Bounty Hunter (The Black Tulip Chronicles #1)

14. Vera

Chapter 14

Vera

I left Mr. Edierren’s shop over a week ago now, and I’ve simply been waiting at home for Renna to return to celebrate the end of my Originator career before I leave to purchase the shop I’ve found. She should be back tonight. I’m already scheduled to sign a contract for the shop next week and the thought sets giddy butterflies fluttering in my stomach.

The evening sunlight shines warm on my skin, and I bask in it. I continue down the sidewalk toward my favorite tavern, and as soon as I enter, I catch a mouthwatering display of a variety of foods behind a wood counter. I wouldn’t normally splurge on a meal like this for Renna and me, but I want to celebrate, and this is exactly what I need. She’s no better off than I, so I know she’ll appreciate it. I hurry in, highly aware of how empty my stomach feels now that I am surrounded by food.

“Vera!” Maurine greets me cheerfully, coming around the counter to fold me into her motherly arms. “You’re skin and bones, m’girl. Let’s get you set right.”

Before I can ask for a bag of food to go, she bustles back around the counter and proceeds to slice fresh bread, meat, and cheese while she jumps straight into the latest news. “The oldest Rismond twin married off last week,” then under her breath she adds, “much faster than I thought she’d be.”

I laugh, Maurine always fills me in on the news I’ve missed while I’ve been away. I let her continue, mm-hmm ing as needed.

“Jarne sold his carpentry shop to a new man in town, a good-looking one at that.” She looks up and winks at me, then continues filling my plate. I smile, but I’m not interested. No one wants a magical misfit, I learned that a long time ago. Right now, all I’m interested in is the hefty plate she places in my hands.

“Go sit, m’dear. I’ll get you some soup and some of the fresh cherry tart I just finished, and I’ll be back.”

Moments later, I’m sitting and trying my best to eat like a normal person, but it’s hard when food is scarce. Maurine sits down in front of me, spots from her busy morning coloring her white apron.

“I also forgot to mention the latest drama.” Her voice lowers as I sink my teeth into the delectable bread in a bite much too large to be considered ladylike, unconcerned about the usual drama .

She continues in a hushed voice, “Word has spread that mercenaries are tracking down a Tulip, maybe more than one. Who woulda thought? Tulips haven’t been heard of in years . Thought they were gone.”

The bread turns gluey in my mouth, and I gulp down the half-chewed, too-large mouthful with a choke and a swallow. “Excuse me?” I cough once more to clear my throat.

“It’s true.” Her brown eyes are wide.

“And what exactly are they doing with them… her?” I keep my voice natural, but inside, I’m spinning. Why would someone be after us?

“No one knows, but they’re about to start disappearin’. I hear it’s for the reward money. Atrocious, isn’t it?” Maurine purses her lips and shakes her head. “Just served a man that looked like one of those dastardly mercenaries the other day. I shoulda shooed him out.”

“You couldn’t know for sure,” I mumble a half-hearted attempt at comfort, but my mind is elsewhere. Mercenaries after Tulips? A mercenary. Here?

“But on to happier topics…” Maurine continues chatting, filling the silence with her voice while I eat the rest of my meal, not in enjoyment now, but out of necessity. If a mercenary, the rough, blood-thirsty fighters, find out in any way who I am, and there’s reward money attached, I’m dead. And what about Renna ? If what Maurine said is true, we need to be more careful than ever.

Once I finish, I give Maurine a big hug, smile at her reminder to stop in more often, gratefully taking the full bag of food she shoves into my hand and simply shrugging my shoulders at her chastisement to take better care of myself and “fill out those cheeks.”

I step out of the tavern, still waving to Maurine over my shoulder when I feel a shoulder bump mine and yelp in surprise. My heart calms when I see it’s just Rhette standing there with a grin. “I’ve been looking for you. Before you race off, I have something I want to talk to you about.”

My heart starts pumping faster for a different reason now. For all the flirtatious feelings I’ve been sensing the last several months, he has yet to ask me out. I’ve worked with Rhette, a hunter, often over the past several years. I use the term help loosely, as I really only carry a pack and offer magic.

This is it, though. I know he’s going to ask me out. I’ve been waiting for this moment, and I find it might be just what I need to make this day better. I’m thinking a clean tavern with a nice dinner, but really, anything is romantic without a bounty between us. Whatever it is, I’ll take it.

He looks around to ensure our privacy before he slides a folded piece of parchment from inside his jacket and says low, “A new bounty. I just got the information this morning.” He smiles and leans in a bit, his breath brushing against my ear. “One of the highest reward offers we’ve ever had.”

