Chapter 74

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

Ryker

"Ivan will keep the caravan to the roads outside the woods throughout most of the collection. He'll want everyone to see it," I said.

"We don't know if he'll start the collection in the Hollows or Carthaway," Tucker muttered as he tapped the end of the pencil against his chin.

"Carthaway," Ellery and I said at the same time.

Tucker and Ianto looked at us for an explanation. I waved my hand at Ellery to indicate she should continue.

"Carthaway's on the opposite side of The Hollows with the Revenant Woods separating them in the middle. It's also a lot smaller than Nottingshire. If the caravan starts on this path"—she ran her finger along the road leading from the palace to Carthaway; it didn't cut through the woods at all—"it will allow them to fill the caravan as they go. By the time they make it to The Hollows, it will be an impressive display of the king's wealth and ability to make the amsirah do as he commands. The largest town will get to see that."

"I agree," I said.

"So, The Hollows will be his last stop, but will he cut through the Revenant Woods after, or stick to the main road?" Ianto asked.

"After Nottingshire, there's no one left to impress," I said. "From there, it will simply be a matter of getting the money back to Ivan. The caravan will be heavily guarded, and Ivan's arrogant, so he'd never consider the possibility that someone might steal from him.

"The Hooded Robber took money intended for him before, but Ivan is certain he'd never directly steal from him. That money was being transported to him from others who were far less competent than him. This caravan will be under his guard, and no one can take from it… except us."

"I know the perfect place where we can set up for this," Ellery said as she pointed to a section of road. "That's where I set up to steal your money."

Tucker chuckled while Ianto lowered his head into his hands. "What a fucked-up relationship."

He didn't know the half of it, but the reminder she'd stolen from me didn't infuriate me as much as it used to. "We'll take a look at the spot tonight."

"How many do you plan on involving in this?" Tucker asked. "We have at least seven trainees who have improved enough to make a stand against the king, and they'll help if we ask."

"We should keep the number small," Ellery said. "That's why I was so successful. We have to be in and out as fast as possible, and the more amsirah we have with us, the slower we'll be."

"There's going to be a lot more guards than you're used to," I told her.

"I know, but more amsirah could cause confusion. If we're going to take out the caravan?—"

"We're not taking out the whole caravan," I interrupted. "We don't have enough thieves for that, even if we get more volunteers. We'll go for the last carriage in the line. It will still be enough money for us and a big insult to Ivan. Because it's at the back of the line, there will be more guards on it, but if we can get in and out fast, they'll be the only ones we have to be concerned about."

"We can get in and out fast," Ellery said, "if you're okay with getting in the trees."