Chapter 3
Ikar
Jethonan watches me closely while I finish writing. I sign my name before I roll the parchment and place it into the waiting hands of a servant. It will be delivered to Vera along with a dress the castle seamstress deemed fit for an originator.
“I’ve never seen you exert such energy on a guest you’ve invited for a relatively simple dinner,” Jethonan casually mentions as he scratches Arrow, my wolf-beast dog, between his two pointed ears.
Arrow sits half his large body on his royal blue robes that pool on the floor, but he doesn’t appear to mind.
His comment draws the attention of Rhosse, Darvy, and Nadiette, leaving the room quiet.
Nadiette sits primly in her usual place on a comfortable sofa to the left of my desk, her eyes narrowing slightly at Jethonan’s observation.
One of her perfectly shaped brows has risen the smallest bit, and I get the sense she’s awaiting an explanation as well, appearing more than curious about the originator I contracted.
The tension between her and me is almost palpable.
Part of me misses the comfortable friendship we shared for so many years, one that began as children.
Naturally, it was assumed we would marry, and I believed I loved her as much as a man could love a woman… but now that I’ve gotten to know Vera—
No. Don’t go there. I ended our relationship before I left in search of a Black Tulip, and she didn’t take it well.
Not that I can blame her. Guilt fills my chest, though I know I couldn’t have done it any differently.
And still more guilt for the fact that I don’t feel as much for her as she apparently feels for me.
I was born into a duty that rules my life; it will always come first, and duty dictates we can’t be together.
I do care for her as a friend and hope that eventually the pieces of our broken relationship can be put back together into something akin to friendship, but from the look in her eyes I find it doubtful.
Still, she is the Head originator for the kingdom.
Her originators provide as much lucent magic for my soldiers as they possibly can—which saves lives.
We must find a way to work together, but right now, with only two days at the castle to plan our next journey, I have no time to revisit our past.
I busy myself clearing the rest of my desk, avoiding eye contact with Jethonan. “She’s important to the success of our mission.”
Jethonan is much too intuitive, and I sense he already knows there is much more to the story. He wisely says nothing more.
I push back from my desk, standing and stretching my stiff muscles.
After speaking with Jethonan and Nadiette earlier, it seems things went smoothly in regard to the workings of the kingdom while I was away and will continue to do so after I leave again.
Their capability and well-earned trust lifts weight off my shoulders—knowing I’ll return to a kingdom as well as it can be while battling gloam.
Hopefully, when I return, it will be with the flower I need.
Then I’ll just need to find a Black Tulip, but at the risk of triggering hopelessness I refrain from dwelling on that second thought too long.
I walk to a nearby shelf that holds several tightly rolled maps and sift through them, speaking over my shoulder as I say, “Remember to forgo my title for the duration of the mission. I am simply another soldier until we part ways with Vera.”
I find the one I need and pull it from the shelf, unrolling the large map atop my desk and placing weights on corners that attempt to spring back.
Rhosse grabs a large fluffy roll and slices of roasted meat off a tray delivered a few minutes earlier. “Why the secrecy?”
Nadiette speaks before I can answer, an untouched plate of food on her lap. “Why bring home an originator? I thought you were searching for a Black Tulip. I have plenty of the best originators you could have chosen from.”
I ignore the hint of betrayal in her words and shake my head.
“From the beginning I intended to hire an originator outside those currently employed by me. I need every single one of mine to continue to protect the kingdom. Hiring Vera to help is a step in the right direction. She’s powerful enough for the job, and it doesn’t take any originators from my soldiers who need them.
” I hesitate to share the next part. “But she has a great dislike for kings and refuses to work for any of them, especially the high king. Which is the reason we’ll be referring to each other as merely soldiers. ”
Darvy snorts. Then the three men laugh so hard I’m sure the sound travels outside the castle walls. Even Nadiette’s lips tug up in a hint of a smile, somewhat smug, as she slips a bit of meat into her mouth and chews.
Darvy wipes his eyes. “Leave it to you to find the one woman who wouldn’t want to work with you when the rest of them throw themselves at your feet.”
I give him a bland look, not finding any of this humorous in the least, and I’m sure Nadiette doesn’t appreciate that comment, but I don’t look her way to confirm.
“She seemed to like me better when she thought I was a Class A criminal,” I mutter, needlessly readjusting one of the weights.
Rhosse chuckles deep and low. “Most women like the soldier types.”
I shake my head. “Not this one. In fact, I think it was harder to convince her to work for me as a soldier than it would have been if I’d kept the criminal facade,” I muse.
Jethonan evades Arrow’s attempt to snatch a piece of cheese from his hand. “So she thinks you’re simply a soldier on a mission for the king?”
I nod, watching Arrow as he eyes the rest of Jethonan’s plate.
“Why doesn’t she like us?” Darvy asks, appearing truly offended at the prospect.
“Keep in mind, it’s not us; it’s the titles we hold.” I like to think she rather likes me as a person, and that helps ease my guilt. There’s no reason she needs to know.
I take a seat again. “All that matters is she took the job, and I believe once she warms up to the two of you, we’ll make a team strong enough to retrieve the flower and survive the Lucent Mountains.”
Darvy and Rhosse nod in agreement.
Nadiette sets her plate aside, stands, and smooths her dress. “I must take my leave and attend to other business. I’ll see all of you at dinner tomorrow. I can’t wait to meet this… originator you found.” She looks me in the eye with a challenging stare, and I incline my head.
I look between the three men after she leaves, daring them to say something about Nadiette and me and the obvious tension between us. The three of them wisely sit silently, chewing their food.
I pull out my grandfather’s small leather journal and place it on my desk. “Now, we plan the journey.”