Page 84 of A Tempest of Intrigue (Tempest of Shadows #4)
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR
Ryker
My eyes narrowed on her. “You’re not going to let those trees take you down there again.”
“No, not anytime soon. I’m not in a rush for that to happen again, but eventually, we’ll have to find out where else the tunnel leads. And we can use it to our advantage. It’s cold and creepy down there, but no one would ever find us, and depending on where the other end goes, it could help us move into a better position against the nobles.”
As much as I hated the idea of her going down there again, she was right. However, that didn’t mean she had to endure being sucked beneath the earth once more.
The trees had taken me too. She could stay behind while I went; getting her to agree would be a battle, but I might be able to talk her into it.
I probably had a better chance of talking unicorns into shooting out my ass, but it was worth a shot.
“Speaking of the trees,” Tucker said. “Other than knocking us away, they didn’t try to attack us either, and they didn’t take us. There’s something about the three of you they want.”
“I think we know what they want from you,” Ianto said. “But why the boy? Can he control lightning too?”
All eyes shifted to Mouse as a murmur of excitement ran through the crowd. Mouse recoiled when he realized he’d become the center of attention.
“Can you control lightning?” I asked him.
The boy blinked rapidly at me before shaking his head. He lifted his hands to the side of his head and wiggled them up and down. He lowered them and lifted them again. He repeated the action a couple of times.
“You can control the rain,” Ellery said.
The boy nodded.
“Can you control anything else?” I asked.
The boy shook his head.
“He’s still young,” Tucker said. “Maybe his lightning ability hasn’t manifested yet, but the trees somehow sensed it.”
“No,” Ellery said. “While that is a possibility, I doubt it. I was on top of Mouse and trying to protect him from the black dogs when the trees took us. When they dragged me down, they had no choice but to take Mouse too.” She rested her hand on the boy’s shoulder again. “I’m sorry.”
The boy stared at her before throwing his arms around her waist and leaning against her side. He snuggled close as he rested his head on her shoulder. Tears filled Ellery’s eyes before she closed them and placed her cheek on his head.
“I see.” Tucker rubbed his chin as he pondered this information. “For some reason, those trees only want lightning bearers.”
“But why?” I asked.
Tucker shrugged. “Your guess is as good as mine.”
“We really should find out where the other end of the tunnel goes,” Ellery said. “We should do it tomorrow.”
“We’re giving out more money tomorrow,” I reminded her.
“We can push it off,” Tucker said.
When I shot him a look, he leaned away from me.
“Or not,” he said quickly. “It’s probably best if we stick to the plan.”
“That is best,” I growled.
Ellery set her empty plate down. “I’m going back down there, Ryker. If you want to stick with the plan for the money, that’s fine, as the amsirah need it, but don’t you dare try to go down there without me. We’re stronger together, and you know it. Hell, the trees know it.”
Those words drew a twitter of laughter from the crowd; I was far from amused. She was right, but I didn’t want her to endure that awful, helpless sensation of suffocating while being pulled under again.
If I went without her, I’d be going against the vows we’d made to each other—no more secrets.
“Fine, we’ll go together,” I assured her. “But not tomorrow. You need some rest, and we have the money ready to go. We’ll stick with the plan and find a better time to explore the tunnel.”
Ellery studied me doubtfully.
“I promise I won’t go without you,” I told her.
She smiled before looking at her empty plate. I saw the disappointment on her face, but she wouldn’t ask for more food. She didn’t like taking food from the encampment.
I lifted her plate and handed it to one of the men behind her. “Could you get her some more, please?”
“No, I’m fine,” Ellery said.
“I can still hear your stomach rumbling,” I told her.
The man took the plate from me and went to one of the cooking fires. He wasn’t gone long before he returned with another plate.
When Ellery didn’t take it, I did and handed it out to her. “Eat.”
She stared doubtfully at it before taking it from my hands and diving in again.
“So, we’ll get the money out tomorrow,” Tucker said. “And maybe the following day, we’ll return to the tunnel.”
“We?” I asked.
“Oh, you’re not leaving me behind. I’m dying to see what’s down there. You’ll have to hold me when the trees come for you.”
His eyes twinkled with amusement as I rolled my eyes at him.
“I’m going too,” the giant said.
“I can’t wrap my arms around you,” I told him.
Ianto grinned at me. “We’ll have to get creative then.”