“That they do,” Tucker said, “which can be amuchbigger asset to them and us than years of training. They’re fighting for their freedom and everything they’ve lost.”
“I’ve never stolen anything before,” Ianto said.
“Neither have I,” I told him.
“I have,” Tucker said. “You do what’s necessary to survive.”
I thought of Ellery. Stealing hadn’t been necessary for her survival, but how many did she help with the money she took?
A few of those recipients were in this encampment. When Ellery stopped stealing and the money she’d provided dried up, they fled the king’s wrath.
I was sure there were plenty of others still in the towns who hadn’t fled yet but still had a strong sense of loyalty to her. And even those she hadn’t helped admired the Hooded Robber.
“If they catch you, theywillkill you too,” Ianto said to me. “Unless your father could save you?”
“Ivan would gladly kill me if given a reason and the opportunity. I’m not sure about my father. I exist because he wanted a lightning bearer for a son; he might fight to keep me alive because of that, but he’d also be so disgraced by my actions that he’d probably cut off my head himself. And then, he’d have to start all over and, hopefully, get lucky with another child.”
“There aren’t many families left with the lightning-bearer genetics,” Tucker said.
“He’d find another woman who carries the gene.”
If he knew about Ellery, he’d take her. It wouldn’t matter that he’d called her a whore and believed she was beneath him; he’d make her have his child.
My hands fisted at the idea of such a thing. I’d never let that monster get his hands on her.
More laughter came from the builders, and Ianto turned to study them. Most of the children helped the builders by running supplies back and forth, but a few were with the animals, learning how to take care of them or petting the rabbits.
Despite the adversity of trying to build a life in this place of death, most wore smiles. They’d all established a new family deep within these woods.
“They’re a merry bunch,” Ianto murmured.
“We work hard, but we also play hard, and we care for and trust each other,” Tucker said.
“Well.” Ianto clapped his massive hands together. “There’s always a first time for everything. Who are we robbing first?”
CHAPTERSIXTY-NINE
Ellery
The carriage wheelsclattered as they rattled, leaving a cloud of dust that Scarlet and I waved out of our faces while watching the vehicle fade away. Once they were gone, I shifted my attention to the piece of parchment I held.
On it was written…
GUARDS WILL COLLECT YOUR TAXES ON 8/3.
HAVE THEM READY.
My brow furrowed at the words. Before, we either took our taxes to the king ourselves or gave them to the sheriff on the appointed days.
My mother often delivered them in person as she liked going to the palace, but now they were coming to us.
But why?
I knew the answer as soon as the question entered my mind. Ivan was looking to make a spectacle of his power, to show the common amsirah they were beneath him, and he could do whatever he wanted.
It was also a display of his vast power and a way to remind anyone who might harbor ideations of resistance that he had an immense guard and could do as he pleased. He would show everyone in the realm how much money he was collecting and rip it from amsirah’s hands if necessary.
“Are they going to have a parade of money?” Scarlet asked.
