I sat in my room, anxiously fiddling with the strings on my mandolin. Since I returned from my mission in Freeriver, I had not been able to see Gunner, nor had I been able to sleep. According to the guards around the fortress, he left to meet with someone about starting a trade deal. He had left no instructions for me, so I waited.

  Arienne sat on my bed, kicking her legs against the frame. “It’ll be alright, Poppy. Your friends will be okay!”

  I smiled at her, but I didn’t feel happy on the inside. She didn’t know where I had been or what I had been doing. Like me, she was trapped in this fortress, but with less freedom than I had. As much as I wanted to lie down and cry, I needed to appear strong for her. “You’re right, my little dandelion. Everything is going to be okay.”

  Before I left for Freeriver, Gunner promised me that he would reward me with Nia and Greenspring. Treating them like objects you gave as a gift made me furious, but as long as I got to see them it didn’t matter. Thanks to Bagheera pledging to help, and Sunday’s leaf, I was closer than ever to saving Henry and going home.

  Even though I was excited to see Nia and Greenspring again, I was worried they would not be the same. Lady Iris had been tortured to an inch of her life. Did Gunner treat the two like that as well? Would they even want to see me again? I had been treated nicely by Gunner. Would they feel bitter about that? Arienne seemed the same, but she was a kid. Did that matter to Gunner? The week after I came back, my thoughts were clouded.

  Bagheera and I discussed the fortress and its weaknesses whenever Arienne slept. Since he was trusted by Gunner, he could go anywhere in the fortress except for Gunner’s quarters. This gave us a full count of the harska forces and all the entrances and exits the fortress had. It was staggering how many harska there were.

  I only wanted to take my friends and family and leave, but I knew that could never happen. Gunner had to be eliminated, and the harska brought under new leadership. Otherwise, all of this would happen again. Maybe not to my family, but to another.

  “Why can’t it be you?” I asked Bagheera. We sat in my room, maps of the fortress spread over a table, illuminated by candlelight. Arienne was tucked neatly into my bed. I could hear her gentle breathing as she slept.

  “No one will follow me,” he said, shaking his head. “It has to be Princess.”

  “Will they follow Princess? Most of your kinsmen are loyal to Gunner. After all, it was them that stuck Princess in that pit.”

  “On the outside, yes, they are loyal to Gunner. But inside, they know this can’t last. Princess might be untested as a leader, but her heritage will bring confidence. There’s no one else who would be a worthy candidate. There can’t be another usurper.”

  “And Princess wouldn’t be a usurper?” I asked, folding my arms.

  Bagheera smiled, but I could tell it wasn’t genuine. “The other harska would consider it taking back what was rightfully hers.”

  During those days, I asked Bagheera if he could confirm the presence of Henry and Tamara, but he said no. According to him, those close to me were being kept in a private cell near Gunner’s quarters. Nia and Greenspring were most likely there as well. It was under strict watch. Only Gunner and a select few could enter.

  After one of our discussions, I laid down on the bed to go to sleep. I looked over at Arienne, who was breathing peacefully. When she was younger, she used to wake up in the middle of the night and crawl into my bed. She had grown out of that quickly, but I would never forget.

  Arienne rolled over toward me. “When are you going to save Uncle Henry,” she asked, whispering.

  I sighed. “You’re supposed to be asleep.”

  “But I’m not tired. When are you going to save Uncle Henry? I want to help!”

  “You are helping. Knowing that you’re safe is enough. I’ll save him soon, but you need to stay quiet about that, okay?”

  Even in the dark, I could tell she nodded. “My lips are sealed.”

  I laughed quietly. “Good. Sweet dreams, my little dandelion.”

  “Good night, Poppy.”

  The next day, a cold chill spread through the halls under the mountain. Harska bundled up in warm clothes, and torches were kept alight for longer to spread some warmth. Without winter clothes, Arienne and I spent most of our time wrapped up in the blankets on my bed. Winter was close. With the cold weather, Gunner returned to the fortress.

  After a few days of getting settled, Gunner summoned me to the throne room. Bagheera and the others were summoned as well. Sitting on his throne, illuminated by torchlight, he looked as intimidating as ever. Though it was hard to tell, he looked happy. His pupils were dark saucers, his tail shook with anticipation, and his teeth showed as he grinned. We kneeled before the throne as Damian gave his report.

  “Excellent,” said Gunner. “I received word from Lady Iris this morning. Our deal will continue with no delays.”

  “That is excellent to hear, my king,” replied Damian, bowing.

  Gunner gestured for us to stand. “You may go. I’ve heard Midnight is planning quite the feast for dinner. Enjoy it and be well.”

  “Of course, my king,” we said in unison.

  While the others immediately turned to leave, I hesitated. Looking up at Gunner, he was already talking to one of his guards about something in whispered tones. I wanted to ask about Nia and Greenspring but knew I had to be patient. If Gunner had lied, I would know soon enough. Pushing the issue would only lead to trouble. Rising from the ground, I dusted my pants and turned to leave.

  “Norman,” said Gunner. “Stay here for a moment.”

  “Yes, Gunner?” Unlike the other harska, I saw no reason to call Gunner ‘my king’. He was king of the harska, and we both knew that. Gunner could have forced me to address him with more respect, but since I had been good he let it slide.

  “Before you left I promised you a reward. Keeping promises is the duty of any good king, wouldn’t you say?”

  “I would.”

  “Falkas never kept his promises,” said Gunner, clawing the edge of his throne. “As king, your word is law. When you offer a reward, and the task is done well, you should keep your word and bestow a reward. Right?”

  “Yes,” I said, sweat starting to drip down my back. Even in the throne room, it was cold.

