Page 46 of The Omega Thief

“And there isn’t a kingdom in existence that would be as vulnerable as one just coming out of a sixteen-year war who just lost their king,” Raz added quietly. “And I saw Markell when he shifted. His wolf is a Fenrir mixed-breed. It wouldn’t surprise me if the apothecaries in his family have been experimenting with more than children.”

“I need to go,” Attiker said. “Not that a head start makes any difference, as I can’t shift.”

Raz clutched his arm. “No, if I’m right and there’s a fleet ready to attack, the challenge would be voided.”

“If,” Attiker said. “The fleet could be hidden in a dozen inlets that could take days to prove, or not even there.” Attiker reached up and kissed him. “Let me do what I do best, and you go make sure there’s still a country to govern when I return.”

Raz held on to his bonded and kissed him. Even though they hadn’t time. He broke away, but for a second, they breathed the same air.

“You know I would give it all up for you, don’t you?”

Attiker brushed his lips over Raz’s. “I know. I knew that’s what you meant before, but Cadmeera needs you. Can you imagine what will happen with the emperor and his sovereign in charge?” Attiker shuddered. “Because I can.”

Raz nodded and reluctantly let him go. So could he.

Attikerlefttheofficeto see Ash leaning against the wall. He grinned. “We need supplies. Come with me to the greenhouses.”

Ash arched an eyebrow. “If you’d have said kitchen, I’d have been excited.”

Attiker rolled his eyes. “We’ll go there, too, but I need some supplies.”

“And they keep that in the greenhouse?” But Attiker broke into a jog. Attiker turned down towards the servants’ quarters and carried on into the back kitchen garden where all the herbs grew. He might not be so familiar with the inside of the palace, but he’d been out here a dozen times or more with Laronne. There was a special area just before the huge greenhouses that grew the medicinal plants for the healing ward and the orchids that Raz’s mother had so loved. Everyone in the kingdom knew Her Highness had been a talented orchidologist. He almost wished the challenge had been a repeat of the one four hundred years ago with the Lapiz blooms. If anyone had known the secret of making them bloom in the winter, she would have.

He spotted the old man he was searching for just disappearing into the far greenhouse and followed him. The man turned as Attiker and Ash hurried inside. He chuckled and came forward, hand outstretched, then seemed to think better of it and wiped it on his overalls first. But Attiker grabbed him and pumped his hand.

“Gerry Bentley, this is Ashford Enberry. Ash, Gerry. The most talented and greenest-thumbed magician in all of Cadmeera.”

“Well, not once upon a time,” Gerry said solemnly, shaking Ash’s hand. “That’d be ‘er ‘ighness, God rest ‘er soul.” He looked at Attiker. “Anyway, I ‘eard you’re gonna be too posh for the likes of us soon. What yer doing slumming down ‘ere?”

Attiker glanced around to make sure they couldn’t be overheard, then whispered. “I need a dragon lily.”

Ash turned to gaze at him in astonishment. “A dragon—” But Attiker covered his mouth before Ash could blurt out anymore.

Gerry gazed at him. “But dragon lilies are so rare no one’s ever been able to grow ‘em, and the wild ones go for hundreds of marks, and that’s assuming yer can get your greedy paws on one.”

Attiker didn’t reply, just met Gerry’s eyes.

He sighed. “Is this for the lad?”

Attiker nodded solemnly. Only Gerry would call the prince a lad and probably get away with it, but he knew Gerry had adored the queen, and he was sure it was mutual.

Gerry turned and glanced around, then beckoned them to follow him. He drew out a big key from his overalls and headed towards a shed that looked like it had seen better days.

Ash glanced at Attiker, but he kept his mouth shut, and they followed. They followed Gerry through a wooden door, which he locked behind him, then reached up and lit an oil lamp above his head. He walked down a barely lit corridor towards another door, except this wasn’t dilapidated and didn’t look like it was rotting. This door looked like it was made of solid iron. A second key on the same ring opened it.

It was the heat that hit Attiker first, so strong that Ash stumbled back. Attiker only kept going because he was expecting it, and he paused, gazing in wonder at what was essentially a huge metal box. Pipes ran round the edges of the walls, and Attiker knew it was to let air in. But it was the center that was truly amazing. A dozen lit braziers burned away, and in between them all were glowing piles of rock. The rock was simple, Attiker knew, just one that could stand the high temperatures for weeks at a time without crumbling. It was what grew out of the rock that was magnificent. There were easily a dozen huge flowers, their enormous scarlet petals opening to reveal the lighter filaments, each headed by a scarlet anther. Curls of red smoke drifted from the anthers, and every few seconds, a shower of sparks blew from the center stigma. It was one of the most amazing things Attiker had ever seen.

Ash was clearly speechless. He glanced at Attiker. “How did you know?”

“Who do you think got them two wild ones three years ago?”

“Wha do yer need exactly?” Gerry said.

“I need two or three pods and something to carry them in, plus at least two pairs of your gloves to handle them with.”

Gerry nodded. “Wha time are you leaving?”

“No later than seventh bell.”

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