My smile grows tight. Not a date, then. Just work. Again. Sometimes I think I’m only wanted for my magic. In fact, I know it, another reason I can’t wait to be rid of this title. I sigh, letting my smile drop and hold my hand out for the paper, all but snatching it from him in my irritation. The man is either not interested or completely oblivious, I have no idea which. I open the paper and my eyes widen. The sketch is roughly done, and hopefully, it’s done by the hand of an awful artist or this poor man is greatly lacking in the looks department. If it’s accurate, that is. These sketches are not overly helpful because of the inaccuracies.

My eyes skip to the bottom of the parchment, and I quickly read the description and pay. I am sure my brain misfires when I read the reward amount. Surely, my eyes see the numbers wrong. I blink a few times and pull the paper closer. We’ll be competing with at least half the registered bounty hunters once they hear of this reward, which is a formidable challenge.

“Why so much?” My voice is an awed murmur, but I see exactly why the reward is so much. The criminal is a Class A.

“A noble really wants this guy.”

I lower the paper and look suspiciously into his eyes. “Why’s he Class A? Is he a maniac? A murderer? ”

He laughs like he thinks I’m joking and leans a strong shoulder against the brick of the tavern I just exited. “Apparently, he refused to fulfill an agreement he made.”

“So, again, why so much? And why Class A?”

He hesitates for a split second. “I assume it’s because they want him caught quickly… or because he’s a mercenary.” He says the last part a little quiet and really fast.

I immediately shove the paper toward him. “I’m not taking this one.” No way am I attempting to act as Originator to help arrest a mercenary, a Class A criminal, especially after what I just learned. I tried that once and failed, almost died, actually. This one’s going to be a big nope . He simply pushes it back toward me.

“Think about it.”

“I don’t need to. This guy could kill me in half a second.” And also, I’m a Tulip, which will only add fuel to the fire if what I’ve learned is true. But Rhette can’t know about any of that.

“I won’t disagree—mercenaries are known to be ruthless. We’ll have to be smarter than him, but I know you need the money, and I can’t do this one alone.”

My cheeks heat. No hard working, independent woman wants to talk about the desperate state of her finances with her prospective love interest. I don’t necessarily need the money, a little cushion would be nice, but it’s not worth my life. Out of habit, I glance out the window toward the large board where all announcements, wanted ads, job offers, and scheduled events for this kingdom are posted. The wanted section sits pitifully bare.

Rhette sees me eyeing it. “There are no other wanted ads right now, this is it.” And then he adds, “Maybe if you didn’t discount your rate for every needy person you work with, you would make enough to survive.” He quirks an eyebrow.

Judgy hunter. I glare at him. He’s never had to tell an elderly healer that he can’t help them when they can’t pay your rate, or refuse a weapon enchanter who just lost a hand who’s struggling to feed his family because he can’t keep up the amount of work he used to. But I can’t argue with him.

“Come on. It’ll be fun.”

I avoid looking at his eyes while I think. I have a soft heart, and he will take full advantage of it with some sort of sweet and sad combo expression that will convince me to take this job. But no, I don’t need it. I have just enough for now. It’s most definitely not worth the danger for me as a Tulip.

“Not this one. You shouldn’t either.” I firmly shake my head. This time I do take a peek at his face and see his letdown expression, but still, I stay firm. This one is just too dangerous for me, and I’m done being an Originator. In fact, I just ate my celebratory feast, and I’m not gonna let him ruin it.

“Let me know if you change your mind. I’ll be leaving in two days.”

“I’m not going to change my mind.”

I quickly forget about Rhette and his ridiculous contract as I hurry across town and race up the wobbly and terrifying stairs to my home that sits two floors up from a dirty street in the outer parts of the city, the small bag of food swinging wildly from my hand. I give the usual twist and kick, and the door swings open.

“Renna! I did it!” I hold the bag of food up like a trophy. In the shadows of our home, Rupi worries a path along the back of a wood rocking chair.

The curtains are drawn, the space dark and quiet. That’s definitely not how I left it. My expression morphs into concern as I step inside and close the door behind me.

“Renna?” I call. That’s when I hear the sob. The hand holding the sack of food drops limply to my side, my shoulders following. Her jerk boyfriend probably said something again. I’ve told her to stay away from Originators, especially ones like him, but sobs don’t belong on a day like today, especially not ones caused by Jerrit.

