As the others recalledwhywe were here in the first place, their attention shifted to the amsirah prisoners scattered throughout the clearing. Some huddled together while others sat on the ground, and a few leaned against trees.
All the rescued prisoners stared at us with curiosity and exhaustion. I couldn’t imagine what they’d gone through, but I was glad the attention had shifted from us to them.
Although they were bare from the waist up, I couldn’t see the whip marks marring many of their backs, but I was there when the guards flayed them open before leaving them to swelter beneath the blazing August sun.
Over the days they’d been trapped in the pillories, an assortment of creatures had taken turns feeding from what remained of their flesh and muscles. They were all missing their pinky fingers after Ivan commanded them to be cut off.
They’d been scheduled to move on to Hallsey soon, where they’d endure another flaying and lose more of their parts. Ivan had planned brutal beatings and removal of body parts in the towns and coastal villages for all those who’d dared to rebel against the Earl of Oakley and, therefore, him.
They squashed the rebellion, but not before losses on both sides and innocent deaths. One of those innocents was my mother, something I still hadn’t fully come to terms with yet, but then, I’d had very little time to grieve.
Thirty-sixprisoners were chained into those pillories, and twenty-five of them were here now. The others were either dead or recaptured. Thankfully, the ones left behind didn’t know who tried to free them, so at least we didn’t have to worry about them revealing anything about us.
I didn’t know about Tucker’s followers. The guards could have captured some of them. Uneasiness churned in my belly as I tried not to give in to my rising panic.
If they had managed to capture some of our side, they would slice them to pieces to gain more information about what happened tonight, who was involved, and whoIwas. They might learn aboutRyker’sinvolvement.
“It’s probably time for you to go.”
I hadn’t realized Tucker had approached to stand near us until he spoke. His voice, coming from only a few feet away, made me jump a little.
“Did the guards capture any of our side?” I inquired.
Tucker shook his head. “No. The ones who didn’t escape all perished. There weren’t many of us in the actual throes of it.”
We’d planned it that way. Most of our side was on the outskirts, on roofs, and stationed where they could provide cover for those going in to free the prisoners.
I didn’t like hearing that any of our fighters had died, but it was a relief to know they wouldn’t be tortured into giving up information. What Ivan would have done to them….
Shuddering, I shut down the images my mind tried to conjure.No oneshould endure what Ivan would have done to them.
Ryker moved his hand to the small of my back. “You’re right.”
“Are you staying at your treehouse tonight?” Tucker asked.
“I don’t think that’s best,” Ryker said at the same time I replied, “Yes.”
When Ryker’s hand tensed on my back, I tilted my head to look up at him. “We should stay.”
“Don’t you want to go home?”
My manor had stopped feeling like a home after my mother died; it was now an empty place haunted by the memories of the love once filling it. It felt cold and foreign to me, but I wouldn’t mind the comfort of my bed.
Still, I didn’t think we should leave. “After everything that happened tonight, it feels wrong to leave.”
“After what happened tonight, Ivan is going to tear this realm apart to find the female lightning bearer,” Ryker said. “As much as I’d prefer you weren’t there, you’re better off at home. If you’re not there when his men arrive to question you, Ivan will come after you with everything he has.”
“He’s right,” Tucker said. “While I agree these amsirah would benefit from your presence here, it’s safer foryouif you go.”
I stared helplessly up at the steely set of Ryker’s jaw and the cold gleam in his eyes. He’d fight me all night over this, and I was too tired to battle with him now.
I’d known revealing what I could do would change everything, but I was scared that change might be much worse than I’d suspected. Ivan was already incensed about the rebellion at the earl’s; we didn’t rescue all the prisoners, but that we’d rescuedanywould make himlivid.
He’d tear Tempest apart looking for me.And how many will suffer because of it?
I gulped.
“I’m going to keep you safe, Ellery,” Ryker vowed.
