I landed on the ledge, just a few inches short of the cliff's edge.
And immediately—
I started running.
I ran past Lily, who had been guarding the ledge and was valiantly fending off a tree-crab that had somehow climbed up the cliff.
Without so much as a glance at her fight, or even an offer to help, I ran straight into the forest, still holding the two girls in my arms.
Meanwhile, down in the canyon, Michael started planning his own escape the second he saw me sailing through the sky with Alexia and Juliana tucked under and over my shoulders like a pair of stolen money bags.
But the problem was that the Tree King had now become very committed to murdering Michael.
Which meant he needed an opening to 'retreat with tactical finesse' — which was jargon for cowardly running away.
Now, I should clarify one thing: I wasn't there to witness what happened next. I had already fled the scene like a responsible survivor.
