“How?” Tucker inquired.
“There are many who enter these woods and never find you. We know settlements we can lead you to; some have a fair amount of amsirah already gathered in them. If the enemy enters the woods for you, we can let you know and help you fight them. We’ll help protect you.”
I bit my bottom lip as I studied Farley and pondered his words. The poltergeist had never been magnanimous before; I didn’t know why they’d start now.
“Why would you do that?” Ryker asked.
CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE
Ellery
Farley glanced at the trees,and while the poltergeists didn’t really have distinct features, they had enough differences between them that they could be told apart, and some of their expressions could be recognized. Farley seemed ruminative as he pondered Ryker’s question.
“None of us were the best immortals while we were alive. We did many things we shouldn’t have, and I was a bitter man”—he waved a hand down the front of himself— “hence my blob status.”
Farley’s words confirmed my suspicion about poltergeists. Anything that didn’t belong in the Revenant Woods and died here became a spirit; there were ghosts and poltergeists.
The ghosts were see-through versions of their former selves. They merely floated through the woods, not interacting or acknowledging anyone or anything else.
The only time the ghosts had any interaction with anyone was when the poltergeists ripped off their heads and threw them at others. The poltergeists found this hilarious, and the ghosts simply rejoined themselves before moving on.
The poltergeists were different than the ghosts. They were angrier, able to interact with others, aware of their surroundings, and able to hold and move things.
After spending a lot of time in the woods and with the poltergeists, I’d come to believe they were the remnants of amsirah who were incensed when they died here.
And they weren’t just angry because they died; they were infuriated while alive too. That rage had manifested them into the beings they were today.
“I’d rather be a poltergeist than a ghost,” Farley continued. “They’re useless.”
As if to hammer this home, a couple of ghosts drifted into the clearing. They didn’t look our way, though they were close enough to hear the insult.
“So, then, why would you help us?” Ryker asked again.
“We were angry while we were alive, but a lot of that anger, and, for most of us,whywe were in these woods was because of the nobles. Many of us lost everything because of them. When we died here, it was because we were hiding from those we blamed for the way our lives went, whether it was warranted or not. However, wewouldalllike to see them fall.”
“So, you’d help us for revenge?”
“Mostly.”
“Understandable. What’s the rest of the reason?”
Farley’s red eyes shifted from Ryker to me. “Her.”
I frowned as his red eyes burned into me. It took everything I had not to step away from him, but I sensed the poltergeist expected me to exude strength.
“We couldn’t believe it when we learned Tempest had a female lightning bearer. But when I heard it wasLery, something about it made sense. It fit with the wild child I’d watched run through these woods and the woman who’d stolen from those I hated most. I told the others about her and what I’d heard about your plans; when I did, they wanted to meet her.”
“So, the archery contest was to impress them or something?” I asked.
“Yes and no. We also wanted some entertainment and enjoyed watching you kick their asses.”
The other poltergeists bobbed up and down as they chortled in agreement.
“So, are you going to accept our help?” Farley asked.
Ryker, Tucker, and I looked at each other, but I couldn’t see any reason not to accept. They could prove useful, especially if Ivan sent soldiers into the woods in search of us. No one could kill the poltergeists, but they could attack.
Ryker must be thinking along the same lines. “We will.”
