Page 6 of Blooms of Darkness

The way our people continued reaching out to the Hidden Henchman for aid with food, clothing, and more, exposed something more going on than just a minor threat. Something important eluded us because everything pointed to this being more than a “minor” threat.

Or worse, the threat, minor or not, had gone ignored by my father. Not handled well enough, if at all.

My determination only grew to get to the bottom of this blight, with or without my father’s assistance. When I ruled this kingdom one day, I would need to understand the threat. And fast.

A snap of a twig had knives drawn, but as the doe who caused the disturbance looked up at us, it hastily retreated into the woods. As if the animal knew trouble brewed and it shouldn’tlinger. A sense of urgency to get back to the castle crawled through me. We could not get caught.

I pivoted back to the men. “What aid are you looking for?”

Storm’s gaze shifted to his partner before he proceeded. “Five hundred silver pieces, three hundred pounds of meat, and a few barrels of mead should hold people over enough.”

Ian coughed. “Would you like a Pegasus as well?”

“You promise aid, but really plan to give mere scraps?” Storm’s friend snorted his apparent disgust.

Although I refused to give our company my back, I shifted to stand closer to Ian, positioning myself so I could partly conceal what I said. I knew full well if the other men attempted any sort of trickery or backhanded maneuvers, Ian would end them. “I don’t want to haggle with men trying to help our people,” I whispered.

Ian’s gaze shifted between our guests. “We still don’t know what village they’re from, or if they can be trusted. This whole thing is off, I just don’t know how yet.”

“I agree,” I said, sensing his wariness along with my own. “But I will not barter when we know we could get the supplies easily. I think we should do it.”

“It’s your show, Hidden Henchman. I’m just here praying I get to draw my blade.” A glimmer of excitement danced in his eyes.

I rolled my own at the comment he punctuated with a wink, before facing the men ahead of us once more. “Done. You’ll find a piece of parchment with the date and time of the meet waiting for you at Dukes Pub inside the city in eight days. The drop point will be along the western edge of this forest, near the end of the riverbed. You must bring an empty carriage. You’ll say the phrase of these lands and knock twice upon your seat. You will bring no one else.”

Although quick to criticize me the entire meeting, neither of the men revealed if they were surprised at how easily I’d agreed to their request.

It didn’t matter. I would have agreed to nearly anything, because ultimately, what they were requesting helped my people.

A people who seemed to be growing more and more unwell over the last three years. The thought brought a sour taste to my mouth as my stomach churned.

The wind suddenly picked up and viciously blew through the clearing, almost whipping strands of my easily recognizable hair from beneath my hood. I peered up at the sky. A warning—if nature sent the signs I believed.

Ian gripped my shoulder just as Storm drew his sword. I didn’t fear the movement this time, because Storm’s attention focused elsewhere. He stared straight ahead into the night where the doe had disappeared only minutes before.

“Something’s here,” Ian growled.

Silently, I reached down, drawing my short dagger from its sheath on my thigh. The long pause amongst our small group allowed dread to creep into my body as though it slithered from the soil itself.

Slowly, Storm took three steps forward, gliding along the forest floor without snapping a single twig.

A hiss from the darkness served as the only warning before a ragged battle cry roared from behind the trees.

One Fae emerged, wielding an axe wildly. His eyes darted between the four of us, before making his way straight for Storm. His movements were jerky and disjointed, as though he had little control of himself. His face twitched sporadically.

He appeared like a normal Fae, except for the jerky sway to his step. That and the hunger sparkling in his eye, like that of a man gone mad.

Insane.

I flinched as the newcomer’s axe connected with Storm’s sword. The man moved fast, faster than many of the Fae in our Royal Guard. His body practically blurred with his movements. A strange hum of magic radiated from him, almost as if electrically charging the air. One I’d never encountered before, despite being around some of the most powerful Fae in our lands.

Sword in hand, Storm’s companion darted in front of his friend, battling alongside him, and the two engaged in a dance, which had me mesmerized. Mouth agape, I simply stared, frozen.

They’d fought together before. Many times, if I had to guess.

“La—” Ian almost shouted my name, and the slip had me adjusting my dagger, twisting in his direction.

I shifted too slowly. A blade came out of nowhere, slicing my leathers, but failing to penetrate my skin.

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