Chapter 1
Vera
I’ve heard Moneyre is a beautiful city—too bad it’s the home of the high king and I’ll be stuck there for the next two days.
I’ll admit it: I messed up.
I kick a pinecone off the slightly overgrown forest path, cringing as I think about attempting to explain my recent choices to Tatania, the leader of the Black Tulips, but if things go well from here on out, I won’t have to.
I still won’t need the dratted bracelet that costs an exorbitant amount of money to keep me hidden, and no one will know that I took a very lucrative contract offered by a man that I was eighty-five percent sure wasn’t a criminal before he told me he’s really a high-ranking officer of the high king.
I peek at Ikar who walks beside me. I was angry when he told me that he’s an officer, but I soon realized that anger would only make me look suspicious.
Now, I’ve settled on reluctant acceptance.
While his profession would make most women feel safe, I would have preferred he admitted he actually was the Class A criminal I believed him to be.
A smidgeon of guilt blossoms as I recall the oath I spoke with the Black Tulips to never work for the high king, his officers, or anyone close to him because of the danger it presents to the Tulips…
but there’s no going back now—the contract is signed.
Besides, while I may not be planning to pay the Black Tulips any longer, I still need money, and this job will pay more than I’ve made in two years combined.
All Ikar and I have to do is find a simple magical flower for the king and survive the Lucent Mountains.
Then I’ll never have to pretend to be an originator again. I’ll finally be free.
So, here we are. Friends once more—friends that shared a spectacular kiss the night before leaving Mama Tina’s and haven’t spoken of it once.
I won’t be the one to bring it up now that I know for sure we can’t ever be together romantically.
The thought saddens me more than I care to admit.
I’ve grown so fond of Ikar these past days that I can say for certain I’ve never felt anything stronger for another man, but I refuse to look closer at those feelings when they’re forbidden.
I glance at him carefully, secretly admiring his mussed brown hair, strong jaw, striking blue eyes, and the straight line of his nose interrupted by a bit of a bump that only makes it more perfect…
but people like him don’t court people like me.
He must realize it, too, because he’s kept a horribly polite and gentlemanly distance since the night of our kiss.
I’m drawn from my thoughts when Ikar tugs the hood of his cloak over his head, draping his handsome features in shadows.
Rupi peeks from within, huddled near his neck, and I purse my lips as she turns her head and one sassy black eye meets mine.
She still favors him even after he admitted that he’s a high officer, and I can’t quite forgive her for that yet.
I frown. “What are you doing?”
“Attempting to enter the city without recognition,” he says as we begin walking again. He makes further careful adjustments to his hood. We’re still a good distance from the city, and we’ve passed maybe two other travelers. Why the need for secrecy?
I lift a brow. “For a supposed law-abiding citizen, you’re acting blazing suspicious.”
“I’d prefer to reach the castle without being stopped. I’m well known in this city, and the charm I used to hide my identity has likely worn off.”
“You really are a criminal, aren’t you?” Better that than an officer. A girl can dream.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but for the thousandth time, no. I am not a criminal,” he says in that matter-of-fact deep voice of his.
He continues to adjust the hood until it shadows his face to his liking.
When he’s finished, all I can see is his jaw covered in a day’s growth of stubble.
But I think that even if I saw him covered in his cloak, I’d recognize his long stride, broad shoulders, and tall stature.
He’s not one to be easily disguised, with how his confident presence nearly radiates off him.
I continue to watch him, curious. “So you admit to using a charm all this time.”
He looks my way, likely gauging if I’m upset with him again.
“They don’t work on me, you know,” I divulge the secret. I’d bet all the money I make on this contract that no one knows that small, almost useless, detail about the Black Tulips.
He stops walking. “…and you didn’t recognize me?”
“Should I have?” I laugh. “You’re just an officer, not the king. Even then, I’ve never seen him, so I guess I wouldn’t know.” I shrug.
The muscles of his jaw clench—a sign that I’ve hit a nerve. Does he really think he’s so important that commoners such as myself would recognize one of the high king’s glorified soldiers? He needs to leave Moneyre more.
Out of habit, I move to put my hand on my short sword, but it slides off the empty leather sheath. “I don’t have a sword,” I whisper, followed by a groan as I consider how much it’s going to cost to buy one.
I grabbed an extra dagger from Mama Tina’s that I intended to sell in my future shop, figuring I needed it now more than my future shop does, but I’ve never had the funds to purchase extra swords to keep on hand.
Ikar interrupts my worried thoughts. “I’ll take care of it.”
Of course he heard.
I want to yank the hood off his head so I can see his face. Is this my boss talking, or the man I recently kissed offering to buy me a weapon?
“Consider it part of the job,” he adds.
Well that answers that. I refuse to be disappointed. I can be professional, too.
“Thank you. I’ll return it when we’re finished,” I respond primly.
He doesn’t acknowledge my gratitude. “Have you ever used an enchanted weapon?”
I shake my head, refusing to remind him out loud how poor I am, and decide to change the subject. “How long will we be in Moneyre?”
“Two days.” He looks my way, then adds, “If things go according to plan.”
According to plan. Meaning… if we find Darvy and Rhosse alive and waiting for us, which we both hope for. A wave of worry and guilt washes over me—I never wanted anything bad to happen to them.
Soon, the forbidden city looms before us.
Few words are exchanged between Ikar and me as the path becomes neatly laid cobblestones that teem with people coming and going from the high kingdom.
