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CHAPTER EIGHTY-FIVE

Ryker

When we rounded a bend, Val and a new group of women, children, and one man came into view. There were only eight of them this time, and the man stood with his hand on a boy’s shoulder and a young girl in his arms.

Val had also brought more chickens and a bolt of thick wool Scarlet would drool over. Val often brought us as many supplies as she could without drawing attention to herself.

“How are you?” Ellery greeted as she glided over to the tall woman.

Val bent down to hug Ellery before straightening. “I’m good; how are you?”

“We’re doing well. We’re still working on expanding and gathering plenty of food for the winter, so if others have to come, let them know we can accommodate them.”

I didn’t tell her they might arrive to no home; I couldn’t risk dissuading those who sought safety from seeking it out. We’d build them a home in a blizzard if necessary.

Val squeezed Ellery’s arm. “I’ll make sure they know.”

The others all stared uncertainly at us. They’d come seeking refuge, but giving up everything they knew was unnerving.

It was more unnerving to live in these woods where ghosts and poltergeists thrived and monsters lurked in the shadows. Despite this, many of them watched Ellery with keen interest.

“Is that her?” one of the kids whispered and tugged at his mother’s sleeve. The mother swatted at him as heat crept up her cheeks.

Ellery rested her hands on her knees as she bent so she was at eye level with the boy. “Is what me?”

The boy gazed at her with wide, blue eyes. “Are you the woman lightning bearer?”

They’d really be amazed by her if they ever learned she could control all five of the weathers, but while we’d planned to tell them, it remained a secret.

“Timmy, shush,” his mother scolded.

“That’s me.” Ellery pointed at me. “And he’s a lightning bearer too.”

“I’m sorry,” the mother apologized.

“Don’t be. I’d be curious too.” She smiled at the boy. “My name’s Ellery, but you can call me Lery. Who are you?”

The little boy blinked at her before grinning. “I’m Timmy.”

Ellery ruffled the boy’s hair as Val came to stand beside me.

“They sing songs about her in the villages and towns… or at least they are in my village. I’ve heard they’re spreading throughout the land.

They can’t catch us singing them, as I’m sure that would spell our deaths, but the push for a rebellion is growing… even if they have our children.”

“We’re going to put a stop to that.” I had no idea how we could when we barely had an army and needed to focus on surviving the winter, but I’d make sure they got their children back. “She’s worthy of ballads.”

Val stared intently at me. “They’re singing about you too. They talk of the duke’s son, the Scourge of the Ghouls, who gave it all up for love and to fight for us. It’s magical to them and something worth fighting for.”

“That’s because it is,” Ianto said.

I didn’t know what to say, so I didn’t speak. While I agreed Ellery was someone who the amsirah should celebrate, I didn’t feel comfortable having them create songs about me. Ellery would probably feel the same way.

“Do they know the songs?” Callan asked and jerked his chin at the newcomers.

“They do,” Val said.

“I’ll have to learn them then.”

“I don’t think that’s necessary,” I told him.

Callan grinned as Farley bobbed up and down excitedly. They both scented this was something to poke at me about.

“Oh, I think it is,” Callan said. “We could use some more music at the encampment.”

“I agree,” Ianto said.

I didn’t bother to argue with them; it would only make them happier. Instead, I watched as Ellery introduced herself to all the newcomers. She shook hands as she talked with each of them.

She didn’t want to be a leader and would insist she wasn’t, but she was born to be one. Fate had determined that when it granted her control of all the weathers.

The amsirah loved her, and she loved them. Leo had inspired the realm like this, but not even he got them to smile like that or bent to speak with the children, and he didn’t learn their names.

He was kind, generous, and larger-than-life, but he was never one of them like she was, and they loved her for it.