Chapter 41

Ryker

I realizedthat was why she defended the boy so fiercely. Ellery had a wild streak, but the boy was feral, and she'd watched him grow from a baby into a child. She also understood Mouse's heartbreak over losing his father, empathized with him, and sought to protect him.

"Does he still live at your manor?" I asked.

"No. After his father's death, the Revenant Woods became Mouse's home. He still comes by the manor to visit, and when he does, we feed him, get him new clothes, and convince him to take a bath, but he never stays long."

"One of these days, you'll convince him to stay and work for you, before he gets himself killed."

"I've tried, but Mouse doesn't listen to anyone."

"That sounds familiar," I said.

Her eyebrows rose as she stared at me. For a second, I assumed she would glare at me, but then her lips twitched toward a smile.

I found my gaze on her enticing mouth as I recalled sitting beside her in the labyrinth. I should have kissed her then and sated my curiosity about what she felt and tasted like because it was roaring back to life.

And it would be worse to kiss her now when we were working together to catch the Hooded Robber. I wanted her help; if I burned that bridge, I would lose it.

"Are you ready to move on?" she asked.

"Yes."

Rising, I kicked some dirt over the fire and followed her toward Nottingshire.

Ryker

Standingbeside Ellery in the trees, I watched the immortals in Nottingshire going about their day. Many were too thin, their clothes were dirty and torn, and their overall demeanor screamed exhaustion.

"It's changed a lot," I muttered.

"The whole realm is suffering," Ellery said.

Ever since Leo's death, I'd buried myself in women, booze, and forgetting everything that happened, but anger stirred in me. Tempest was a realm of plenty; its occupants had no reason to suffer.

"And the Hooded Robber sends money to the other villages too, not just Nottingshire?" I asked.

"From what I've heard, yes, but I don't know how often or how much."

Resting my hand against a tree trunk, I leaned against it as I studied Nottingshire. The giant and his stage were gone, having moved on to some other place, but the rest of the town remained the same.

I had no idea how to help these immortals. The last thing they needed was another war, and the idea of revolting against my king turned my stomach, even if that king was Ivan.

I'd spent centuries in the king's army, fought at Leo's side, and vowed to protect my ruler no matter the cost. Leo was gone, but those principles remained; I loathed Ivan, but he was my king.

My father had yet to speak to me about his plans to rise against the king, and as more time passed, I began to question if I'd been right about his motives. He was a power-hungry, greedy asshole, but he must realize another war might destroy Tempest.

I didn't doubt he was plotting something. He always was.

But even if my father decided to overthrow Ivan, I didn't want to support him. No one here would be any better off with him as the King of Tempest. Things might be worse as he never had good intentions.

"Have many amsirah left the realm?" I asked.

"I don't know. Some have, but for most… where would they go? They still wouldn't have any carisle in another realm and would have to leave behind their families, friends, and everything they know. It's a difficult choice, but some have to make it, and more of them are making their home in the Revenant Woods."

With the tips of my fingers, I pushed myself away from the tree before relaxing and leaning closer again. I repeated this action as I contemplated her words and the broken amsirah before me.

"Plus, many realms don't always welcome outsiders. I'm sure most amsirah have had to go to outer realms or some of the more unsafe ones to find a new place to settle," she continued.

Her words reminded me of Doomed Valley. That hellhole had nearly destroyed me; the ophidians had tortured me and my friends before killing Leo.

We'd fought to find him, brought in an army and dragons with the help of the Queen of the Shadow Realms, only to have it all ripped away right when I was sure we would get him back. I could still picture his head rolling down the rocks, still feel the agonizing bite of the special metal the ophidians used to restrain Leo as I pulled it from his corpse.

Despite that metal causing excruciating pain to anyone it touched, I refused to let the ophidians leave their mark on him in such a way. Leo would return home free of their maliciousness.

I'd failed to save my king, and in doing so, I might have failed to save my realm.