Bounty Hunter (The Black Tulip Chronicles #1)

40. Vera

Chapter 40

Vera

I spend the next afternoon chatting with Mama Tina and Renna. We sit in a beautiful, circular sitting room with windows lining the entire back to look out into the deep woods. It’s cozy and comfortable, and I never want to leave—it’s my favorite room in the house. Rupi has joined us, perched on a tall, elegant bird stand Mama Tina had custom made just for her. She rings the gold bell with the tap of her tiny beak, and a maid slips in to place a small pile of cut fruit and chopped nuts in her tray. This is exactly why Rupi loves to be at Mama Tina’s. I smile a little as she dives into her feast.

I sip a cup of hot tea with honey and a hint of lavender and fiddle with pieces of my squeaky clean hair as I listen to Mama Tina update me on the current fae happenings and gossip. She makes sure to add in a large piece about Drade and his success, which I promptly ignore. I’m relieved when she moves on to other topics, but the one we settle on has me tense once again.

“So, Ikar.” Mama Tina tips her cup and takes a delicate sip as she stares at me over the rim of her fragile cup. I know that stare. Rupi stops crunching the tiniest piece of chopped nut I’ve ever seen and looks up, too.

“What about him?” I frown, feeling my defenses rise. There’s no way I can keep my feelings a secret if Mama Tina decides she wants to pry.

“You like him.”

Renna chimes in, too. “Yep.”

I swallow in a strangled sort of way and look down at the blanket that I’ve curled up beneath. I twist a loose thread around one of my fingers. I could go off about how he’s my bounty, simply a criminal I’ll promptly be dropping off to officials as soon as we get to Moneyre. But I know if I choose that route, it’ll just drag the conversation on longer.

“A little.” I don’t look up, but I hear a contented, short trill of song from Rupi. “It can’t work, though. If he’s truly not a criminal, he’s a soldier, which is worse. Too close to a king,” I almost whisper. Saying it out loud hurts and makes me face reality. I finally look up and see understanding on their faces. Mama Tina is the only non-Tulip, besides Lillath, who knows what Renna and I are. And suddenly, I want to share more.

“He offered me a contract.” I laugh like it’s ridiculous, but Mama Tina’s next words cut it off.

“Why not take it?”

“He’s likely a criminal. That should bother you,” I say with accusatory eyes.

“His heart is good. I sense it.” She glances at Rupi on her golden perch where she pauses her cracking once more at the attention. “And so does Rupi.”

She chirps in the affirmative.

I simply stare at her, frowning. Then I look at Renna, and she simply shrugs as if saying, “Why not?”

I drain the rest of my cup, unsure what to do with Mama Tina, Renna, my feelings, Rupi, or my criminal. How did life get so complicated?

“I’ve planned a small get together tonight. I’ve already sent for dresses to be delivered to your room and a suit for Ikar.” She stands and brushes out the wrinkles of a dress with so many pleats I can hardly tell the pattern of the fabric, but I think I see frogs and bright pink flowers, and lots of light blue.

I pull my gaze from her distracting attire. “You’re inviting my bounty?” I ask with humor in my voice.

“For purely selfish reasons, of course. He will look absolutely dashing in the suit I’ve chosen.” Her eyes glitter with excitement. “I need to speak with the chef about tonight.” She gestures toward a nondescript, folded parchment on a side table nearby. “That arrived just a few days ago, and thank goodness I didn’t forward it right away since you’ve come for a visit. Until tonight, girls.” She smiles, and with a whisk of pleated dress, she’s out the door.

I set my teacup down and stretch over the side of the couch to reach for the parchment. My stomach tightens with anxiety as I rip it open; communication outside the annual meetings is rare and unusual.

I motion Renna over. “It’s from the Tulips.” She sets her cup down and scoots closer, until we share the page.

My eyes quickly scan the message.

Dearest Queens of the Night,

Tulip dues have been the same amount for over thirty years, and to keep up with increased costs, it is my duty to inform you that we can wait no longer to raise them. Our bracelet charmer will no longer work with us if we do not agree to the increased costs, and we all know we can’t have that. If any of you are in need of help to pay, please contact me right away, and we will figure this out together as the sisters we are. See you in one week’s time, my flowers.

