Chapter 72

CHAPTER SEVENTY-TWO

Ryker

When we returned to Tucker's ever-growing village, he and Ianto were already waiting for us by the edge of the fence the compound's occupants were erecting. They'd dismantled the one Ianto and the kids had created and brought its pieces here to start a new one.

It would take time, but they planned to fence off a large enough section to let them expand as more amsirah arrived. The extra protection was a welcome relief now.

Tucker's eyes widened as I stalked toward the two of them, and Ianto's eyebrows shot up. "What's got you in a mood?" Tucker inquired.

I scowled at him before glancing back at Ellery, who had stopped to talk to one of the orphans. "Nothing."

"Oh, good, you two are getting along again," Tucker quipped.

Ianto chuckled. When I shot him a look, he held his hands up, palms out. "You have to admit it's amusing."

I wasn't in the mood to deal with either of these assholes. "Ellery, let's go!"

She glared at me before shifting her attention back to the child.

"Yeah, that's going to work," Tucker said. "Maybe next time you can command her to fly, you might get a better response."

"Fuck off," I told him.

"Just trying to help."

"I don't need your help."

"Obviously you do because you're pretty clueless when it comes to her."

If I looked at him, I might hit him, but as much as I wanted to hit something, it couldn't be Tucker. He was pissing me off, but he didn't deserve it.

Finally, Ellery started walking again… slowly. I swore she did it intentionally as she smiled at Tucker and then Ianto. When her attention shifted to me, her smile vanished.

"What did you do to piss her off?" Tucker asked.

"You know, she's not exactly innocent in anything."

"No, she's not, but I'm sure it was you."

She was still a few feet away when a shadow darted out of the woods and collided with her. Ellery grunted, staggered a little to the side, and then laughed as her arms encircled the scrawny boy clinging to her.

"Mouse," she breathed.

The boy beamed at her before burying his head in her belly. Ellery hugged him closer as she rested her cheek on his head. "I've missed you too."

The boy didn't respond; he never did. Despite my irritation with her, my heart melted as they embraced and joy lit their faces.

I'd occasionally seen Mouse over the weeks I was here, but he usually stayed near the tree line, watching while the others trained and worked. Tucker's followers gave him food and set out fresh clothes. He often gulped down the food and took the clothes but never stayed.

Ellery clasped his chin and lifted his head so he had to look at her. "Are you okay?"

Mouse nodded.

"Why don't you stay here? It's safer than the woods."

He shook his head before resting it on her belly again. When Ellery looked at me, her anger was gone and happiness radiated from her as she stroked Mouse's shoulder.

"I have some things to discuss with them; do you want to come with me?" she asked.

The boy nodded. I didn't bother to tell her this was a private matter and the boy shouldn't be involved; not only couldn't Mouse tell anyone what he heard because he didn't speak, but he would never do anything to betray Ellery. Besides, I couldn't be the one to pry them apart.

The boy clung to her as she walked. He was usually infatuated with her, but I'd never seen him this clingy. I didn't know what had happened to him, but he didn't release Ellery as they continued toward Tucker and Ianto.

When Ellery stopped before us, she hugged Mouse closer and concern etched her features, but she didn't say anything as she held the boy protectively against her side. Without a word, we all turned and headed deeper into the woods.

After half a mile, we stopped, and Tucker pulled a large piece of parchment from the back pocket of his pants. He unrolled it to reveal a map and placed it on a rock.

Most of the map focused on the Revenant Woods and surrounding towns. There wasn't much beyond that… at least not anymore.

At one time, there was more rolling farmland, mountains, lakes, sporadic homes, and a few smaller towns. That was all destroyed during the Ghoul War.

We'd managed to keep those monsters from getting to the heart of Tempest, but they'd still inflicted a lot of damage on the realm. The amsirah who once lived out there were either killed outright, joined to fight against the ghouls, or fled toward the larger towns. No one remained in those wasted lands.

"The giant and I spent most of the day plotting the roads through the Revenant Woods," Tucker said. "We also did a rough sketch of the towns and the roads leading to them. We stayed focused on the woods, as that's where the robbery will have to occur."

Ellery and Mouse stepped closer to examine the drawing. The boy pointed a dirty finger at a section marked with trees. He ran his finger across it.

"Who's the boy?" Ianto asked me.

"Mouse."

"His real name is Danny, but we all call him Mouse because he's so quiet and fast," Ellery said. "And he's right, there's another road through those trees."

We crowded closer to the map.

"Are you sure?" Tucker asked.

"Yes. Few know about it, as it's blocked by trees and doesn't go anywhere, but it runs for a good mile through the Revenant Woods. It's easy to traverse. I've used it before."

"For what?" Ianto inquired.

"To steal." She lifted her head to look at him. "I'm the Hooded Robber."