Until Kingdom Come

“Blast the mother,” Nina fumed as she dived behind the nearest oak tree. The mercenary hot on her heels was extraordinary, she had to give him that. She surveyed the burning cut on her forearm, courtesy of the arrow he released on his target just moments before. Shallow enough, she thought. Nina reached out with her senses. In her mind's eye, she could see him approaching carefully, favoring his left side. She smiled, remembering the blow she delivered to his right thigh after he caught her ransacking his small cottage, searching for the dethda talisman that now sat safely in her carry bag. He was too broad shouldered if you asked her, slowed him down and made it difficult to respond to his opponents next move. She didn’t have that problem, small framed and lithe. His green eyes narrowed in concentration, her pursuer began circling the tree that shielded her from view. Eyes closed, Nina matched him step for step, careful to keep an inch of distance between her black leather boots and the base of the tree. She saw him pause and tick his chin to the right, listening for her. His long brown mane fell back to reveal his Fae-gifted ears, perked up and straining. Nina, still safely hidden, paused and matched his breathing, breath for breath—chest rising and falling in rhythm to his. He hit the tree in frustration and continued down the path towards Eferda Mountain, where she likely would have gone, had she not felt him narrowing the distance between them more quickly than anticipated. She debated whether or not to let him alone and take the longer journey to meet the trader awaiting her arrival just north of the mountain. She smiled wickedly, opening her eyes to reveal his retreating form. Nina briefly noted the simplicity of his grey linen undergarment, worn underside of a plain black tunic. She smiled even wider when she realized his linen chauses looked almost new, barely worn. She decided against adding an extra quarter days’ journey to her travel schedule for the likes of him. Apologies to your laundress, she thought before moving her deft feet soundlessly, bounding across the expanse between them in mere seconds. Now upon him, she slid across the path to the right of her opponent and brought her body to a standstill right in front of him. He had no time to gain his footing before he was on his back, thanks to the hard uppercut she dealt to his chin with her elbow. “Bloody mother--,” he swore. Before he could utter anything more, she knelt and gripped his throat with an unforgiving clench. “Wait wait,” he choked out. She paused for a heartbeat, noting the worn out brakla that encircled his left wrist. It was similar to the kind mothers often hand wove for their male children before parting in times of war. She slammed his head against the ground and gritted out, “Stop.following.me.” She slowly rose from the ground, taking care to look him in his eyes as she did so. She could see him calculating his next best option. “I need that talisman Nina Thorburn,” he sneered.

So, she thought, he remembers me. “That dusty thing?” she asked, feigning nonchalance, “I pawned it nights ago at a tavern, bought me a few rounds.” He slit his eyes at her, the green of them turning stormy in disbelief. If he knew her name then he would also know of her heritage. She pursed her lips. Being of diluted Fae origin, Nina could and did lie, more often than ever nowadays.

She went to kick him in his ribs, but he caught her foot between his hands on what was supposed to be a graceful slam into his stomach. She knew he meant to twist it and bring her down to his level. Instead, she used his hands as a leg up and jumped, the momentum from the bounce added just enough force to her punch as she brought it down against his jaw. With a painful groan, he released her foot and put his hands up in surrender, spitting blood onto the ground next to him. Staying on his back, he slowly reached into his tunic with his left hand. Noting the tightening of her fist at the movement, he said through gritted teeth, “I have something you’ll want more.” “Doubtful,” she replied arching an eyebrow. He grimaced and pulled a small black notebook from his tunic, frayed and well-worn from years of use she gathered. Interest piqued, Nina asked “Now what would I want with that ratty thing Caden Asbury?”, choosing to reveal her own knowledge of just who she had borrowed from. She knew Caden worked for House Seercaster. Having already served his time in the war, he now worked for a small pittance as their guard to pay off an outrageous sum of money his family had incurred to them over the years. Yet Caden had risked spiriting away this talisman from his oath-sworn, for reasons she did not yet care to know. She watched as his eyes widened a fraction in recognition of the power play.

He sneered, “I need it just as much as you do. If I don’t return it to the Seercasters, they’ll have my head.”

“My condolences,” she responded, slowly backing away from his prone form.

“You won’t need to trade it if you have this book instead.”

Nina continued her retreat. “This book will get you 20,000 at the very minimum. The talisman isn’t worth half that to those traders.”

She paused mid-step. Caden opened the book to reveal pages of crude drawings, no, not just drawings but maps of the surrounding area. “I can take you to the money, but only I know how to read the contents of this book.”

“If you are in possession of so much coin, why continue your guard post?”

“I have my reasons.”

