Chapter 66

Ellery

"Mouse doesn't talk,but he can hear," I said.

I watched as a woman led the boy away. Earlier, I'd talked him into a bath and taken him down to a nearby river with some of the women in the camp while Tucker and Ryker talked.

Mouse was freshly scrubbed and in a clean pair of clothes that were too big on him. The amsirah living here had little, but they were willing to share it.

"He used to speak, but he's been through a lot," I continued. "I think he'll talk again one day; he needs time to heal first. At least, I hope he'll talk again."

The woman led Mouse to a rope ladder and pointed up. His head tilted to the side before he glanced back at me. When he smiled, I knew what was coming before he darted into the woods, where he was far more comfortable.

"Stubborn boy," I murmured. "But he's a survivor."

Still, I'd hoped he would settle here where he'd have others to watch out for him. And, over time, I was sure the residents would grow to love him too.

"Maybe he'll come out of the woods for me next time," Tucker said.

"He will," I replied. "Now that he knows you won't harm him, he'll come out more."

When we lapsed into silence, I sat back to watch the stars emerge. The fire's crackle and the conversations created a peaceful atmosphere I relished.

Over time, others joined us around the fire, and conversation returned, but my sense of peace remained. Here, this deep in the woods, while there was still worry something could attack us, there was no worry they'd raid us, throw us into prison carriages, and cart us off to a cell without warning.

King Ivan's guards would never travel this deep into the woods. Because of that, I felt safe for the first time in weeks.

At home, I went to sleep every night, fearing that King Ivan's guards would arrive to take us away. Every little sound roused me.

And in the morning, I woke up wondering if that would be the day they arrived to take me away. It was a nerve-racking way to live.

I didn't want to go back… or at least not yet. I enjoyed the feeling of security here, and Ryker was having fun catching up with his friend.

Earlier today, when he smiled at me, I'd seen the same sparkle in his eyes as the night when he arrived during a blizzard. It was such a heart-melting thing to see, and I couldn't take him away from this place that had brought it back.

Maybe coming here and meeting everyone would help deter him from the Hooded Robber. Surely Tucker had made him realize the man… or me… wasn't all bad.

I hoped so, anyway. I was really tired of the guilt eating at me and my terror over something happening to him. It would be my fault if it did.

Like a child burying their heads under their blankets to avoid seeing the monsters in their room, I wished the whole thing would goaway. However, I couldn't make a wish become a reality. If I could, my father would still be alive, King Ivan wouldn't be king, and we'd all still be free to come and go as we pleased from Tempest.

I covered my mouth as I yawned. I wasn't ready to go home, but I was tired. It had been an exhausting day.

"We should go," Ryker said, setting his tankard down. "You're tired."

"I'm fine," I assured him. "Besides, I can always open a portal home and return. I'm not ready to leave."

Ryker frowned at me, but Tucker nodded. He understood my reasons for not wanting to leave.

"You can rest in my tree house," Tucker offered.

"I can't invade your home."

"It's not an invasion at all. Besides, I've got other plans for the night." He looked across the fire and waved at a pretty woman who smiled back at him. "I won't be using it tonight."

Despite his assurances it was okay, I still hesitated. I should go home, but Ryker would leave if I did, and he deserved this time of relaxation and peace.

Plus, I dreaded returning to that empty manor. If I'd returned home sooner, I could have gone to stay with Scarlet and her family, or she could stay with me, but it was too late now.

I wouldn't knock on their door in the middle of the night. They'd still welcome me, but I was sure I wasn't the only one who went to bed and woke up afraid; I'd probably scare them all if I went to them this late.

Ultimately, my desire for this sense of safety outweighed my discomfort over taking Tucker's home. "Are you sure?" I asked Tucker.

"I'll take you home," Ryker offered.

He didn't get it, and he couldn't. He wasn't like the other aristocrats, and his father had completely screwed him over during the curse, but he still didn't have to fear being dragged out of his home and tossed in a cell for some unknown infraction.

"I don't want to go home," I told him. "I feel safer here."

That wasn't a statement anyone ever made about the Revenant Woods, or at least not until King Ivan took the throne.

"Ellery—"

"Stay and catch up," I told him. "When you're ready to go, come and get me."

He hesitated before responding. "Okay, rest, and I'll be up soon to take you home."

I resisted leaning over to kiss his cheek before rising, thanking Tucker, and walking toward the tree house he'd pointed out. I grasped the rope ladder and climbed swiftly.

When I got to the top, I placed my hands on either side of the opening in the house and hoisted myself through the hatch. I emerged into the far corner of the building and smiled as I surveyed the small room.

It was too dark to make out much, but moonlight glinted off a lantern hanging on the wall. I walked over to it, lifted the flint from the wall beside it, and lit the wick.

Once lit, I turned the flame down and rehung the lantern before turning to survey the room. The top of a tree branch ran across the floor in the center of the structure; the limb was even with the floor and almost completely blended into it.

The door covering the hatch stood open; it could be closed and locked into place with a latch on the inside. A stuffed mattress was set against the wall across from the opening.

One blanket was pulled neatly over the mattress while another was folded at the bottom of the bed. A full water pail sat in the corner across from the hatch, and books lined a small shelf at the end of the bed.

Tucker had placed his clothes neatly on the eye-level shelves running around most of the room. His space was sparse but comfy, and I liked it.

While sitting below, I hadn't noticed the thick canvas covering a doorway at the front of the structure. I unlatched it from the floor and walls before rolling it up to reveal the small doorway leading onto the branch encased in the flooring.

This door offered another escape from the structure or a place to sit and relax while basking in the beauty of the forest and stars. The canvas was thick enough to keep the winter air out when the time came, but once opened, it would provide a nice breeze in the summer.

Using the straps attached above the door, I secured the canvas, removed my boots, shoved my socks into them, and sat to dangle my feet out the doorway. After sitting close to the fire, the night air felt chilly but welcome against my bare skin.

Situated at least forty feet in the air, the tree house offered a spectacular view of the forest and sky. I could also see into the other homes with their doorways rolled up as the tree houses were all built to face the clearing.

Some of the others were dark, but a couple had the warm glow of lanterns illuminating them. Stars filled the night sky, and two of Tempest's six moons were visible.

One of them was a full moon, while the other was barely a sliver of a crescent. The six moons were always in different phases as they moved around the realm. All six could be visible from my home at various times throughout the year, but it was rare.

Smiling, I leaned against the wall while the hum of the conversations below and the crackle of the fire further calmed me. I couldn't think of a better way to spend the night than in the safety of this tree.