Leneus paled. "I only meant . . . Now see here, Jackson. This is none of your

business."

 

"Grover's my friend," I said. "He wasn't lying to you about Pan's death. I saw

it myself. You were just too scared to accept the truth."

 

Leneus's lips quivered. "No! Grover's a liar and good riddance. We're better off

without him."

 

I pointed at the withered thrones. "If things are going so well, where are your

friends? Looks like your Council hasn't been meeting lately."

 

"Maron and Silenus . . . I . . . I'm sure they'll be back," he said, but I could

hear the panic in his voice. "They're just taking some time off to think. It's

been a very unsettling year.

 

"It's going to get a lot more unsettling," I promised. "Leneus, we need Grover.

There's got to be a way you can find him with your magic."

 

The old satyr's eye twitched. "I'm telling you, I've heard nothing. Perhaps he's

dead."

 

Juniper choked back a sob.