Page 43 of The Omega Thief

Attiker grinned. “He knows how to get information in a brothel and what fork to use at a posh dinner.”

Thakeray, Carter, and Laronne appeared within minutes. Raz’s grandmother arrived a few minutes later, fairly quivering with excitement, and Pinkerton brought her up to date. Understandably, Ash was the last to arrive. To say he looked like someone had shoved a two-by-four up his back was an understatement.

“Ash,” Attiker said in exasperation. “Look,” he glanced at everyone. “Can we ditch the formalities?”

Queen Mother beamed. “For the purposes of this meeting, you may address me as my code name,Viper.”

It took every single ounce of discipline Attiker possessed not to laugh, but then he thought about what she was saying, the years of tradition and family she was eschewing. She could call herself whatever she bloody well wanted. “I love you,” he promised fervently.

Her gaze softened, then she glanced at her grandson. “Whatever you do, Raz’mar, never let this man go. He will save your kingdom.”

Ash sat where he was instructed. If he had any qualms about the new company he now kept, he remained silent about them.

“Carter, can you take us through exactly what will happen, and what I just agreed to, and why I had to?” Attiker asked. He needed Ash to understand why he was here and to be brought up to speed with what was happening.

Carter nodded and brought out a huge sheaf of papers. Really, Attiker thought the walls of the palace could be papered twice over with them.

He cleared his throat, obviously debating everyone’s titles and names, but decided to go withViper’s nest.

“You are such a suck-up,” Raz mumbled. Carter raised his eyebrows as if to ask if Raz blamed him, and Attiker decided to be straight, but before he got the chance, Raz took over.

“Ashford Enberry. You have been personally selected to be my bonded’s second. It means you’re charged with protecting the one thing in my world that’s priceless.”

Attiker wanted to groan. No pressure.

“You’re bonded’s second what?” Ash asked mildly.

Which was a good question, Attiker thought. Carter explained what had happened. After an encouraging look from Raz, Attiker shared in confidence what he suspected about the Abergenny royal family and the production of fever white.

“So I’m assuming,”Viperasked tartly, “we need a plan, and the history of the challenge is why I’m here.” She sounded a little disappointed, as if she was only needed because of her age. Attiker caught her hand.

“I need you because I know you’ll be in my corner,” he said and squeezed tightly. “Because you want what’s best for Raz, and”—he took a deep breath—“you know that’s me.” Her smile was slow, but worth it.

“There are two challenges,” Carter explained. He glanced atViper, but she merely motioned him to continue. “One is to find an item from an agreed list that—”

“Agreed by whom?” Raz asked.

Carter shuffled his papers and brought out a very old sealed envelope. “I retrieved this from the vaults just now. It can only be opened in the presence of both competitors and is a task designated by the previous king as soon as he’s bonded.”

“It cannot be impossible or illegal,” Grandmother added. “For example, they cannot expect you to steal the crown jewels or any such nonsense. It must also be agreed that it’s something both parties have an equal chance of getting.” She paused and glanced at Raz. “And don’t think because it was your father that decided on it, it would favor you. The challenge was very much to protect the crown.”

“The good news is,” Carter said, “there’s three days’ grace between each challenge. The presentation ceremony is always held at the end.”

“Can you give me an example?” Attiker asked.

Carter glanced atViper. “I believe the last time was four hundred years ago?”

She inclined her head. “The task, as I believe, was to gather Lapiz in bloom.” Attiker brightened. He could do that. He’d done that. “The task was needed to be completed during the autumnal equinox,” she added.

“But that’s impossible,” Attiker said. “Lapiz only blooms in the spring.”

Grandmother arched an eyebrow.

“Shite,” Attiker muttered. Then something else occurred to him. “But isn’t two a daft number? I mean, what if we won one each?”

Both Carter and Viper stared at each other. “It’s not that simple,” Grandmother said. “The first task isn’t a matter of coming first. So long as the item is retrieved, then both parties progress to the second round. The difference with the second round is far more complex. The competitor who wins the first round is to put the thing that matters most to the second competitor in jeopardy by whatever means they can. The loser then has only so much time to secure whatever it is, while the winner tries to prevent it. This is timed.”

“This is bollocks,” Attiker said. “How can another person possibly decide what matters the most to someone else?”

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