“He also has a fair number of his guards on that caravan, and I can guaranteenoneof them are rushing back to tell him what happened. If we move now, we could have this money out to the amsirah before he knows about the robbery.”
“I like the sound of that,” Callan said.
I hoped it was Gaius who had to tell him. I hadn’t succeeded in killing that bastard, but the duke might.
My newfound bloodthirstiness wasn’t lost on me, but I didn’t enjoy killing. I hated it, but it was a necessity.
Gaius was an exception; he was amid the worst ofthemand gleefully hurt anyone who got in his way. We had to stop him.
If my bloodthirstiness ever turned into an eagerness to kill, then I’d be just like one of them. If that day ever came, I’d gladly destroy myself.
“We have to split up. Should we still use smaller groups to disperse this?” Tucker asked.
“I think bigger would work better now,” Ryker said. “Ellery and I will each lead a group, so there’s a lightning bearer with each of them.”
My eyebrows rose at his statement. It surprised me that he was willing to let me go on my own, and without a fight.
I knew he didn’t like it, but it was the right decision to make. To offer more protection to everyone, itshouldbe us leading the groups.
Ryker’s arms briefly tightened around me before he set me down and pulled his hood free. He wasn’t wielding lightning, but his eyes remained black while bolts fired through them. I suspected they’d been their normal, mercury color with lighter flecks of silver before he’d suggested our split.
His strong jaw, shadowed by brown stubble, was set in a determined way, and I could practically hear his teeth grinding as he stared at me. Rumpled from his hood, his dark brown hair stuck up in all different directions around his chiseled features.
My breath caught at how unbelievably handsome he was, and he wasmine. No one else would ever know or love him in the same way I did.
And now, we had to separate. I didn’t want to do it, but it was necessary and the safest for everyone else.
CHAPTER TEN
Ellery
“Scarlet,Tucker, and Fletcher will go with Ellery,” Ryker said. “I’ll take Luna and Callan with me.”
He’d given me the strongest fighter in Tucker while also avoiding an argument from me about staying with Scarlet and Mr. Fletcher. I would have preferred Tucker watching his back, but it wasn’t worth wasting time or arguing over it.
“We should divide the towns too,” Tucker said.
“How about we take the sea villages, and Ryker takes the towns,” Mr. Fletcher suggested. “We should probably stay away from Seacrest. Even if the soldiers are floundering and dragging their heels about telling the duke, there’s still alotof guards there.”
“Seacrest will need money too,” Scarlet said.
“We can leave extra for them in White Pool,” I suggested. “They’re the closest village to Seacrest, and Val lives there.”
“Do you think they’ll take that money to Seacrest?” Luna asked.
“They all desperately need carisle, but we’re in this together. It may take a little while to get it there, as I’m sure Seacrest is crawling with guards and will soon face the duke’s wrath, but they’ll get it to them.”
They all exchanged glances. Doubt etched some of their features, but I knew I was right on this. Their hatred of the nobles had unified the amsirah, and theywouldhelp each other in this.
“It’s become the commoners versus the aristocrats, and they’ll do anything to win this fight, even giving money to their fellow man,” Mr. Fletcher said. “It’s not what King Ivan or the duke anticipated with their laws, but the townsfolk are banding together and helping each other out. It’s the only way they can survive what’s happening to them. White Pool will get the money to Seacrest.”
“I agree,” Tucker said.
“Okay then, we’ll divide the towns and villages between us, except Callan, Luna, and I will take the villages. You four take the towns,” Ryker said.
“Ryker—”
“I’mnotarguing over this, Ellery. Considering the robbery occurred in one of the villages, it will be more dangerous there. You’re not going anywhere near them.”