My nerves tingle with anxiety the closer we get to the tall gilded iron gates, knowing Tatania would choke if she could see me now. It feels so rebellious.
I carefully eye the soldiers guarding the open gates in pristine uniforms as they watchfully scan the crowds of people leaving and entering.
For a moment, I have the habitual urge to twist the bracelet around my wrist, but I stop myself.
I don’t need the bracelet or anonymity it offers any longer, especially while I’m on a remote mission in the dangerous and gloam-infested Lucent Mountains.
What are the chances I’ll meet the high king there?
I nearly snort right there on the path. It’s ridiculous the way Tatania and the other Black Tulips have scared us all these years—I’m over it.
The money was due today, so I expect something to happen to my bracelet soon.
Maybe it’ll break, or maybe it’ll just stop working.
Maybe it’ll rust and fall off my wrist in dry brown ashes.
I have yet to find out, since not one of the current Tulips has dared allow their bracelets to lapse.
We’re only moments from passing through the gates when Ikar leans close, places Rupi back on my shoulder, and, with a low voice, mutters, “Follow the directions. I’ll send word.”
With Rupi squawking and flapping her wings indignantly in my ear at being handed off without permission, and distracted as I am by Ikar’s sudden nearness and the watching guards ahead, I hardly process his words.
Ikar presses a small piece of folded parchment into my palm.
I stop and look down, still getting jostled by the movement around me as I open it.
All that’s written is “The Dapper Canary” in fine penmanship with “on the royal tab” written beneath, followed by his signature.
When I look up to ask what this is about, Ikar is gone.
I’m alone. Well, with the exception of Rupi and her quilled feathers, which are currently stabbing into the tender skin of my neck hard enough to make me wince.
I’ll admit, I feel a little prickly myself at his behavior.
I look all around, turning in a full circle and bumping into other travelers, stumbling when a man with a cart loaded with summer vegetables shoves past as I try to find Ikar.
No way could he have disappeared so quickly, and not only that, why would he leave me?
I don’t know what I thought, but I certainly hadn’t planned on being separated at the beginning of this contract.
In just moments, I find my confused behavior has drawn the attention of the guards who eye me with suspicion. I curse beneath my breath as I stuff the parchment in my pocket, duck my head, and hurry through the gates into the city—I don’t need trouble with the high king’s law enforcement today.
I’m still miffed that Ikar deserted me, but I’m distracted soon enough.
My mouth hangs open in awe as I walk through the large city.
Shops of various heights line the winding streets in an orderly fashion.
Flowers and vines fill brightly painted boxes and large decorative pots outside shop doors.
Ladies in elegant dresses perch on shiny benches, talking and eating pastries purchased from a nearby bakery that emits smells so delectable my mouth waters.
There’s a shop with a swinging wooden sign that has a spool of thread pictured, and two dresses hanging in the large window.
Another catches my eye, this one with a sword on its sign and its front window featuring an impressive assortment of enchanted weapons.
Out of habit, I wonder if their weapon enchanter is in need of an originator, but within moments, I catch myself.
I don’t need to keep searching out contracts any longer; this is my last job as an originator.
I mean it this time. Besides, no one will find me working in Moneyre.
A group of originators dressed in the stark white clothing they’re so easily identified by comes my way on the already crowded sidewalk.
I instinctively pull my long dark-navy jacket a little tighter around me, protecting the secrecy of the mark at the base of my neck.
I may call myself an originator to survive, but I’ll never be one of them.
Originators started the rumors that got the Tulips hunted and killed, and I can’t wait until the day I no longer have to pretend to be one.
Rupi offers a disgruntled hum and a slight poke in the neck with her quill feathers as she shuffles back and forth across my shoulder, agitated by the crowds and my own anxiety.
The originators pass, one of their stark white skirts brushing against my tall leather boots, and I try not to glare at the way they so carelessly travel the streets of the high kingdom, laughing and joking together.
How nice for them that they don’t have to hide. I can’t help the resentful thought.
Seeing the group of originators stokes my protective instincts and spurs me to focus on finding The Dapper Canary, which I assume is either an inn or a tavern.
But another window full of an assortment of items catches my eye, and I backstep until it’s in full view. I enter the shop, gazing all around.
This. This is what I want.
I’ve just entered the shop of my dreams. I walk down one of five rows of tall wooden shelves.
I stop partway down and, with an eye of appreciation, pick up a finely engraved compass, turning and opening it before gently replacing it.
Rupi flutters to another shelf and taps a set of dice encased in glass with her beak.
I gasp when I see they’re made of dragon horn and priced to match.
Rupi has always had expensive tastes.
“I love ‘em too, but those cost too much.” I stick out a finger and she hops on.
We continue to stroll the aisles, passing a multitude of other items before I come upon a dainty solid-wood box with the most detailed tiny bird perched on the edge of its lid. I pick it up and open it, the small hinges moving effortlessly. Rupi chirps her approval.
I don’t think; I simply take it to the counter, where a kind young woman wraps it in several layers of paper and ties it up while I count out the last of my money. Should I be purchasing things for my future shop? No. Do I have room in my pack? No. Am I still buying the box?
I slap the money on the counter. This will be perfect to add to the other items I’ve collected over the years and extra motivation to keep my head on straight during this contract so I can toss off the mask of originator and open the shop I’ve always dreamed of… and best of all, be free.