signal.

“Good luck,” Basil says and lights a cigar.