“We’ll have to deliver more to the other towns soon.”
Before, Ellery and Scarlet had mainly focused on Nottingshire since it was the biggest in the realm and had the most amsirah suffering in it. It was also the town closest to her manor and the one she’d frequented. Now, we would spread out to the other villages and the coastal communities.
To avoid suspicion, Ianto and I would deliver those purses. I traveled through them often enough that no one would pay any attention to me if I was there. Ianto also traveled throughthe towns and coastal communities, so the two of us would take turns delivering the carisle outside of Nottingshire.
“We’ll get the purses out soon,” I confirmed.
Neither of us said what else we had to do, but we knew what it was.
Once in the shelter of the trees, I stood with Tucker, overlooking the encampment that was starting to slow down as night descended. Many gathered around the fire to eat their meals, exchange stories, and laugh as they finally got a reprieve from the hard, rewarding work of their day.
When it became too dark to see the targets, the archers called it quits and joined the others by the fire. The sounds of the woods changed from those who hunted during the day to the predators stalking the night.
The chirrup of insects and nightbirds weaved through the air to blend with the crackle of the fire and the roar of something on the prowl. With the sun down, some of the heat from the August day eased as the stars and moons rose.
About an hour later, Ianto emerged into the clearing; he waved to those he passed as he made his way to where we stood, waiting for him. A couple of the children he’d helped save from the orphanage jumped up to hug him before returning to their friends.
He was smiling when he joined us, but the normal twinkle in his eyes was gone. “That went well,” he said, “minus the torture.”
“It tends to put a damper on the day,” I remarked.
“The townsfolk are excited about finding the purses,” Ianto said. “It was all everyone could talk about in the tavern after you, the sheriff, and whoever that other asshole was left.”
“Gaius Gisborne, and he’s definitely an asshole.”
“Why does that name sound familiar?” Tucker asked.
“He fought in the Ghoul War. I was informed today that he’s an excellent swordsman. His father was Mayus Gisborne,” I told him.
“The swordsmith?”
“The one and only, and his son is someone to watch out for. He tries to hide it, but he took a lot of pleasure in what happened today.”
“Too many of them did,” Tucker muttered.
“You’re awfully friendly with the sheriff,” Ianto stated.
“Have you forgotten whoIam?” I inquired. “If you put me in a room with Ivan, the earl, or myfather, I’d be friendly with them too. I have to play the game, just like you.
“Samael and I were once friends. I have no idea what changed in him during the Ghoul War. I suspect gaining the position of sheriff and the power that came with it went to his head, but we were friends. And we keep up the pretense that we still are. Is that an issue for you?”
Ianto studied me for a minute before shaking his head. “No. Sometimes I forget you’re not one of us.”
“I’ve shed more blood for this realm than you.”
“And he stands to lose far more than us, if the truth of him is uncovered,” Tucker said.
“I want nothing to do with my father’s wealth.”
I hadn’t told Tucker about how that wealth had increased through my father’s blackmail of Leo, but I did so now and about my father’s fiancée. When I finished, Ianto and Tucker had stopped walking to gawk at me.
“Holy shit,” Tucker finally said.
“Your family is so fucked up,” Ianto muttered.
I laughed bitterly. “You’ve only scratched the surface of it.”
Ianto shook his head before looking to the forest. “No wonder you’re here.”
