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Ellery

Harnesses jingled as the first riders rounded the bend below. I lifted my head to take in the contingent of guards trotting toward us. Some held the duke’s flag while others waved the pennant of Tempest.

Most held no flag as they surveyed the land for a threat. They had no idea how close we were to them.

Because of the road’s narrowness, only two riders passed through at a time. They could have fit a third, but they’d chosen not to cram themselves into the confined space.

When Ryker tensed beside me and a low growl rumbled through his chest, I realized the man in front was Gaius, the only one riding by himself. Panic filled me at the possibility Ryker might forget the plan in exchange for killing that asshole.

I gripped his forearm and his muscles vibrated beneath my palm. When he didn’t move, I realized he wouldn’t ruin our strategy by doing something foolish, but he also had to calm down. Going into this angry and emotional was a good way to get killed.

Once Gaius rode out of view, he relaxed a little, but rage still thrummed through him. The caravan continued past us until Ryker raised his hand, made a fist, and brought it down.

This was it. It was time to make our move.

And once we left the safety of these hills, we’d declare war on the duke. We didn’t have the army we needed to fight him, but we did have a realm full of oppressed amsirah who were sick of it all and the hope they would rally around us.

With the silence of ghosts drifting through the Revenant Woods, we slipped out of our hiding places and descended on the caravan. This was the first battle in a war we were determined to win.