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CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

Ryker

“Thank you for helping us,” I said to the woman. “We can take you to our encampment.”

“I’m not staying,” the woman said. “I just wanted to bring them. They were nervous about trying to find you, and I wasn’t sure how you would react to them if I wasn’t here.”

“Then what will you be doing?”

“Returning home. I’ll do more good by bringing others to you than if I go into hiding.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, but keep them safe.”

“We will,” I vowed. “What’s your name?”

“Val.”

I extended my hand to her. She stared at it with her mouth parted in disbelief; she’d probably never expected to touch an aristocrat, never mind have one offer their hand to her.

When she clasped my hand, I enclosed hers in both of mine. “I’m Ryker Locke.”

“I know.”

“No, you didn’t, not truly, but now you do.”

“Yes, I do. We all know now.”

Behind her, the women nodded while the children watched in confusion. “We’ll keep them safe, but you also have to keep yourself safe,” I told her.

A flicker of apprehension crossed her face. “I will, but it’s getting scarier out there. Your father….”

The words trailed off as her eyes darted away. “My father what?”

“Nothing, milord.”

“Don’t call me that; I’m not that man anymore.”

She bowed her head. “Of course.”

“My father helped create me, but there is no love between us. There never has been. What is he doing?”

“He’s worse than Ivan!” one of the other women blurted. “His taxes, the way he treats us.” She pulled her son closer against her side. “They’re taking ten-year-old boys into their armies and training them. We have no say over our children anymore.”

“Holy shit,” Tucker breathed. “We can’t fight an army of children.”

“We’re not fighting an army of children,” I stated. “He’s taking them to train them to their way. If, from a young age, they’re taught the aristocrats are who they defend and the ones who are right, they’ll be less likely to rebel. What about the girls?”

“We’re afraid he’ll come for them next,” another woman said.

“What is wrong with your father?” Callan asked.

“A lot,” I told him.

“Do any more women and children want to come?” I asked Val.

“Yes, but they’re uncertain about you and scared of the Revenant Woods.”

“Let them know the poltergeists will help protect them,” Creighton said.

He didn’t have shoulders, but how he wiggled made me think he was throwing them back. The poltergeists were floating into their role as protectors.

“We already have a fair number of children here; we will keep them safe,” I assured Val.

“I’ll let them know,” Val said. “And how is the other lightning bearer?”

All of them leaned forward, their eyes on me and their faces rapt as they waited for my answer.

“Ellery is good. She wanted to come with me, but she’d already promised some of the kids at our encampment she’d help with their archery.

They won’t fight when the time comes, but they have to learn to defend themselves in these woods. ”

The women gripped their children tighter as they paled.

“Has he taken all of the boys?” I asked.

“Not yet; they’re making their way through the towns.”

“What town are you from?”

“We’re from the sea village of White Pool.”

“He’d be a fool if he took all the future seamen,” Tucker said.

“He’s not planning to keep them,” I told him. “He’ll raise, train, and release them back to their original duties once he’s certain he’s broken them to his control.”

A couple of the women shuddered.

“I should return,” Val said.

“Let everyone know they’ll be safe here,” Tucker said, “and so will their children.”

She bowed her head. “I will.”

Nothing happened when she lifted her hands and waved them to open a portal. I frowned as dread jolted through me. Had they somehow figured out a way to stop us from opening portals?

Val waved her fingers before her again. “What the hell?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Callan spat.

When I lifted my hand to open a portal, Tucker seized my arm. “It’s not us.” He pointed at the sky. “There’s a magnetic storm coming.”

Within the Revenant Woods, beneath the thick branches of the trees, it was always darker. The black clouds creeping into view and obscuring the sun weren’t noticeable at first, but now that Tucker had pointed them out, it was impossible to miss them overtaking the land.

I recalled Ellery’s words about nothing going that easy in these woods. We’d been due for another magnetic storm, but I hadn’t anticipated it arriving today.

Fuck that gem and our idiot ancestors for being such assholes.

“Shit,” I muttered.

It would be a long walk back to the encampment with all these kids. I hoped we’d get them all there safely.