Page 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

T he next morning, Harm sat beside Val at one of the tables in the eyrie’s dining hall, the rest of the mercenaries gathered around them. Breakfast wasn’t pancakes, but the eggs and sausages were hot and filling.

As they were finishing, Taran entered the room, followed by a man dressed in green and brown, an unstrung bow across his back and a quiver of arrows at his side.

The man swept his cloak behind him as he sat on the bench across from Harm and Val, immediately claiming a plate of sausage and eggs.

Harm dropped his fork on his plate. “You’re the stranger who gave me the flower at the faerie market.”

Val rested her hand on the hilt of her dagger. “Are you the Primrose? I thought he was a fae.”

Chewing a bite of the sausage, the man’s gaze swept over Val in an assessing way. “I’m the Primrose’s right-hand man, you might say. ”

“Then what are you doing here? Your League is well on its way to escorting my husband and me home.” Val emphasized the word husband , as if she still resented that the dragons had nearly carried him off.

The man sliced off a bite of egg, popped it in his mouth, then waved his fork at Harm. “You’re bringing these mercenaries back to the Human Realm.”

“Yes.” Harm resisted the urge to squirm under the man’s gaze.

The man didn’t cut all that much of an imposing figure with his stature that was several inches shorter than Harm’s. But there was a confidence to his gaze and the way he carried his weapons. “And you truly believe your wife and her mercenaries will be no threat to humans?”

“I trust Val to keep them in line.” Harm held the man’s gaze without flinching.

The man gave Val one last, searching look before he nodded. “Then I have a proposal I wish to discuss with the two of you. The Primrose League is always looking for allies in the Human Realm, both to fight off incursions by rogue fae and to provide an end point for our network here in the Fae Realm. It isn’t always safe or possible to return the rescued humans through the same faerie circle through which they were taken. Thus the need for people in the Human Realm to do the work of helping those who have been rescued to either return home safely or establish a new home elsewhere.”

Harm leaned his elbows on the table as he considered, acceptance already on the tip of his tongue. After his experiences in the Fae Realm, he couldn’t turn his back on others who’d been taken. Especially those who hadn’t had the good fortune to have someone like Val fall in love with them.

Instead, he forced himself to voice the more practical consideration. “While I would accept, I’m afraid Tulpenland isn’t very tied to the Fae Realm. The occasional faerie circle only appears in the spring when the tulips are blooming. We wouldn’t be a very effective ally.”

“You could still help our other allies by sending aid to fight off rogue fae or to provide a safe and peaceful home for rescued humans.” The human man swirled a bit of egg through the running yolk as he flicked a glance from Val to Harm. “However, I think Tulpenland will be more tied to the Fae Realm than it has been before. You’re taking six fae back with you. More, you will someday put a fae on the throne as your duchess.”

Right. If his blood could hold such sway over the duchy that Diego would go to great lengths to claim it, then putting Val on the throne as his wife would also have consequences for Tulpenland’s interactions with the Fae Realm.

Assuming Tulpenland still wanted him as their duke once he presented his fee?n bride.

Even then, having fee?n living in Tulpenland would still tie the land to the Fae Realm in a way it hadn’t been before.

“I hadn’t considered that.” Harm scratched at his beard. “Good thing I’ll have six former fae mercenaries to guard the duchy.”

At his side, Val flexed her fingers on her dagger, though she didn’t join the conversation. Perhaps she felt this decision should be his.

“There’s some risk to you and your duchy. Should your identity as part of the Primrose League become known, the more unscrupulous fae will attempt to harm you. And there may be times when the Primrose’s agent is followed to your duchy when they bring a rescued human to you.” The man grimaced, his hand dropping to his quiver. “That’s not even taking into account the increased fae incursions due both to your ties to the Fae Realm and the additional travel back and forth through the circles.”

“Fae incursions and assassination attempts are things we can handle.” Val patted the hilt of her dagger, her tone almost too pleased. When Harm looked at her, she shot him a smirk. “This sounds a whole lot more fun than the boring Tulpenland you were describing.”

“Then for the good of my marriage, I suppose I should accept.” Harm grinned, clasped Val’s hand, and lifted it to kiss her knuckles. Then he turned back to the Primrose’s right-hand man, who was polishing off his breakfast with astonishing speed. “Yes, we’re willing to help the Primrose League any way we can.”

