Callan didn’t look amused by this response, but he smiled, probably because he was scared Ianto might toss him around again if he didn’t.
“So, who are these two?” Tucker asked.
“This is Callan Dell and his sister Luna,” Ellery answered.
“And what are they doing here?”
Before anyone could answer, Luna cut in. “Who are you, and what areyoudoing here?”
Tucker lifted an eyebrow at her. “I’m Tucker Fryar, and I live here with many others.”
“And where ishere?”
“Here is freedom.”
Luna’s mouth pursed as her gaze traveled around the encampment with its growing number of amsirah, livestock, and tree houses. It wasn’t a castle, but it was freedom from the tyrants ruling this land and, in her case, freedom from certain death.
“And if you want to stay, you’ll tell me what’s going on,” Tucker said.
“Well, these two idiots—” Callan and his sister scowled at me when I pointed at them, but theywereidiots. “—decided to half-ass a rebellion against the Earl of Oakley.”
“I’m guessing things went wrong, but please tell me that asshole’s dead.”
“No, he’s still alive, as are his insipid sons, their mother, the king, and my father. I had planned to steal some things from the earl’s guests, to really piss him off and help fund us, but that plan got blown up by their rebellion.”
“Too bad,” Tucker lamented as he studied the siblings.
“I’m pretty sure the only ones they managed to kill were some guards and a lot of innocent amsirah,” I said.
“Not all of those guests were innocent!” Luna shot back. “Many of them supported those monsters!”
Callan seized her hand and shook his head, but as she frowned at him, Ellery spoke.
“My motherwasinnocent, and she would have done anything for you, but she’s dead now.”
Tucker’s smile vanished. Ianto let out a low groan of sadness before resting his hand on her shoulder, and Callan closed his eyes.
“Oh, no,” Luna breathed as tears filled her eyes. “Not Mrs. Marian.”
“Yes, Mrs. Marian,” Ellery interjected. “My mother, the woman who taught you how to read and write, and who tendedyour wounds, is dead. She was there too, and she didnothingto warrant me having to carry her home this afternoon, but I did.”
Luna closed her eyes as she shriveled in on herself. “I’m so sorry. That wasn’t supposed to happen.”
“But itiswhat happens when you plan things poorly,” Ellery retorted.
Sensing her rising fury, I clasped her hand in mine. I wasn’t going to tell her to stop; she was the one who’d endured this loss, and she had to grieve in her way, but she would know I was here with her.
Her fingers tightened around mine, and Ianto squeezed her shoulder. “I’m sorry for your loss,” he murmured.
Her anger deflated as swiftly as it had come. Her shoulders hunched forward a little.
“Tell us what happened,” Tucker said.
And I did.
CHAPTER SEVENTY-FIVE
Ryker