Nina looked toward the horizon and gave it a breathy sigh. She lost entirely too much daylight being deterred by this brute. It had already taken her a fortnight to discreetly gather enough information about the talisman’s exact whereabouts. The Castle, her occasional home, was still under siege, leaving both Gabriēl and her father Micah to fend for themselves against the Eastern Invaders. She couldn’t afford to waste any more time, she needed information on the invaders as soon as possible if she stood a chance at aiding her family. Nina shook her head, refusing to think about what she would do if she lost her little brother, the crown prince of TaSyria. Quick witted and charming, Prince Gabriēl was so many things to so many different people. Advisor, liege, diplomat, the list went on and on, but to Nina, he would always be her runt brother. His twenty-fourth birth year would soon be upon them. It was on her shoulders to see him through to that moment. Coin was coin and she could just as easily buy the information on the invaders as she could barter the talisman to the shifty tradesman, Janshai, who awaited her. Steeling herself, she walked to the Fae male and offered her arm. He grasped it and stood with a pained grunt, raising himself to his full height. “Alright, I’ll play along Asbury. Take me to this treasure trove of yours and we shall see about returning your talisman.” With a flare of his nostrils, Caden adjusted the leather strap of his quiver and gestured for her to follow as he headed back toward SeerCaster manor.

They walked in somber silence until nearing a village market she used to frequent as a young girl. Nina remembered chasing her brother under the carts and around the aggravated street vendors until one or both of them received a hardy cuff on the ear by their father. Nina reached in her carry bag and draped the heavy material of her scarf over her raven black hair. She hesitated only a moment before fashioning it to cover her mouth as well. She hated suffocating her breathing, but it was necessary to remain unnoticed while she waded her way through the populated market.

“I need to keep that amulet protected,” Caden said suddenly, breaking her reverie. “I could’ve turned you in and you know it. I will deliver you the money and I will get it back to the Seercaster’s myself.” So he just assumed her trust was so easily bargained for. Interesting, she thought. The Seercaster’s did not serve the realm. They had a long history of trading their loyalties to the highest bidder, but her father never had enough evidence to formally charge them with treason. So naturally, when Janshai had asked for this particular amulet, Nina had no qualms about taking the prize from those self-serving serpents. “I know you don’t trust the SeerCaster’s,” Caden continued, seeming to read her thoughts. “I am an Asbury, not of their line. Nina, I beg of you, give me a chance to make sure everyone wins here, especially your family.” Nina pivoted and leaned against a barrel of gods knew what while she surveyed the bold mercenary. Loyal to the crown are you, we shall see. “You’ll likely slow me down,” she replied flatly. His green eyes skimmed hers, trying to break her resolve. “Not with you stopping at every turn, leaving tracks as you go,” he ventured. “You must know that you are being hunted. There’s a high price on your head princess.” Nina feigned nonchalance and pushed off from the barrel, now thankful for her scarf which shielded her from the reek of old fish. She tilted her head up to meet his stare as she put nothing more than a hair's breadth between them. She smiled at seeing Caden’s eyes widen ever so slightly, before she abruptly turned and continued down the path they had been pacing along. She felt Caden’s eyes studying her retreating form a moment before he calmly closed the distance and continued to walk alongside her. “I am loyal to the King and King’s heir. This I swear to you,” he whispered solemnly. She raised an eyebrow at him.“ I would have included you, were it not for the ache in my jaw,” he chuckled. She chanced a glance at his profile.

Caden Asbury had a sterling reputation. He was revered as a war hero when TaSyria was last plagued with civil upheaval. Were it not for his being born into a debt to the SeerCaster’s, Nina gathered that Caden would have had his pick of positions in her fathers personal guard. “I’ve heard stories of you and your nobleness,” she started. “And tales of my quick wit and charm no doubt,” he interrupted. Despite herself, she wanted to make him an ally, but Nina could gamble with neither Gabriēl’s nor her father’s life. Time was not on her side. Nina pursed her lips and said matter of factly, “SO,” she continued, “ if you swear by the mother that you will not shoot at me or turn me in OR slow me down, then I will allow you to give me your money in exchange for your amulet.” His eyes crinkled in amusement at her haughtiness. “What high honor you grant me,” he laughed. “Especially having stolen from me to begin with.” He gave her a long stare. “Yet, you’re still willing to aid the true King.” Instead of replying, Caden veered off the path they had ventured down, the cacophony of the market dying away as they found themselves at the entrance of an unfamiliar cottage. Surprised, Nina paused and took in her surroundings, “I don't remember this being here,” she said.

Caden opened the worn door with a key from his satchel, “and yet, we’ve arrived at your fortune my lady.” Nina gestured for Caden to enter the dwelling first and drew a deep breath before stepping over the threshold.