“Very good. Someone will be in contact soon.” The man pushed to his feet, nodded to each of them, and turned to leave. Taran fell into step with him, the two of them talking quietly as they went.

Tora plopped into the seat the stranger had vacated and smiled. “So. You’re joining the Primrose League.”

“Looks like it.” Harm smiled back. The expression faded after a moment. “I couldn’t do otherwise. I just hope Tulpenland is accommodating of the changes I’ll have to make.”

“They’ll come around one way or the other.” Val’s smirk was sharp as she caressed the hilt of her dagger.

“I don’t think threatening people will make them more accommodating.” Harm bumped their clasped hands against her knee. “We’ll start with charm and patience.”

“That’ll be your job then. I’ll save the stabbing for those who aren’t won over.” Val leaned her shoulder into his.

Tora pointed at Val but focused on Harm. “Are you sure you want to unleash her on your innocent duchy?”

“Yes.” Harm squeezed Val’s hand.

“Then we’ll leave just after lunch to bring you to the Human Realm.” Tora gestured from them to the rest of the mercenaries. “We’ll take the Anywhere Door to the Court of Knowledge, then we’ll have to fly to the Court of Dreams. I’m afraid we need to return to the same faerie circle you came through, and we don’t want Queen Mab to know what we’re doing.”

Harm nodded. If they didn’t fly over the faerie queen’s arbor palace, they should escape notice.

“Since we’re leaving, I’d like to bargain for as many healing potions as you can get your hands on.” Val withdrew her hand from Harm’s before she leaned both elbows on the table, facing Tora.

“Healing potions?” Harm eyed her.

“Yes, healing potions. Knowing you—and given the danger you’re bringing on yourself by joining the Primrose League—you’ll need them.” Val raised her eyebrows at him before she focused on Tora again.

Tora’s blue eyes had sharpened at the mention of a bargain. “What will you give me for the healing potions?”

Val pointed at Harm. “All of the pottery dishes my husband has in his magical pocket.”

Harm must have started or made some kind of noise for Val turned to him. “It isn’t like we’ll need to make more bargains. The Primrose League is taking us right to the faerie circle tonight.”

“That’s true.” Harm reached into his magical pocket and withdrew one of the pottery plates. Besides, he wouldn’t mind acquiring more healing potions, and not just for himself. Val was the one who’d be throwing herself into danger, and he’d prefer they had magic on hand in case she got hurt.

At the sight of the pottery, Tora’s nostrils flared, and her eyes gleamed with something almost feral. She snatched the plate from him, holding it up as she inspected it.

Harm dug into his pocket, taking out three more plates, three teacups, and the only teapot he’d brought and somehow hadn’t broken through his travels. With each new item, that gleam in Tora’s gaze grew.

As Tora reached for another item, Val smacked her hand. “Not without the bargain.”

Tora’s nostrils flared again, and a thin wisp of smoke wafted out.

Harm’s stomach dropped, and he reached into his pocket again, this time for his sword. Was Tora about to go all dragon on them?

Then Tora’s gaze cleared, and she nodded. “Very well. I will collect as many healing potions as I can get my hands on before you leave in trade for these items.”

As she spoke, Taran returned to the room. He halted next to Tora and sighed. “What’s all this?”

“A bargain.” That sharp glint returned to Tora’s smile. “I hadn’t decided on an item to hoard yet. I’m thinking pretty pottery. It calls to me.”

Taran sighed and turned to Harm and Val. “I hope you know what you’ve done. Once a dragon decides what they’ll hoard, they’ll be obsessed with that item for life.”

“I know.” Val’s smile was almost as sharp as Tora’s. “I’ve been told Harm’s kingdom has plenty more of that pottery, and I’m sure we’ll need more healing potions eventually. Tora, you’ll always be welcome to bargain for more fancy pottery if you bring healing potions.”

Harm turned to his wife, gaping at her. Though, he shouldn’t have been surprised. She was a fee . Setting up future bargains was in her nature.

Then again, such a propensity for bargains would serve her well in Tulpenland.

Harm swept a glance from her to the other five mercenaries sitting at a nearby table. Even when he returned home, life would never be the same.

But that wasn’t a bad thing. His life back home in Tulpenland could use a little good adventure instead of mere keeping up appearances.