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CHAPTER TWENTY

Ryker

A few dozen women walked through the portal to join us at Tucker’s encampment, but just as many remained standing in the shadows. Before I left, the tall woman who’d also presented a set of keys approached me.

“I’m going home because I have a husband and son,” she said, “but I want to help and fight with you.”

“Thank you. It’s going to take some time before we’re ready to make a stand against them. We need weapons and an army, but we will fight them.”

“When you’re ready, I’ll be there, and my husband will too. Many of us will be.”

To my astonishment, all the women nodded enthusiastically. “We have nothing left to give them,” one said.

More nods followed her words.

“What will they take from us next?” the tall woman asked.

“Whatever they can,” I answered honestly. “But if they come for you, open a portal into the Revenant Woods. Once there, find a poltergeist, tell them you’re looking for me and need help. They’ll know how to find me and let me know you’re there.”

“A poltergeist will?”

“Not all of them, but if you keep searching, you’ll find one who will. Many of them are helping us, and I promise you, you’ll find one of them.”

Tears filled the woman’s eyes before she bowed her head.

I shifted my attention from the woman to the crowd. “That goes for all of you. If you need me, find the poltergeists.”

“We will,” another vowed.

I started to turn away before a thought occurred to me, and I stopped. “There’s something else you should know and tell everyone about. Make sure this truth spreads rapidly throughout the towns and villages.”

“We will,” the tall woman vowed. “What should we tell them?”

“Ellery is also the Hooded Robber. She started all of this. All. Of. It. Not only is she the first female lightning bearer to ever exist, but she was the first one to stand up for you; she fought for you in the only way she knew how… by stealing from the rich to give to the poor.”

The woman’s mouth hung ajar as she gaped at me. After what they’d learned about her today, I didn’t think I could shock them anymore. I was wrong.

“She was?” one of them gasped.

“She was and still is,” I said. “Ellery’s been fighting for you for a while now. She helped me steal Ivan’s money… and so did many others.”

“ You stole Ivan’s money?” one of them demanded.

“Yes. And we’ve redistributed much of it already. Now that Ellery’s fight has been made public, we need your help to beat them.”

They all gawked at me until the tall woman squeezed my hands. “And you will have it.” The sincerity of her tone reinforced her words.

“Thank you. Now, I have to go.”

When I released the woman’s hands, she stepped away. “Tell Ellery thank you.”

I stopped right before the portal. “She thinks you’ll hate her.”

“We don’t,” another one said.

“She blames herself for all of you being on the battlefield.”

“She shouldn’t.”

“I’m glad you agree.”

“She can’t help who she is,” the tall woman said, “and we don’t blame her for not revealing her ability sooner. We all know what they would have done to her.” Her mouth twisted as if she’d tasted something bitter. The other women wore similar expressions, and a few of them shuddered.

Yes, they could all imagine what the nobles would have done to Ellery if she’d come forward ten years ago or last week. The outcome would have destroyed her.

“She’ll be relieved to hear that,” I said.

When I went to turn away again, the tall woman stopped me with a hand on my arm. “Keep her safe.”

“Always.”

With that, her hand fell away, and I followed the others through the portal. When I emerged on the other side, it was to an encampment full of amsirah gathered close.

When Ellery threw her arms around me, I cradled her against my chest. I yearned to stay like this forever, but we had to move.

I kissed her forehead and then her cheek before whispering in her ear, “Close the portal.”

She pulled away from me and spoke as she waved her hand. “We have to get to the manor; Billy and Mr. Fletcher are in danger.”

Over her shoulder, Ruby and Scarlet nodded. I understood why they had to go, but Ellery couldn’t. She had to stay safe until I returned.

“I have to go to my father’s weapon room,” I told her. “All his guards are at the palace and will be scattered after what happened. I’m sure my father has assumed complete control by now, but things will still be chaotic over there.

“He won’t stop to think about protecting that room. He’ll be too busy basking in his good fortune of being the new king… or be too busy keeping the other aristocrats from killing him.”

Ellery paled as understanding dawned.

“What do you mean your father is the new king?” Tucker asked.

I didn’t look at him as I replied. “I killed Ivan.”

A gasp went through many of those gathered in the clearing.