Page 73 of Ties of Bargains

Taran sighed and turned to Harm and Val. “I hope you know what you’ve done. Once a dragon decides what they’ll hoard, they’ll be obsessed with that item for life.”

“I know.” Val’s smile was almost as sharp as Tora’s. “I’ve been told Harm’s kingdom has plenty more of that pottery, and I’m sure we’ll need more healing potions eventually. Tora, you’ll always be welcome to bargain for more fancy pottery if you bring healing potions.”

Harm turned to his wife, gaping at her. Though, he shouldn’t have been surprised. She was afee. Setting up future bargains was in her nature.

Then again, such a propensity for bargains would serve her well in Tulpenland.

Harm swept a glance from her to the other five mercenaries sitting at a nearby table. Even when he returned home, life would never be the same.

But that wasn’t a bad thing. His life back home in Tulpenland could use a little good adventure instead of mere keeping up appearances.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Moonlight bathed the canal, brick road, and brick buildings as Val, Harm, and her mercenaries stood in the shadows of an alley, peering toward the Tulpenland palace. Guards patrolled the street outside while a few of the windows remained lit, even at this time of night.

Val’s stomach churned as she faced that picturesque street. She’d stepped into a world unlike anything she’d known before. Her life would change irrevocably.

Sure, she’d been in the Human Realm before. But usually only briefly when retrieving a captured human or on a Wild Hunt raid. She’d never stayed long.

Was this how Harm had felt when stepping through the faerie circle at her side the first time?

No, he would’ve been far more nervous. The life that waited for her on the other side might be new, but it would be good. There would be difficulties. There might be cruelties as some among the Tulpenland courtrefused to accept her. But it wouldn’t be a fate of torture and death that Harm had faced back then.

She was a mercenary of the Wild Hunt. Surely she could face her new future with as much courage as Harm had.

Harm started forward. “I suppose I’ll just march up to the guards and announce who I am. You can wait here until I signal it’s all right.”

Val caught his arm before he could leave the shadows. “Wait. Those guards might not recognize you.”

They’d yet to determine how much time had passed here in the Human Realm. Harm had commented that things hadn’t seemed to have changed all that much since he left, so surely it hadn’t been hundreds of years. But they couldn’t narrow it down more than that.

Harm turned back to her, his grimace tugging at the beard he’d yet to trim. “What do you suggest?”

“We should sneak through the gardens and go in through a window at the back.” Val pointed in that direction. “Then we’ll find your father. Surely he will recognize you.”

“I think he might still be awake.” Harm pointed toward one of the lit windows on the ground floor. “That’s his study there.”

“That will make things easier.” Val motioned to her mercenaries. There was no need to give them more instructions.

She led the way through the shadows along the canal, then down an alley, until they reached a street along the back of the palace. Here, gardens stretched along the building’s back and side. They weren’t extensive,but they featured enough hedges and statuary to provide some cover.

The gardens were lit by moonlight and the occasional lantern while guards patrolled here, too. But their discipline seemed lax, and they barely even glanced at the shadows as they marched by.

Something Val would change as soon as Harm was restored to his position as heir of Tulpenland. She couldn’t allow the guards to remain this unobservant.

Val crept through the darkness beside the hedges until she reached the even deeper shadows beside the back of the palace. Once there, Grutte worked his way along the building, testing each window until he found one that was unlocked. Then he boosted each of them inside, including Daisy and Acurru, before four of them hauled him inside after them.

Harm pointed down the hallway, and Val set off in that direction, pausing at each intersecting corridor to check that it was clear before continuing.

As they reached the hall before the duke’s study, Val halted and peeked around the corner.

Two men stood before a door. They wore breastplates, helmets with plumes, and each carried a pike.

Val withdrew around the corner and murmured into Harm’s ear, “There are two men guarding your father’s study. Will these guards recognize you?”

Harm peeked around the corner and dodged back so fast he nearly smacked her chin with his head. He bent his head to whisper, “No. Those aren’t even Tulpenland guards. I don’t know what has been going on here, but those men are wearing King Hendrik’s colors.”

“Then do we have your permission to take them out?” Val dropped her hand to her dagger. Now this might be fun.

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