I also had to tell Ellery my father had hinted at me marrying Bria. It wouldneverhappen, but we’d agreed to be completely open with each other. I would uphold that promise, just as she was.
Ianto and Tucker walked with me toward the edge of the woods; we slipped a little into the shadows of the trees. From my position, I could still see the encampment, and anyone looking could see us, but the trees and descending night provided privacy.
I leaned against a tree and watched the encampment for any sign of Ellery’s return while I told them what I’d learned. As I spoke, Tucker stood with his mouth ajar while Ianto looked ready to murder.
The giant didn’t have a chance of getting to my father before me, but if he did, I had no doubt he’d kill the duke.
“Childrendied because of him,” Ianto said.
“He doesn’t care about that.”
“Why thefucknot?”
“You’ll have to ask him that yourself, but as his son, I can assure you, he doesn’t give ashitabout any child… including his own.”
“He’s offered you a chance to leave Tempest,” Tucker said.
“I’d never take it. I’d have to give him Ellery, and that willneverhappen. Besides, he wouldn’t let me leave; I have no doubt that, in his mind, once he gets his hands on the female lightning bearer, I’m as good as dead.”
“Shit,” Ianto muttered.
“He’s desperate to get his hands on Ellery,” Tucker said.
“They’re all desperate for that. Ivan’s plotting something; I don’t know what it is, but he’ll make a move soon. Once he does, there’s a chance we won’t be able to keep Ellery hidden.”
“What do we do when that happens?” Tucker asked.
“Keep her alive, no matter what,” I said. “Other than that, we’re doing everything we can to make Tempest safer again.”
I gazed out at the few hundred amsirah now gathered in the clearing. I wished we could do more and do it faster, but we were growing stronger.
Despite planning to spread more money through the towns, we still required more carisle to pay for weapons, but if I could find my father’s treasury, it would help solve that problem. At least I knew where his weapons room was now.
When shit finally went down, I could try to get in there to steal some of the weapons. I couldn’t do it now, and the timing would have to be perfect, but that would also help us.
CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT
Ryker
“We need a bigger army,”Ianto said.
“A much bigger one,” I murmured. “However, if we can somehow draw the enemy soldiers into the Revenant Woods, our knowledge of this forest will help, and so will some of the creatures in it.”
“Most of those creatures would gladly eat us too,” Tucker said.
“True, but at least we know they exist; the aristocrats’ armies aren’t sure what’s in these woods and rarely enter them.”
“There’s not much that would get those armies to enter the forest… other than Ellery.”
I didn’t like the idea of using her in any way, but he was right; she was one of the few things that could lure them into the forest.
“There’s also me,” I said. “Once my father and Ivan learn what I’ve been up to, they’ll come after me with everything they have. Neither of them will allow such a betrayal to stand.”
“What if they set the woods on fire?” Ianto asked.
“It wouldn’t surprise me if they tried, but something tells me the Revenant Woods won’t be easily destroyed.”
“I agree,” Tucker said.
