Page 23 of Bounty Hunter

If he’s asking me that, he already knows. I intentionally take a very loud and obnoxious slurp of soup as I consider what to do. The man looks at me oddly. Good, I don’t want him looking at me any other way.

I know I should mind my business, let Rhette track him down later. I have enough information that I know he’d find him in a day or two, but what if he can’t? I need the money, and he’sright here.According to the rules, I am simply an Originator—that’s all I signed up for. Rhette is the hunter. But still, I’mthisclose to guaranteeing this job. What if someone else snatches him before we do because I don’t do anything? It’s too bad Rupi stayed in the forest while I grabbed a bite to eat, or she may have reined in my impulsivity, but she’s not here, and I make a split second decision as I eye the despicable list of names—women I know personally—and mine is included.Can’t have that.

I know I shouldn’t anger the man without Rhette’s protection, but he won’t need that list after we arrest him anyway, and it’ll feel so good. I grab my glass, and with a quick flick of my wrist, a large splash of hot tea soaks the parchment through. Immediately, the ink begins to run and turn blotchy in parts, the man jumps up and attempts to salvage the dripping mess with a look of anger and surprise. I smirk with warm satisfaction, shovel another bite of food in my mouth, and take my exit from the inn without another word.

I feel genuine regret at leaving half a bowl of long-simmered, hearty soup behind. I shouldn’t have provoked him, but my plan has satisfied two needs. One, the man isangry and will probably lead himself right to us. Second, even if it is the tiniest bit of ground, I’ve set a mercenary off course and destroyed a list that could identify myself and my Tulip sisters. If he’s worth his hire as a mercenary, he’ll find me soon enough. I cackle to myself as I leave the cobblestone street and make my way into the forest. I don’t generally use myself as bait during contracts—haven’t ever, actually. I don’t get paid enough for that. But right now, I need the money and Rhette has my back… I hope. I just need to get back to camp and hope he’s there by now.

I stride quickly in the direction I took into town, following the same spotty deer path I took on my way into the village. Rhette and I made camp about half a mile away, and I can only hope he’s ready when I get there because I have a feeling that the criminal is already on my trail. I, of course, won’t do the arresting. I am here solely for magical support, but from the previous bounties I’ve assisted with, it’s best to do the arresting away from the public eye so no one interferes. And that’s the case, especially with this guy, who can probably get whatever he wants with a quick blink of his blue eyes. Or his fists. I recall how he won several rounds of vicious fighting to get that list. I scoff. No, he wouldn’t need violence to kill my Tulip sisters. If he finds them, he’ll probably lead them to their deaths with a simple roguish smile.

My anger grows tight and hot while I walk in the direction of our camp, but I begin to realize the area looks unfamiliar, the deer path too well trodden at this point. My confidence goes from fiery to fizzling in moments. I slow my steps but continue forward, feeling a bit of panic stir in my chest. If I can’t find my way back to Rhette, and that man finds me first… I swallow, but my throat is tight with anxiety, and it turns into an audible gulp.Rules, Vera. There are rules for a reason.

My eyes scan around me hurriedly, for something, any sort of new plan. I glimpse a perfect, large evergreen tree ahead and realize if I can climb that, I might be able to find the trail, or at least hide until the man passes through and let Rhette find him later. Feeling my confidence recover a bit, I hop over a couple of boulders and clamber through bushes and long grass to get there. My eyes are so busy concocting a plan that will have me waiting in the tree above that it’s not until I smell a hint of the sourness that clings after goblins have passed through that I slow. It’s too late, a rope cinches tightly around my right ankle and I let out a yelp as it yanks me into the air, my ankle popping uncomfortably. I awkwardly turn my head as I hear the pattering of soft dirt and the rustle of foliage around me. Dozens of the short, smelly goblins gather beneath me. My nostrils burn, and my eyes begin to water. These creatures could put a close-proximity encounter with a skunk to shame. I kick and buck until it feels like my foot is going to disconnect completely from my leg. It’s no secret what the goblins do to their prisoners.Never break the rules,I mentally chastise myself. The rope is released without any warning. I hit the ground head-first, and everything goes black.

Chapter 18

Ikar

The woman leaves with a maddening, careless smirk. I have no idea what I did to deserve that kind of treatment, but I don’t have time to think about it. I return to our table and hold the ruined parchment above the scarred wooden surface, watching in horror as water drips steadily from its edge.

“Memorize as many as you can,” I say, as my eyes scan quickly down the list of names, over and over while they continue to bleed and spread across the swollen page. A few are already too illegible, dark smears on paper stained a bruised color by the insufferable woman’s tea. I have no parchment or writing instruments at hand, so memory will have to do until I find some. I repeat the names I’ve read to cement them in my mind while I quickly finish my now lukewarm meal in angry silence.

