Chapter 38

Ryker

Almost a week had passedsince I last spoke with Ellery and her mother. I sent a messenger yesterday to let them know I'd be arriving this morning to start our hunt for the Hooded Robber.

Having someone who knew these woods better than me could help locate that asshole, and if it didn't, then it couldn't harm anything either. Ellery would be safe in the woods; I'd ensure that.

Besides, if she knew these woods as well as her mother claimed, she wouldn't require my protection and would do fine on her own in the forest. The girl could be foolish and reckless with her appendages, but if she'd grown up in the woods, she was also a survivor who knew how to protect herself.

I pulled my stallion, Xanthus, to a halt outside the manor's stables. The sun was barely up, but I wasn't surprised when a young boy with bright red hair slipped out of the doorway to claim my horse; Ellery and her mother must have prepared their staff for my arrival.

I slipped from the stallion's back and patted his thick neck. When Xanthus shook his head, his white mane flew back and forth, and he stepped away from the boy, who was searching for some way to claim the powerful animal.

Xanthus was a magnificent beast, and I'd had him since he was a foal. With his gleaming black coat and white mane, tail, and forelock, it would have been impossible not to claim him, but I'd quickly learned that noone ruled Xanthus.

He'd proven nearly impossible to break and was far wilder than any foal I'd ever seen. I'd never succeeded in breaking Xanthus completely; I'd gained his trust, and he allowed me to ride him, but I was very aware he had decided to grant me that gift.

And I couldn't ride him with a saddle or bridle. He wouldn't tolerate either, and I'd paid for my attempts to try either on him. He responded well to leg and hand commands and never failed me in battle. The horse had more courage than most.

Slipping a treat from my pocket, I fed it to Xanthus before patting his neck again and thanking him for the ride. He snorted in return as he munched his sugar cube.

The boy eyed Xanthus before shifting his attention to me. "How do I get him in the stable, milord?"

"Let him roam; he won't bother anything."

"We have mares, milord."

"Then I'd suggest locking them up, but Xanthus won't tolerate being stabled."

The boy blinked rapidly at me before glancing at Xanthus, who stared back at the child as if he understood every word we exchanged. "Ye... ye... yes, milord."

With that, the boy hurried back into the stables. I gave Xanthus one last pat before leaving him to munch on some grass.

I would take him with me, but off the roads, the trees were too thick and clustered together to ride easily through the Revenant Woods. He'd be fine while we were away for the day.

As I made my way to the front of the manor, I noticed the chipped paint, broken siding, and a missing windowpane. The last time I was here, the home was immaculate. Things had changed since the death of Ellery's father.

While my father had considered the manor small and pitiful, it was a decent size. It stood two stories high, and smaller rooms spread out from the main structure in a whimsical way. It was as if someone had gotten bored and decided to add to the structure.

Once all white with blue edging, gray and blackening wood poked through the paint to reveal the increasing rot creeping throughout the home. It wasn't advanced yet, but I saw no sign of anyone attempting to correct it before it got worse, and with the brutal storms that sometimes ravaged Tempest, worse would come quickly.

Behind the manor, acres upon acres of freshly plowed and planted fields stretched toward the low-hanging sun on the horizon. Paddocks of horses, sheep, cattle, chickens, and fat calazars begging to be cooked and served as a delicious meal were set to the right of the sowed fields near the rows of beehives.

Land and livestock-wise, the manor still looked prosperous, and I knew their horses were some of the most coveted in the land. They were known for their beauty as well as being strong, sturdy stock that was easy to train and courageous in battle.

Some foals, that would bring good money to the family soon, were already in the fields with their mothers, and more mares still had heavy bellies. It looked like they would have a prosperous birthing season.

I didn't know if the manor was starting to deteriorate because of neglect or something else. Ellery's travel into the labyrinth, and her mother's willingness to let her daughter help me with my hunt, told me it was something else. I suspected that something else was Ivan's increased taxes.

I should pay Ellery for her time in the Revenant Woods with me, but this was a proud family who had already refused my offer to do so. They wouldn't take my money, but they could have all the reward if we found the thief.

I climbed the steps to the cheerful blue front door that was starting to rot at the bottom. Before I could knock, it opened to reveal Ellery on the other side.

I hadn't known what to expect from her, but she radiated defiance. Dressed in loose-fitting brown pants and a dark green shirt she'd tucked into her waistband, she looked ready for a trip into the woods but wasn't happy about it.

Her thick hair hung in a braid over her shoulder; it swayed when she stepped outside and closed the door behind her. When I retreated down the steps, she followed.

She wore a dagger at her waist and a bow and quiver slung onto her back. She'd strapped a canteen to her side.

When she stopped before me, her eyes raked my black pants and shirt. I'd also brought a bow and arrows and had a small sword strapped to my belt.

"Do I meet your approval?" I inquired, unable to keep the irritation from my voice.

"You should have brought water, but you're dressed for the forest and have weapons."

"There are rivers in the woods I can drink from."

"Not always."

Why did I have a feeling she'd go out of her way to keep me from water today to prove a point? That annoyed as well as amused me.

Ellery crossed her lawn and the dirt road in front of her home as she headed toward the woods on the other side. She stopped walking when she spotted Xanthus munching on some grass.

Her eyebrows shot into her hairline as her head tipped to the side. "I'm guessing he's yours."

"What gave it away?"

When she scowled at me, I stifled a laugh. "He's a good-looking animal."

"Just like his owner."

Her scowl deepened, but when she turned away, the corner of her mouth twitched toward a smile. Maybe this adventure into the woods with her wouldn't be as chilly as I'd anticipated.

"Have you considered breeding him?" she asked as we entered the woods. "We have some mares that would make beautiful foals with him."

"You don't want to breed his obstinance into another. Xanthus will never be fully broken."

She looked intrigued at this as she ducked a low-hanging branch. "I wouldn't mind giving it a try."

I could well imagine she'd love the challenge, and as I tipped my head to the side to admire her firm ass, I knew I'd enjoy the challenge too.