“Come on, Rupi.” I’m not the best with these break up situations, and Rupi is a comfort, so I scoop her from the back of the chair and lift her to my shoulder, then head to Renna’s room. I hesitantly push open her door to see her lying on her side, facing the wall, still and unmoving. Her clothing looks grungy, unusual for Renna, which means it must be bad. Even when the door squeaks open and she knows I’m here, she doesn’t move. Rupi chirps. Still no acknowledgement.

“Renna, I’ve told you to break up with hi?—”

“I don’t have the money.” She says it with a distinct lack of emotion. Like all of it was sucked out and she’s just a fragile, empty shell now. She can’t mean what I think she means. The dues have to be paid in just two weeks. My eyes move to the bracelet on her wrist.

I take a hesitant seat on the edge of her bed. I don’t want to hear it, but I sit anyway because that’s what best friends do. Inside though, all I really want is to pretend like this isn’t happening, open this sack of fresh food and fill my belly full again while I revel in the knowledge that I am finally free. I box up that joy to be fully enjoyed later. Rupi hops from my shoulder down to Renna’s, then bounces lightly in front of her. Her stubby beak affectionately pulls at a piece of her shirt, and she tilts her round head quizzically, as if she’s truly trying to understand.

“My last contract… the river boat…” She gives a sob. “I didn’t mean to… I was so tired from the last trip, and I fell asleep. Without the magic I was hired to offer?—”

“What happened, Renna?”

“I had to pay… damages.” She presses her face to her pillow and sobs.

She continues rambling, trying to sort through the situation, but it turns fuzzy in my ears. River boat jobs aren’t easy, as the river is so violent. Any distraction on the Originator’s or Tulip’s part can lead to disaster. But what’s done is done. If she doesn’t have the money for the Tulips, her bracelet will lapse, and she will no longer be protected and anonymous. If this mercenary situation gains the interest of the kings, these bracelets really will matter. I can’t let that happen.

“How much do you need?” I ask, resigned. If I have to pick up another small contract to make up the difference, I will. It’s no big deal, right? Dues are paid six months at a time. We have two more weeks to gather the money, and that’s enough time if she didn’t give too much away. I hope.

“All of it,” she whispers, still staring at the wall. “It’s going to lapse.” She lifts her bracelet enclosed wrist and then drops it lifelessly on the bed. “I’m going to be found. Killed.”

My jaw drops, and my mind spins. I’ll never let that happen. I don’t mention that mercenaries are reportedly tracking us down, now’s not the time. Instead, I aim for motivation.

“You still have two weeks! Get up, get dressed, and let’s go find another job.” I’m already thinking through options. There’s always a plan. It just has to be made .

She shakes her head. “I contacted Tatania right away. If I don’t have enough by the due date, she has agreed to allow me on as an indefinite servant to the charmer of the bracelets to pay the dues.”

Nausea claws at my belly. Beautiful, sweet, caring Renna as a servant to the odd charmer with eyes so black they give me chills? That is no life for her.

“No. Don’t give up.” I set my jaw in painful decision. “I’ll help you. Get another contract, do what you can, and give me two weeks. I’ll have it.”

Renna sits up, and Rupi tumbles a bit with the movement of the quilt. But Renna is too busy wiping her face with the bottom of her shirt, her voice muffled through the fabric, to notice. “That’s not possible. There’s not enough time.”

I scoop Rupi off the bed and place her back on my shoulder. If I have to use up my savings, I will. But I’ll do everything I can to get the money without giving up my dreams first. Either way, my Tulip sister won’t be going anywhere.

I swallow, realization setting in. I will have to go to extreme measures to help her. I want to rant and scream and cry at the unfairness of it all, but it won’t change the fact that she’s my magic sister, my best friend. I was free for just over a week, but a blessed and joyous week it was. Enough to wet my tongue and leave me craving more. And I’ll have that freedom back, just… not yet.

“I’m taking a big job, and I leave in two days. I’ll meet you at Mama Tina’s. I’m sure you can find work there until I get back. Don’t sign any contracts with the charmer.” It’s a command, not a question. And hopefully, being with Mama Tina protects her from any mercenaries.

She frowns. “But I thought you were done? ”

“One more job. You must have been confused.” I grit my teeth to hold back tears. Rupi nestles into my neck.

She nods.

“We can do this. We’re Tulips.” I say, for her as much as myself.

I get the feeling she doesn’t quite believe me, and I’m not sure I do, either. First stop, swallow the bitter pill containing my pride and find Rhette.