Tarn sat at the head of his table in a grand chair. His lethargic, pale blue gaze stared into the flames of the brazier beside him. The firelight gleamed on his white-blond hair where it fell half over his face, partially covering the scar running diagonally along his right eyebrow to the left side of his jaw.
Setting the tray on the table, Von poured a cup of spiced wine into a goblet, bringing it to him. Tarn took out a small vial filled with a black substance from his coat. His hand slightly trembled as he poured a few droplets into the wine, and the surface shimmered with silver light. Witch’s Brew.
Tarn drank his enchanted wine in one gulp. Immediately his gaze cleared and focused on Von. “Report.”
“No Azure Guard sightings, Master. I’m awaiting Bouvier and Novo’s return from Corron.”
Von had sent them to place a sizable bounty on the Maiden and her Guardians with the Azure Warrant Authority. After their confrontation in Corron, they had vanished into the uncharted woodland, but eventually they would attempt to board a ship. The wanted notices should circulate to the Port of Azure by their arrival, if not sooner. Setting bounty hunters after them would certainly make that difficult. And if bounty hunters caught them, all Von had to do was bribe whichever jail held them captive.
But he had sent the spies five days ago.
“They should be back by now,” Tarn said, voicing his thoughts.
“The delay must be a precaution, Master. We’re making our way steadily to the north, but the Azure Guard now heavily patrols the roads.”
They resorted to traveling around the mountains. Moving a camp of one-hundred-and-fifty men through the wilderness made for slow travel. With a reward of ten thousand gold pieces for his head, there was no shortage of bounty hunters aiming to claim it.
Tarn’s finger tapped on the edge of his goblet, the ends of his mouth quirking. “It gladdens me that after fifteen years, he remains as determined as ever to kill me.”
“Only because the Azure King fears you will kill him first.”
“Wise of him.”
Von often wondered if Tarn regretted his actions that led to the warrant for his death. It had resulted in a life constantly on the run. But no, by the small smile hovering on the sharp edges of his mouth, Tarn harbored no regrets. Neither did Von, not about this. Tarn’s plan was slowly coming together and once they had the Unending, he would go after the King next.
Von served himself morsels of every food item on the tray. He ate it all in one quick bite, savoring the rich flavors of venison and herbs. Geon had outdone himself. “Elon leaves to track the Maiden’s whereabouts tonight.”
“He is to take all the spies,” Tarn said as Von placed a plate and silverware before him.
He paused, processing the unexpected command. Bouvier and Novo were up to the task, but Len hadn’t fully recovered. “Elon planned to scout alone, Master. Rawn Norrlen is in their company now, and from what happened at the loch, we must learn his capabilities first.”
“The Maiden has already gathered three Guardians. I want her caught before more arrive.” Tarn eyed his meal with disinterest. “The sorceress may have already joined her.”
“Perhaps not,” Von said, his jaw working at the thought of facing her again. “If she has, then I will have another chance to bring you the Moonstone.”
With it, they could open a portal to Mount Ida and avoid the dangerous voyage across the Leviathan Sea.
Tarn rested his chin against a fist. “The bounty will soon draw attention. Should Elon find the Maiden before she leaves the forest, order him to capture her and the stone if they have it.” His icy eyes met his. “I don’t care who he must kill. She has what I need to find the Unending.”
Von sensed Tarn’s patience was wearing thin. Everything he’d done over the years. Every life taken. Every item stolen. Every venture was in pursuit of the Unending—it was all was for naught if he couldn’t get the Maiden.
Dyna was the key to everything. Tarn wasn’t about to let her slip through his fingers a second time. But the first attempt had resulted in the loss of twenty men.
Von glanced at the missives scattered on the table and caught a page with Tarn’s elegant handwriting. The words of the Seer’s divination. He had read and spoke them aloud so many times, Von had them memorized by heart.
Seek the Maiden with emeralds for sight and tresses of fire, for she holds the key to the Unending thou desires. Beware the Guardians who come to shield her from thee. She will be protected by one of divine blood and a dweller of the moon howling to break free. Thus follows a warrior bestowing his vow, and a sorceress grants her sorcery. A familiar face vies for vengeance, and a creature with the strength of ten eradicates the forgery. Great peril in the venture thou art pursuing. Be not swayed by love, lest it be thy undoing.
If they caught Dyna now, Tarn would succeed. But if he got his hands on the Unending…
Von suppressed a shudder at the chill in his veins. “Yes, Master. I’ll pass on your command to the captain.”
The Forewarning Crystal cast a dance of purple light in the tent as Elon and Len slipped inside, followed by Novo. Bouvier was nowhere in sight.
With the absence of the fourth spy and Elon’s hard expression, Von had a sinking feeling. “What happened?”
Novo lowered the hood of his black cloak and the cloth mask that covered the bottom of his face. His messy, long brown curls were tied at his neck, windblown face haggard, and mouth ringed white with thirst. Shadows marked beneath his dark eyes from lack of sleep. He likely rode day and night to return.
“We couldn’t enter Corron to place the bounty on the Maiden and her Guardians, Commander,” Novo said. “It was swarming with Azure Guard. Too much of a risk.”
