Page 10 of The Healing Dragon
I swallow the guilt. “You want me to get the book?” I ask.
“The King has made the offer. Not me.” His tone is sharp.
“What is the offer?” I cross my arms.
“Your magic back.” He stares at me like I am a stranger to him. His eyes are cold and detached. “Accept this mission as a spy of the realm, and you’ll get your magic back early in return. We know your father heads the rebel group. Find him, find the book and return it. Simple.”
I want to laugh at the choice of words. There is nothing simple about what they’re asking, and Jesse very well knows that.
“The King would like me to infiltrate my father’s circle and betray them?”
His tone is bitter as he says, “You certainly have experience with the act. I’ll accompany you on your mission to make sure it’s carried out properly.”
I can tell he expects a fight, but I think of the opportunities this mission will bring. I knew my time here was borrowed. The late night thoughts that followed my nightmares prepared me for this. I knew it was coming to an end.
I can finally do things right, not just for Jesse, but for myself. My inaction brought shame to my name in more than one way. By doing this, I will fulfill my duty as a member of a royal family serving the Crown once again. The Duelo name won't die in the flames that spread that night in the Black Castle.
The Fates might forgive my past if I make things right. Iasked them once to intervene and now I know I never should’ve. Perhaps there’s a way to fix it.
Although, I will also make myself my father’s number one enemy. Brandon might have punished me for my part and let me go, but my father is not as forgiving. I know the moment I sidestep him, he will come for my throat. He will never forgive me.
The question is not if I can or will do it, but if I’m ready. My time has come like I knew it would.
Movement to my left takes my attention away from the conversation at hand. I go over to the window and watch a man make his way down to my cabin. His silhouette tells me exactly who he is, but even if that wasn’t obvious enough, his punctuality is impeccable. Almost as annoying as his insistence on befriending me.
“Who is that?” Jesse asks over my shoulder.
His movements are so quiet I don’t hear him until he is right behind me. I don’t care to explain to him who Ulysses is, and I don’t care to explain to Ulysses who Jesse is. If they never meet, even better.
I turn and see the glint of a knife in Jesse’s hands. “Put that away.” I swat at his shoulder. “I accept. But we’re leaving now.”
Jesse eyes me curiously as I rush to pack. I shove all my clothing, which isn’t much, in a backpack. The bag already has a few weapons on the bottom. I carry those with me everywhere. I grab a piece of paper and write a quick message, then drop it on the table. Ulysses might not make his way inside the cabin today, but he eventually will after not seeing me for a while.
“Gone for a while. Be back eventually,” Jesse reads behind me. “Not very detailed. Is this for the man making his way to the porch?”
“Can you mind your business and start heading out from the back door?”
“Why not the front?” He takes a step to the front door. “I think we should head through the front door.”
I take Jesse’s hand in mine and nearly drag him out the back door. I hear a knock at my front door a second after the back door shuts close.
“That is just rude,” Jesse says, far louder than necessary.
I ignore him and head out to the backwoods. One thing I have learned these past few months is these woods. I know them like the back of my hand. I also know exactly where in them my father is hiding with his men. It will take us a day to make it, but the day is young, and if we are lucky, we will be there tomorrow morning.
“Wait,” Jesse calls after me. He pulls out an envelope from his back pocket and hands it to me. “Your contract,” he says.
I look back at my cabin. We have walked far enough into the woods that we aren’t easy to spot between the trees. I take the envelope and open it. Jesse stands there staring at me as I take out the paper and read it. The glint of gold letters alerts me to the type of contract this is. His eyes are trained on my expression like my decision would change because of the bond I’m expected to make. I expected nothing less from the King of Puerto Quinn. I once knew Brandon as a childhood friend, but even then, that would’ve been a stretch of the word. Now, even the only real friend I had back then looks at me with distrust. I swiftly dig out a knife from my bag and make a small cut on the tip of my index finger.
“What are you doing?” Jesse steps forward but stops when my finger lands on the dotted line at the bottom of the contract. “A signature could’ve been enough.”
I shake my head at his naiveness. “Then you’ve no idea how magic contracts work. They are not only frowned uponbecause of the intrusiveness, but the gross act of signing with blood.” I fold the paper, then shove it to his chest. “Not my first and I presume not my last contract signed in blood.”
“Janelle,” he says in a near whisper.
Before he can add anything else, I say, “We have a day and a half of walking to the first destination. Taking the roads will take longer and they are monitored by the human guards. Going through the mountains will be our best option so you won't trigger an overstay alarm.”
The majority of the hike can be done on the Fierno side. I have no clue what kind of magic allows the human guards to know when a magic wielder is in their territory for longer than a day but I’ve seen it in action. I know it works. I might be going under the radar but Jesse wont.
