Page 7 of Bounty Hunter

I let out an audible breath of air, gathering my patience. “What are you doing? This smell could kill everyone in my castle.”

He chuckles like he thinks I’m joking. “I got a recipe from a fae healer. I’m trying my hand at a healing potion.”

I frown. Fae healing potions are the best of the best, and they smell that way too. The last one I used smelled of sweet berries, another fresh citrus.

“Either, the recipe you got is fraudulent, or something has gone horribly wrong in the process,” I say, feeling nauseous the longer I sit.

Jethonan spills something, and I hear him curse beneath his breath, then there’s a sizzle and an audiblepopbefore a beaker explodes. I think the hint of smoke actually improves the odor.

“Imagine how creating our very own healing potions will help our kingdom!” He speaks animatedly, his eyes bright.

He has a point. The fae potions have grown weaker with the lack of lucent magic. They are now only potent in the fae realm, making them very difficult to use whenneeded. I wonder when the charms the weapon enchanters weave into our weapons will begin to fade too, leaving us defenseless. Which reminds me why I’m here.

“Jethonan. I need you to create some type of conductor for my kingdom. We have to harness more magic. Five of my soldiers died on patrol last night, villagers are suffering, our food production is down, the weather, pulling magic… It’s all falling apart.”

He turns toward me finally, and I see that I’ve caught his attention. He nods as he thinks for a moment. He is well aware of the problems facing our kingdom and does everything he can to combat it, which is why I leave him to his creative hunches like the one currently happening. Jethonan has a brilliant mind—if anyone can do it, it’s him.

“One of the low kings suggested something to do with marriage to a Nadiette, and the people are hoping it will help. It seems ridiculous to ask, but is there a way to harness Nadiette’s power to spread further?” I feel like an idiot even asking. If there was a way, I’m sure we would already have been doing it generations ago.

A thoughtful look comes across his face, and he thinks quietly for a moment, his utter stillness as his mind works a high contrast to the busy and constantly moving Jethonan otherwise.

“I’ll look into our options, Your Majesty.”

Then he’s moving again. Something behind him bubbles over, and he turns, his robes spinning around his ankles as he tinkers with whatever he’s using to heat something that smells like rancid potion currently brewing on the table.

I stand, ready to escape the odor that is overwhelming my heightened sense of smell. “As soon as you find something, sendfor me.”

“Of course, Your Majesty,” he says, as his hands flutter around the table.

I can’t help but grin a little. I close the door behind me and lean down to sniff the shoulder of my shirt. The smell has infiltrated its fibers, and I frown. I don’t have time to change. I’ll have to meet Nadiette the way I am.

Chapter 5

Ikar

Nadiette and I stroll slowly through the main city street, arm in arm, trailed by four guards. The streets are perfectly cobbled, the storefronts tidy and clean, windows shining and filled with goods to sell. The heady scent of flowers trailing from upper balconies hovers in the air around us as we stroll by. It’s an almost unbelievable contrast to what I experienced on the last convoy, and so many other patrols just like it. I push down the nightmarish memories and nod and greet my people as we walk, and she does the same. They look at us with hope shining in their eyes, and Nadiette seems to glow beside me.

I admit we make an excellent couple, and I’m confident she will step into her role as queen smoothly. We’ve worked as a team, steady and unbeatable for years now, so it’s only natural for us to marry. The people have grown to love her more and more, as I do. She is a classic beauty, her green eyes filled with a youthful joy, and her hair seems spun of auburn fire. A deep contrast to the white gowns she wears, specifically made to compliment her mark, as is customary for Originators. Today,she wears a gown with flowy skirts, a wide belt wraps around a fitted bodice, and a row of pearl buttons lead up to her neck. The white, silky fabric gathers elegantly at the tops of her shoulders and drops like the bow of a curtain to the bend of her low back, revealing fair skin blemished only by her mark. Her hair is braided intricately to the side, revealing the easily recognizable mark of the Originators—a half sun. My own wardrobe seems muted compared to her assortment of pure white ensembles since I prefer darker greens, blues, and browns. Beside me, she appears to shine all the more.

We stop at a favorite bakery of ours with small tables in a front garden area where tall bushes have grown and been pruned into a privacy wall for customers. I pull out a chair for Nadiette at our usual table.

“You seem distracted today.” She rests her perfect chin on her small hand and waits.

I hesitate, unsure how much to reveal. “Another bad patrol last night,” I say, as images of the five soldiers who were killed last night come to mind.

She purses her lips and calls me back to the present, “It must have been horrendous. I feel so terrible for their families.” Compassion fills her eyes, and my defenses go up.

“I’d rather not discuss it.” My voice is hard, hoping she’ll change the subject. At times, though, she can be relentless, always going on about how we can figure this out, trying to be positive. Most of the time, I appreciate her positive outlook, but in regard to this, she has no idea the fault rests entirely with me. I wait for it and try not to clench my jaw when she begins exactly as I knew she would.

She places one of her hands over mine where it rests on the table and gives it a light squeeze, looking deeply at me with her vivid green eyes. “We’ll figure this out together, mylove. We are the two most powerful people in the kingdom. We will rule together, and with our power, we will protect our people. A perfect match. And who knows, maybe the combination of our power will produce an heir so powerful that the kingdom will be rid of gloam forever.” She says it gently, but there’s a sureness behind it.

I merely nod, a token to keep her happy and ease her worry. But she doesn’t realize that the only person who can figure this out isme. Heir or no heir, the responsibility for my kingdom is mine.

A couple of sweetened drinks and fresh pastries are brought to our table, and the conversation switches to lighter, more comfortable topics. But I can’t help but feel like the worst sort of person for enjoying a day out with a lovely woman after five of my men died the night before, their families currently in mourning. The pastry sits untouched on the table before me as Nadiette carries on with the one-sided conversation between us.

Soon enough, we return to the castle, and she walks with me to my office.

“Mind if I join you this afternoon?” She looks at me, a hint of worry creasing her brow. I feel a stab of guilt at how quiet I’ve been.

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