Chapter 67

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

Ryker

It took most of the night, but we moved Ianto and the children into Tucker's encampment. Things were a bit cramped, but many hands were already at work building more tree houses for the new arrivals, fresh clothes were given to the children, and they were feasting on a hearty breakfast.

I wasn't sure if a tree house would support Ianto, but that was his problem. He and Tucker had hit it off, and it didn't take Tucker long to accept Ianto and the children, but I hadn't thought it would.

Though I'd only gotten a couple hours of sleep, I rose early to walk with Tucker behind the backs of the men and women practicing with bows and arrows. We usually spent every morning training with the group.

Swords would come next, then hand-to-hand, and after watching the giant with his staff, I intended to put him to work training the others with that weapon as soon as he helped finish building the new tree houses. Some of Tucker's followers were already proficient enough with some weapons to go into battle.

The thuds of the arrows hitting the targets mingled with the pounding of hammers against nails and the singing of those who worked to build more shelters. Normally, everyone would be training right now, but with the influx of new arrivals, those progressing the best with their skills were working on the new homes.

Tucker and I wanted them to get as much done as possible before the sun rose too high and it was too hot to continue working. Building would resume when the sun started setting.

They sang an old drinking ballad as they worked, laughing as they tossed hammers, wood, and other supplies to each other. They didn't have much here, but they were happy and free.

"Is this the army you're building?" Ianto inquired when he came to stand beside me.

"It's the start."

"Do you really think this will work?"

"I think we need to fight, but I have no idea what the future holds."

Ianto studied the group with their bows and arrows as they fired at their targets. They'd improved a lot over the past month, though I'd still like to see what they could do under Ellery's tutelage.

"Where does Ellery fit into all of this?" Ianto asked.

I caught Tucker's troubled glance out of the corner of my eye, but I didn't look at him or Ianto as I replied. "She knows these woods well and is helping me hunt for the Hooded Robber."

"What do you want with him?"

"I think he could help against Ivan and the aristocrats. The amsirah love him and would rally around him if he asked it of them. I believe he's living in the woods… or spending a lot of time in them."

The giant rubbed his freshly shaven chin while pondering this. "The poor amsirah do love him."

"I think most of them are poor now," Tucker muttered.

"True."

Ianto studied the growing number of amsirah learning to fight. Despite the amsirah who continued wandering into the woods, barely more than fifty, who could go into battle, had made it this far. The rest were all too young to fight.

Tucker had established traps in the woods and guards to watch over them. Those guards would bring anyone who looked like they required assistance into the encampment or kill any threat.

Only one guard had arrived with someone new, and they hadn't killed anyone yet. The Revenant Woods destroyed many who entered, but we needed more here.

When a young orphan boy raced past us, chasing a chicken who squawked and ran around in circles, some trainees turned to watch while the rest remained focused on their task… as they should.

"We need a lot more fighters to stand against the aristocrats," Ianto said.

"That's where the Hooded Robber will come in handy. Many amsirah will follow him," Tucker replied.

"Because he gives them money."

"Exactly," I said. "But they also like the Hooded Robber for more than the money he gives them. To them, he's a symbol of rebellion and freedom, someone who stands against the authority of the king and aristocrats who have trapped and impoverished them. Someone they'll follow."

"Just like they followed the Scourge of the Ghouls and King Leonidas's right-hand man into war against our invaders."

"Leo is dead because I didn't rescue him from the ophidians."

"The amsirah blame Ivan for King Leonidas's death, not you."

I frowned at him. "How do you know that?"

Ianto grinned at me before shifting his attention back to the trainees. "I'm a commoner, and I lived amongst them. I know what they say and how they feel about things. Your status is too high for them to talk to you about things. They wouldn't dare approach you, but I hear things, and they blame King Ivan for his brother's death. They were told they were paying higher taxes to free King Leonidas, but they don't have him, and they've seen nothing in return for their money. They hate Ivan."

"We all do," Tucker said.

"That we do," I agreed.

"How do you plan to build an army?" Ianto asked.

"We'll hit Ivan and the others where it hurts them most… in their wallets," I stated. "And we'll build an army from it."

Ianto's eyebrows rose. "Are you planning to raise an army of thieves ?"