“I can track her,” Rhosse suggests mildly from my left, as I take my last bite. I sit back and think about it for a moment. Our time is precious. If I’m tracking her to exact revenge, I don’t have time, but I’d bet my enchanted sword she knowssomething. While I intended to use Rhosse to track a Tulip, this woman is the next best thing at this point.

I nod, not bothering to pick up the soggy parchment. “Let’s go.”

Darvy, Rhosse, and I make our way into the forest, Rhosse in the lead. Like me, he is of the hunter faction, but not all of one faction are exactly the same. As a king, I have more magical abilities among the hunter faction than usual—speed, strength, increased hearing and sense of smell—and one of my lesser gifts includes tracking. Most hunters have one or two magical abilities, and Rhosse’s are tracking and working with animals. Naturally, he picks up the woman’s trail quickly, guiding us along what can hardly be called a path and navigating through dusk shrouded trees, logs, and bushes covered in moss and climbing vines.

I allow my senses to attune to the sounds and feel of the forest as the suns go down. I hear the first of the evening insects begin their light chirps and buzzing, and the breeze cools as the suns set to the east. Shadows lengthen beneath the trees, and animals rustle into their forest homes for the night. It is the peaceful time between when the daytime creatures of the forest find their rest and the criminals and night creatures rise to reign until dawn. We venture deeper into the woods, though the path she traveled now turns to one more visible. I cringe at the faintest sour scent of goblin on the breeze.

“Goblins in the area.” My magically heightened senses inform me before Rhosse and Darvy have any chance of smelling it.

It’s a bit early for goblins to be venturing out of their nests, but not uncommon. We travel further, and the scent grows stronger, so strong that all our eyes water and I find myself wiping the corners and blinking rapidly to clear myvision, as do Darvy and Rhosse. I pull the magic back to reduce my heightened smell, but even without it, my senses are sharper than those of other factions, so I’m stuck receiving the brunt of the effects of the rancid odor.

Rhosse stops several feet ahead and inspects a wide area where the forest grasses and dropped pine needles have been scattered and pressed into the soft earth, probably a scuffle of some sort. He glances up and points to the disrupted bark of a large branch.

“Goblins caught someone today.”

Probably some traveler or merchant, unaware of the danger. Unfortunate, but a well-known risk when traveling in this part of the forest.

Rhosse turns back to me, and my chest tightens as I realize what he’s about to say as he lifts the old short sword I saw on the woman’s hip at the inn.

“The goblins have her,” he says. “On your orders.”

I clench my fist.Of course they do.I run a hand through my hair and think. I, of course, don’t want her dead—I wouldn’t wish death by goblins on anyone. I also need the information I know she has, but I don’t have time to track her for another day and possibly set up a rescue mission. Darvy and Rhosse wait for my decision. I can’t, in good conscience, leave the woman to be skinned and killed by goblins, knowing she’s likely still alive.

“Continue to track her,” I growl.

It’s not difficult to track them, their scent a far cry from mild, even for those who aren’t experienced. They also leave a trail the size of a shard beast stampede wherever they go. We catch up to them easily and make use of the deepening shadows to cloak our presence while we gauge the situation. I immediately see the woman from earlier, fighting against the ropes restraining her, being hoisted high up a broad, giant tree on aflat board attached to ropes. I track its intended path up and notice an intricate mess of pulleys and lifts that lead to gigantic wasp-nest-looking huts attached to branches in the towering treetops above. I curse under my breath.

We could take on an entire tree of goblins and survive, but while towing a woman who may or may not have any fighting skills? I don’t feel in the mood to shed my skin today. My mouth sets in a grim line. The woman bucks and fights, tilting the board every which way so violently I wonder if that will be her undoing rather than the goblins. Probably preferable. The goblins roughly pull the thick rope through the squeaking pulley, lifting her up in a jerky and uneven fashion to one of the creepy-looking nest huts before whisking her inside. I know we only have a few minutes to reach her before it’s too late.

“I’ll circle around to the other side and drop our packs, then I’ll climb up and grab her. You guys take over the pulley for our exit, and we’ll head out there, grabbing our packs on the way.” I point to the opposite side of the goblin nest tree.

“That’s a terrible plan,” Darvy whispers.

“I second that,” Rhosse grunts.

If they weren’t my closest friends, they’d be in the stocks. “Have you got something better?” I snap. “We’ve got thirty seconds.” After a few seconds of silence, I stand. “My plan it is. Hand me your packs. Wait until I get to the nest, then take over the pulley.”

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