Page 21 of A Tempest of Shadows

“He’s a boy.”

“And he’ll learn not to repeat his mistakes.”

The woman returned and set a mug in front of Samael. I lifted my mug and held it toward the sheriff; I smiled as our wooden tankards clanked together. “To the new sheriff.”

Samael didn’t smile, and neither of us looked away as we drank our beer. Finally, Samael set his mug down.

“It’s good to have you back, Ryker.”

“It’s good to be back.”

But it wasn’t. This wasn’t the home I’d gone to war to protect. I’d become a stranger in the realm I’d sacrificed everything for.

Samael lifted his mug again as he held my gaze. “To friendships.”

I smiled as I tapped my mug against his once more. “May they continue.”

We both knew the truth; we’d never be friends again. But we could both play the game.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Ellery

Scarlet and I spent the next few weeks gradually dispersing the money we stole from Ryker in small pouches we cut up and created from feed bags. On each one, we wrote the initials H.R. so the amsirah would know who it was from. We didn’t do it for recognition or acclaim; we hoped it would buy us enough loyalty to keep the amsirah in the towns from trying to hunt us for the reward.

For some reason, guilt niggled at me as we scattered the funds, but I shoved it down deep. Ryker’s money would do a lot of good in The Hollows and surrounding towns.

It already was, even if the prince was talking about raising taxes again… to pay for his upcoming coronation. And his ascension to the throne was coming far too fast for my liking. There was no telling what that selfish asshole would do once he wore the crown.

The worst part was that I’d have to see it. The invitations had gone out last week, and anyone with any power in the realm, even farmers, were invited. We certainly weren’t much, but my mother owned a manor in the kingdom, provided food, had the most sought-after horses, and my father had been a knight in the king’s army.

The prince expected us to be there, and I hated it.

With a sigh, I closed the door on the pixie house and the half-full chest still tucked within. I rested my hands on my knees as I studied the door and tried not to think about Ryker recently adding another ten thousand carisle to the reward money for the Hooded Robber.

It was only a matter of time before the ones we were trying to help started hunting us too. They were loyal now because we gave them money, but they were also hurting, and so were their children. If a parent could stop that from happening, they would.

And I wouldn’t blame them.

I rose and started to turn away from the trunk when movement amongst the trees stopped me. Pulling two arrows free of my quiver, I nocked one and was about to fire, but it had already vanished into the trees.

A ghost?

But no, it couldn’t be—the forest had gone too quiet for it to be a ghost. Ghosts didn’t cause the animals to stop moving; the creatures living here were used to their presence.

Breathing slowly in and out, everything inside me went still as I listened to the breeze ruffling the leaves. The Revenant Woods were a part of me, I was a part of them, and something was out there or… someone.

I didn’t breathe as my heart beat out a steady tempo while I waited. A flash through the trees drew my attention, and before whatever it was could slip back into the shadows, I let an arrow fly.

The creature stalking me was fast, but not fast enough to avoid my bolt as the head of the arrow sliced across its side in a flash that caused it to grunt. And that grunt let me know it was a man, not a creature.

The hair on my nape rose. It can’t be.

I couldn’t see him, but suddenly I knew it was.

Ryker had been hunting the Hooded Robber… and finally found him. I was so grateful I’d donned my hood and black clothes before coming here today.

No one had ever come close to finding our location before, but I wouldn’t go anywhere near the money without being concealed. That was a good way to get caught. However, it might already be too late for that.