Chapter 1

Ellery

I ducked loweron the tree branch as the rattle of carriage wheels against the dirt road drew my attention. It was only a matter of time before one came along, but my legs ached, and my right foot had gone to sleep from the time I'd spent in the tree… waiting.

"Maybe you shouldn't, Lery," Scarlet whispered as the clattering grew closer.

"We've been in this tree for a good hour, and nothing has come by; why not this one?"

Scarlet's gaze went to the approaching vehicle, but I didn't look back. I'd seen all I needed to know: its golden color, large size, two horses at the lead, and a driver who screamed of wealth.

Relieving them of some of their wealth was the reason we were here.

Scarlet released her grip on the branch and moved closer to the tree trunk. "I don't know."

"You get cold feet before every robbery."

"Because one day, it's going to be the death of you, and that terrifies me."

I absently waved my hand at her. This wasn't the first time Scarlet had gotten cold feet about what was to come, and it wouldn't be the last.

I should probably be more nervous, but once I saw the coach, my apprehension faded, and I focused on what I had to do instead of all the many ways it could go wrong. If I allowed my apprehension to get the best of me, then I'd never succeed, and I wasn't about to fail… too many depended on me for that to happen.

The red-and-gold chest strapped to the top of the carriage could feed most of The Hollows for a month, if not more. Whoever was inside had plenty of money to spare.

My callous attitude should probably bother me more, but ever since Prince Ivan took over the kingdom and started draining it dry, I didn't have the luxury of feeling bad about things. The occupant of this vehicle was one family compared to hundreds of starving ones in The Hollows.

All I had to do was picture the hungry kids with their gaunt cheekbones, concave bellies, and sad faces, and my trepidation vanished. I'd get that chest full of money, and I'd help put food in those tiny stomachs, smiles back on their sweet faces, and damn the consequences.

I shifted on the branch, checked the rope tied to the bough above me, and reassured myself that the knife remained strapped to my side. While I worked, the beat of the hooves and rattle of the wheels told me the carriage was drawing closer.

I smiled as I swung my bow and quiver off my shoulders. Reluctantly, I handed them over to my best friend. Scarlet's family worked for mine; she'd grown up at the manor, and since she was only two months older than me, we'd been inseparable since we were babies.

I was good with a knife but much preferred my bow. However, jumping onto a moving carriage without a bow and quiver strapped to my back was much easier. They also added more weight, and I needed to be as nimble as possible to get in and out without anyone knowing.

Scarlet slid the bow and quiver onto her back. Concern filled her brown eyes as she glanced from the carriage to me; she understood why I did this but hated it. That wouldn't stop her from standing by me, as she'd always done and as I'd always done for her.

"It's going to be okay," I assured her.

The shadows from the branches surrounding us played across Scarlet's pretty face as her mouth pursed. She'd tucked most of her dark red hair under her hood, but a strand had fallen free, and I shoved it beneath her covering again.

If anyone saw Scarlet's hair, it would be over. There were other redheads in the realm, but none quite as vibrant as her; it was why everyone called her Scarlet.

I doubted that anyone outside her family and close friends knew or recalled her name was Dawn; she'd been Scarlet since we were toddlers. I sometimes forgot it wasn't her real name and couldn't remember the last time I'd called her Dawn.

"Thanks," Scarlet muttered.

"Anytime."

I ran my hand over the end of the tree branch, fingering the leaf buds starting to unfurl. After a long winter, spring was finally creeping in, but I wished there were more leaves to offer thicker coverage. I'd have to make do without.

Despite the mostly bare trees, I didn't worry about the driver seeing us; we were too far up to draw attention, and most of those who traveled through the Revenant Woods kept their gazes on the road. Looking away from what lay ahead was a good way to get your horses eaten and yourself killed.

From behind me, something howled. The sound caused the hair on my arms to rise, but there were far scarier things in the world than the creatures within this forest.

I preferred to take my chances with the creatures in the Revenant Woods than with the leaders of our realm. The monsters seeking to eat me were far more predictable.

The rattle of the carriage wheels picked up, and I looked back as the driver used his reins to urge the horses faster. Bracing myself on the limb, I rose a little to grasp the bough above me before gripping the rope.

I gave it a small tug as, behind me, Scarlet sighed. "Don't get yourself killed."

"It's not my day to die."

"Oh good, arrogance. That will help."

I bit back a smile as I focused on my target. The carriage was almost to me when I gripped the rope, tugged on it, and swung out over the dirt road.