“This is our realm to defend,” I said. “And now we have to figure out how to win this war.”
Some of the amsirah here had fought during the Ghoul War, but none of them were leaders like Ryker or in it as deep as Tucker. None of us were strategists.
“Did you lead armies before?” I asked Indon.
“We worked with the amsirah to keep Tempest safe, but we rarely had any problems here,” he replied.
“Probably because the other immortals were too scared of you to try anything,” Luna said.
When Indon stretched out his wings, some of the amsirah gasped and stepped back. Indon ignored them as he fluttered his wings for a second before closing them again.
“Perhaps,” the gargoyle acknowledged.
“If the other immortals knew of your existence, wouldn’t they have continued to spread that truth instead of allowing it to pass into legend?” Scarlet asked.
“We didn’t travel to other realms, and while some of those who ventured here would learn of us, Tempest rarely received visitors. Those visitors probably spread the word about the protectors of this land. In doing so, they warded off any potential enemies,” Indon said. “However, if they stopped seeing us and the amsirah erased us from history, then we would have passed into legend far faster with the outside immortals than we did among the amsirah. You knew nothing of us.”
“That makes sense,” Scarlet said.
“So, you don’t have a lot of experience with battles?” I asked.
“No, we don’t,” Indon said.
I scrubbed at my face as I pushed aside the exhaustion clinging to me. I should eat, that would help energize me, but the gargoyles hadn’t eaten either.
“Are you hungry?” I asked Indon. “It’s been a while since you ate.”
Indon’s mouth quirked toward a smile. “We are fine, child. We’ll eat after we leave here; enjoy your meal.”
I dug my hand into the bag Ruby gave me and removed an apple; I almost cried as I bit into the juicy fruit.
“If we planned how to steal from the rich to give to the poor successfully, we can do this,” Scarlet said. “Let’s put our heads together and come up with a plan.”
CHAPTER NINETY
Ellery
“We haveto make sure they don’t kill Ryker and the children,” I said around a mouthful of apple. “That will be the tricky part.”
Scarlet rested her hand on my arm. “Wewillfigure it out.”
“Let’s go sit by some light,” Luna said.
Indon bowed his head in acquiescence. We moved over to the wall and settled in a circle with some of the other amsirah. The gargoyles stayed standing and alert, but their postures weren’t menacing or overwhelming.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t like something to eat?” Ruby asked the gargoyles when we’d all settled near some lanterns. “We have some dried venison.”
“We don’t eat meat,” Indon said.
I was sure their shocked expressions had mirrored my own when I heard this revelation. “What do you eat?” Luna asked.
“Rocks and other forest debris.”
“Like sticks?” another amsirah blurted.
“Sometimes, but we prefer rocks.”
Another amsirah chuckled, but when the gargoyles remained stoic, their laughter trailed away. They glanced nervously around before shifting deeper into the shadows.