At the bottom is the total amount due in one week. I curse out loud, and Renna gasps quietly. My heart is a frozen chunk of ice in my chest. The amount is large, a third more than we were asked to pay before. A third I don’t have for myself or Renna. I will have to give my own dues, all the funds I make on this job, and all my savings to cover both mine and Renna’s dues. Everything I have. All my work to save over the last years to open my own shop, to not call myself an Originator… It’s all gone, sucked into the never-ending abyss of Tulip dues. Anger streaks from my heart, pulsing through every vein in my body as I crinkle the parchment in my fist. I’m done.

Anger hardens my voice. “What kind of life is this? To live behind the mask of an Originator, hiding, living in fear, and destitute. I just took one of the most dangerous contracts I’ve ever seen offered to make enough money to protect myself from the kings.” The irony hits hard. “I am much more likely to die on one of these reckless, money-making contracts than if I let the dues default and lose the protection of the bracelet. I’m certain that no king is going to start sniffing me out. Tulips are nobodies. Obsolete. Weak. Originators are all the rage right now.”

“Don’t say that—any of it,” Renna says quietly. “You’re just upset right now.” I see the concern and stress in her eyes, along with guilt. I feel bad for speaking my thoughts aloud without thinking, but all of it’s true.

Immediately, all the opportunities begin to filter into my brain as I consider how much money I could save and what I could do with it if I no longer pay the dues. Am I brave enough to cut my link with the Tulips? To live on my own? Tears burn behind my eyes, and a scoffing, sharp laugh erupts from my throat. I don’t need to be afraid to live on my own, to support and protect myself. I’ve been doing it for years while simultaneously supporting another penniless Tulip.

With every rip of paper, I feel more free. Soon, the parchment is in shreds in my lap, I gather it into my hands and toss it into the nearby crackling fire with finality.

Renna is pale, watching the pieces burn. “What will we do?”

I don’t answer right away. As I watch the shreds turn to ashes, Ikar’s offer comes to mind. He’s proven over and over again to be honorable this past week. I admit that’s not a very long time, but I trust him. He even said he could get me out of becoming a bounty myself when I let him go—I didn’t even know that was possible. Do I trust him enough ? He offered double the reward money. I’d have more than enough to get my shop off the ground, be able to rent that beautiful, perfect space, and still help Renna, too. It would be the perfect way to show myself how strong I truly am. If I can survive a trip with my criminal such as the one we’ve had, I can be an Originator for a group trying to find a simple plant. A trip into the Lucent Mountains may be dangerous, but at least there would be purpose behind it, and I need purpose right now. Part of me screams in terror and panic that I’m making this decision, the other wants to run and sign the contract with Ikar immediately.

“We don’t pay the dues. At least, I won’t,” I say bluntly.

“What?” I hear the panic in her voice.

“I’d rather be found by a king than continue to live the way I have.” A small bit of regret for my impulsive words grows in my chest, but the guilt doesn’t smother the bitterness that rises. “I love my Tulip sisters, but the organization of the Tulips has offered me nothing. I don’t see the value. I promised you I’d help you, and I will if you want to pay the dues. I don’t leave for another day or two, so you have some time to think about it.”

Renna nods and looks down at her hands. A maid enters the room just then, pulling me from my thoughts. “I’ve been sent to assist you.”

The party. I almost forgot. I look toward Renna. “Are you joining us tonight?”

She nods. “I’ll be there.”

“Good, you can help me reign Mama Tina in.” I say lightly over my shoulder as I leave the room while both of us know that no one can reign Mama Tina in.

She smirks and wiggles her fingers in a silly wave, but I see the tension in her eyes. She’s worried for me, and I get it, but I’ll show her that it’ll be okay. I have a plan.

I follow the maid back to my room, tucking my newfound decision away. I’ll inform Ikar later and hope that the terrified side of me doesn’t win out. I feel like a rebel—it’s foreign and uncomfortable and terribly exciting. If I don’t pay the dues or show up for the meeting, it will be the first time in my life that I’ve gone against the rules of the Tulips. I twist the bracelet around on my wrist. The first time I will be vulnerable to being found by a king.