“It doesn’t matter. Not only did he take those arrows to protectme, but I can’t walk away from him… not yet.” Probably not ever, but I kept that to myself. “My mother has to know I’m okay, so please go home.”
Scarlet sighed, and her shoulders slumped. “Fine, but you better return tomorrow.”
“I will. You’re a good friend.”
“I’m the best friend you’lleverhave, and don’t forget it.”
I laughed as I hugged her again. “That would be impossible.”
“How much did we get?” she asked.
“I don’t know. We still haven’t counted it all. It’s enough to feed many of the families in Tempest and will help us toward building an army.”
“Good.” Scarlet squeezed my arms. “Come home soon.”
“I will.”
Scarlet released me to open a portal. I watched as she walked into it and disappeared.
I didn’t look at Ryker again before rejoining Tucker and Ianto. Most of the others had already returned to the encampment to spread the good news and rest. They would have to hunt and guard the settlement tomorrow, though I doubted many would get much sleep after the excitement of this day.
Scattered around Ianto and Tucker were all the chests from the carriage. Five more chests had been stuffed into the carriage; they were all filled with carisle too.
I’d never seen so much money before and couldn’t stop myself from tossing a handful into the air. I grinned when it landed on the pile of gold inside the chest.
CHAPTEREIGHTY-FIVE
Ellery
Sometime during the night,we finished counting the money. We’d managed to steal fifty-three thousand carisle from the king, a number sure to incense him.
I was sure the realm would endure his wrath over what he lost, but what more could he do to us? Lock us all away? Kill us all?
What fun would that be? What fun was it to rule over a realm with no followers? Who would he play with then? Where would he get his money?
Tomorrow was sure to be a bad day for Tempest, but if all went well, goodwouldcome from all of this too. We would reclaim our realm, and the king would know what it was like to feelourwrath for a change.
Until then, there were many difficult times ahead for most of the amsirah here. I could only hope all of this was worth it and everything would turn out well in the end.
If it didn’t… if we were doing all this for nothing and no good came of it, then I didn’t know what I would do. I couldn’t contemplate such a possibility as it was too bleak and resulted in more sadness.
I wanted to be happy now. We’d succeeded!
The money we’d stolen was more than I could have imagined and far more than I dared hope for. We could dosomuch good with it.
I smiled over the promise of all the bellies we’d fill because of what we’d collected. I happily imagined the irate tantrum Ivan must have thrown when he learned he’d lost some of his money—he still might be throwing it.
I felt sorry for the servants and sycophants who would have to listen to his mad ravings and possibly endure his wrath, but they’dchosento work with him. They were all supporting his tyranny and could suffer the consequences of that.
When we finished counting, Tucker sent the others back to the encampment to rest as we were all barely standing. There was still a lot to do, but at least they could get some sleep.
Only Tucker, Ianto, and Ryker remained with me as the others vanished through the portal one of them opened. Though we’d all told Ryker to rest while we counted, after an hour, he insisted on getting up to help.
After the others left, he retreated to a tree and leaned against it. The three of us worked on separating the carisle into pouches we’d distribute through the towns over the coming days and weeks.
Doling out the money would be a slow process. We had to ensure we didn’t get caught and also find material to create more pouches.
Ryker’s bleeding had stopped, but because he refused to rest, he was still pale and weaker than he should be. From narrowed eyes, he scanned the woods.
