“You have had visions tonight.”
“Yes.”
“So have I.”
“What visions?”
“I am not permitted to say. But Maxwell and his friend have made our men embrace a responsibility they have shirked for years.”
“What do you mean?”
“From time to time, when we are camped in this area, a young woman from our community goes missing, and we know Tudor is responsible—even if the men won’t go after him and demand to have her back.”
Amber swallowed painfully. For the first time, she realized that this wasn’t just about her and the slaves from Naxion. This was just as personal for Camille and the other women in the camp.
“We should go,” the older woman said. “We do not want to hold them up.”
“Yes.”
As soon as Amber stuck her head out the door of the special hut, she saw that the council clearing was marked by a few torches. As she approached, she could see dozens of men gathered around Max and Rafe. Most of them were the young swamp rats who had formed the hunting party the night before—including LaTour. He had done a lot of bold talking at the old house. Now, as she took in his expression, she saw an uncertain look in his eyes. Did he have more to prove than the other men? Or maybe he was a coward—afraid to risk his life when he wasn’t hunting down two unarmed men and a woman?
But her attention switched abruptly away from him as she saw Max step forward. A look of wonder and a warmth came over his face and increased as she approached. “You look . . .” He struggled for a word and came up with “smashing.”
It sounded weird, but she assumed it was a compliment.
“So do you,” she answered. Of course, it was true any time she saw him, but now he was dressed for combat in dark clothing that accented his dark good looks.
When he reached for her hand, she folded her fingers around his. “What have you been doing?” he asked.
“The women wanted to do some kind of good luck ceremony with me.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“I’ll tell you when you come back.”
His jaw firmed. “Yes.”
Gatroux walked up to them. “You should leave now while the night is the darkest.”
Max’s grip tightened on Amber. “Be careful,” she murmured.
“We will.”
He was about to say more, when she heard a noise in the distance. At first, she thought it was a flock of birds flying toward them.
She saw the men look uneasily at each other. Seconds later, the air above them seemed to stir and brilliant lights blazed on, turning the clearing where the raiding party stood into a sea of blinding brightness.