Chapter 37
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
Ryker
“There’s guards in every town and village in Tempest,” Val said. “They go through our houses every day. They harass us on the streets and stand in the corners of our children’s schools. They menace everyone and everything; not even our animals are safe from them.”
“Shit,” Tucker breathed.
My heart sank. We’d been trying to help them; instead, we’d only made things worse.
“I’m sorry,” I said honestly.
“The amsirah want to know if you’re going to do more to help them,” she stated.
“We’re doing our best.”
In truth, we hadn’t done much since the robbery and subsequent fires. We’d focused on recuperating, rebuilding, and ensuring our survival through the winter.
I was keenly aware my father would strike again, and it would come soon. Until then, he’d decided to take his wrath out on the realm.
“We will do more,” I vowed. “We killed a good number of their men during the fires. That blow weakened them.”
“Yeah, we did.” Cryton grinned while tossing his blade back and forth. “Those fuckers will stay out of these woods for a while.”
Val glanced around the woods again before she nodded. Relaxing a little, she turned to where the others remained huddled on the rocks. For the first time, no children had arrived with the newcomers, who consisted of four women and two men.
“Are they still taking children for their army?” I asked.
Val flinched at my question and closed her eyes. “Not right now, but they’re never far away from them. They’re always breathing down our necks.”
“No one should live like that,” Tucker said.
“You can come to live here,” I reminded her. “It sounds like it’s time to bring your son.”
Tears filled Val’s eyes before she blinked them away. “I think it’s past time.”
“Why don’t you return for your husband and son?” I suggested. “We can wait here.”
“I can’t; not today. It was difficult to find the opportunity to bring these amsirah to you. I couldn’t return and do it again, but next time I’ll bring them. Next time, we’re staying.”
When I rested my hand on her arm, she flinched a little. “We’re looking forward to it.”
Her eyes returned to the trees before she shifted her attention to the amsirah who’d come with her. “Where’s Ellery?”
“She’s out with a hunting party. She’ll be sad she missed you.”
A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth before falling away. “Tell her I say hi.”
“I will.”
“I should go now.”
The amsirah all glanced at each other before they huddled closer together. I frowned as I studied them; few new arrivals were excited about living in the Revenant Woods, but none were as scared as this group.
My father had either traumatized them, or something wasn’t right. I studied the woods, but they remained subdued. Maybe I was imagining it, and they were just traumatized by my father’s draconian rule.
Tucker stepped closer to whisper. “Does something seem off to you?”
The hair on my nape rose. I wasn’t imagining things if Tucker had sensed it too. “Something seems very off,” I said to him. “Val—”
Before I could get any more words out, she opened a portal and turned toward me. Her tear-filled eyes locked on mine as she whispered, “I’m sorry.”
Tears spilled down her cheek, and my hand went to my sword as dozens upon dozens of guards sprinted from the portal with their weapons raised.