“To grow what?”
“Wheat, so I don’t have to import it or buy it from others in the city. Perhaps vegetables for my pies too. Would be nice to have whatever variety I wished, my king. Not to mention more of everything. I’d like to expand my business.”
“Hmm.” Magnus drew a slender finger down the arm of his throne.
Those private greenhouses were owned by wealthy merchants, lords, and ladies. All of whom lined the king’s pockets for allowing them to build their own greenhouses and grow whatever crops they pleased. The dwarf might be well-dressed, for a commoner, but Magnus did not think the pie cart owner was in league with those merchants, lords, and ladies who could pay more coin.
“I shall have to consider this request. Leave your information with the servant outside, and I’ll have a messenger send word when I make my decision.”
Ragnor’s shoulders fell. “Thank you, Your Majesty.” He paused. “Did you know that the owner of the oldest, most decrepit greenhouses died? I could knock that one down and build anew. Beautify the area a bit.”
He had to hand it to the dwarf; he had balls. “Dismissed.”
The dwarf filed out, and the Clawsguards showed in the next three subjects, all of whom bored Magnus to tears. When the fourth walked in, his hood up and hiding his face, the king did not think much of it. Before entering Frostveil, guards searched each subject for weapons, and it was not so odd for fae to hide their faces. Particularly not if one had troll, orc, or goblin blood, making them less trustworthy to most. However, when the subject pulled a severed head from the folds of his cloak and tossed it to the bottom of the dais, the witnesses below gave a collective gasp.
Magnus sat up straighter. “What is the meaning of this?”
“This is,was, a vampire, King. One of the assassins sent to kill Princess Isolde. I heard there was a bounty on their heads, should someone be able to kill one. I am here to collect.”
Magnus stared down at the head, and his attention locked on the fangs, extended in death and ready to bite. Or they had beenuntil this fae got the better of the assassin. The death had to have been recent if the vampire wasn’t already turning to ash.
The king had announced the bounty less than a week ago, and in that time, only two other Red Assassins had been caught and killed. Both by the local Assassin’s Guild, not a random fae working alone. Reluctantly impressed, Magnus nodded. “Where’s the rest of him?”
“Ah, well, our fight was near the docks. I decapitated him as he leapt and only caught his head. So I expect the body is somewhere at the bottom of the Shivering Sea.” There was a hint of amusement in that tone.
The king’s lips curled. He may have been willing to use the vampires to get rid of Isolde Falk, but now that the harlot was far from Avaldenn, he no longer wanted a single Red Assassin in his city making trouble when he had enough to deal with. Not that they cared what he, or any other fae, wanted. The bloodsuckers had come to his kingdom to hunt down Isolde, but since their arrival, a slew of deaths had penetrated the city. Drainings. Vampires liked little more than fae blood. Hence, the need for the bounty on their heads.
“Winter’s Realm thanks you for your service—what was your name again?”
In answer, hands lifted and the fae removed his hood.
The king’s heart stilled as a smile he’d seen only in the face of a tree blinded him.
“Érebo.”
Magnus stood.
Below, the lords and ladies followed suit, some nearly falling out of their chairs; they were so taken aback by the king’s sudden movement. Magnus swallowed, realizing how odd the reaction looked. How uncontrolled and unlike him.
But by the dead gods, how was this Shadow Fae standing among them?
“Husband?” Inga asked. “What’s wrong?”
“Everyone out. I’ll see no one else today,” Magnus bellowed.
Lord Roar’s spine straightened. “Majesty, there are at least one hundred more people in line. Don’t you think?—”
“Leave.”
The merchant witnesses rushed out of the room, followed swiftly by the lords and ladies of lesser houses. When only his wife, those of the Scared Eight, and the Clawsguards remained, Magnus pointed to the door.
“Make no mistake, I meant all of you. My Clawsguards too.”
Roar glared at Érebo but left with the others of his station. The Clawsguards saw them out, and Magnus turned to Inga.
“I’d like you to go too.”
“Is that so?”