  “Of course, I am the king. I reward those that do well. Those I can trust.”

  “Undoubtedly,” I replied.

  He chuckled. “Undoubtedly. Yes, undoubtedly,” he said under his breath. His eyes met mine, sending a shiver down my spine. “Your brother has much to say about you. I enjoy talking to him. Maybe if you continue to work hard, you can talk with him as well.”

  Gritting my teeth, I smiled. “I would enjoy that.”

  He returned the smile. “In your room, you’ll find the northerner and the druid. A guard will be posted outside your room to make sure nothing unsightly happens. Do not disappoint me.”

  The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.

  I bowed. “Of course.”

  “I’ll call for you the next time I require your services. Good work, Norman Benson.”

  Harska in the halls gave me curious looks as I ran back to my room. Part of me was worried I was going to get in trouble, but no one stopped me. My heart raced as my imagination ran wild. Would they be okay? Would they hate me? Had they met my brother while they were held captive?

  As Gunner said, a harska with orange-colored fur stood outside my room. He leaned on the wall, picking his teeth with his claw. Gasping for breath, I kneeled on the floor. Even with the amount of traveling I’d been doing, my body wasn’t ready for sprinting through an entire fortress. The guard glared at me but didn’t say anything. Once I was ready, I clasped the door handle and pushed it open.

  Greenspring sat on the floor, his legs crossed beneath him. His clothing, made of moss, leaves, and twigs, was in desperate need of repair. Holes showed his pale skin and surprisingly fit body beneath. Like the last time I had seen him, he still had a layer of dirt covering his arms and legs. But his hair was a light brown instead of the grey color it usually was.

  Nia looked similar. Her clothes were ragged and torn and dirt covered her body. Her hair was slick with grease and dirt. Dried mud stuck to her fingertips. One of her boots was missing, while the other was so worn you could see the imprint of her foot on the bottom. She sat on the bed. Arienne sat behind her picking some of the dirt out of her hair.

  When I opened the door, both turned toward me. A smile quickly formed on their faces and soon I was enveloped in a tight group hug. Neither seemed to have lost their strength as they squeezed whatever was left of mine out of me. I laughed, returning the hug as best I could. A wet spot formed on my shoulder as tears streamed down Greenspring’s face.

  “Norman, my boy, I do not know what to say,” he said.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay. You are okay, right?” I asked, pulling back from the hug to give them another look.

  Nia smiled. “Of course we are! Not a scratch on us.”

  There wasn’t a dry eye in the room. Arienne danced and cheered as she ran around everyone. Once I recovered from the shock of seeing them, I dug through my closet looking for clean clothes. Nia and Greenspring helped, picking out clothes that they liked.

  “Sorry, Gunner didn’t give me back your supplies,” I said.

  “It’s fine, Norman,” said Nia, checking some pants to see if they would fit. “We’re just glad we’re all okay.”

  Sitting on my bed, I gestured to the two of them. “How did you manage it? I was worried you would be tortured, or worse…”

  “At first, they treated us harshly,” said Greenspring, rubbing a long, thin scar on his arm. “But Nia put a stop to that.”

  “I broke a guard’s nose,” she said, smiling.

  “That you did. But I think what changed was you started to do good work for Gunner. Once he saw us as carrots he could hold on a stick, he had to play nice.”

  “Didn’t stop them from trying to start something. I swear Greenspring and I had to deal with a fight every week.”

  “Some of those you started,” said Greenspring, smiling.

  Nia laughed. “Maybe I did. Hard to remember.”

  “Did you beat them up?” asked Arienne, stars in her eyes.

  “Of course,” said Nia, flexing her muscles. “Gotta show them whose boss.”

  I smacked my forehead, remembering that I hadn’t introduced everybody. “I’m sorry. This is my daughter, Arienne. Arienne these are my friends, Nia and Greenspring.”

  Greenspring laughed. “Do not worry, we had a few minutes to introduce ourselves before you arrived. Your daughter is quite the talker. She reminds me of myself when I was younger.”

  Arienne made an unpleasant face. “I do?”

  “Well, cleaner for sure,” replied Greenspring laughing. “I was quite the wild child when I was a boy.”

  “Me too,” said Nia. “My parents had to force me to sit down and stay inside. I never wanted to be in one place for too long. I wanted to explore.”

  I laughed. “Sounds like my little dandelion.”

  We talked for a bit more before I showed them where to bathe. Arienne still wasn’t allowed out of the room, so she sadly watched us leave. Nia whispered something in her ear, which made her perk up. “You got it!” exclaimed Arienne happily.

  “What did you tell her?” I asked as we walked to the bath.

  Nia shrugged. “I asked if she could watch our stuff, said it was a job for a real warrior.”

  I nodded, mentally putting that away for later. “I’m so glad you guys are back.”

  “So are we,” replied Greenspring.

  The three of us walking down the hall caused some nervous stares, but I didn’t care. I had my two friends and my daughter back. The guard Gunner assigned to my room didn’t follow us, but I could still tell we were being watched. Every cat-like eye we passed in the hall might as well have been Gunner’s. They all either feared him or loved him.

  I waited outside the bath, watching the harska pass by. Some of them greeted me but most gave me a passing glance. Serving under Gunner earned me some amount of respect, but they would never truly accept me. As a human, I was considered lower than the weakest harska. Not that I cared. Staying here and serving Gunner sounded awful.

  Nia was the first out. Her blonde hair hung like a wet mop on her head. It dripped onto the floor behind her. She wore an old nightshirt of mine, thankfully it was big enough to not be uncomfortable. None of my pants would have fit her, so wore another shirt of mine tied around her hips like a skirt.

  She nervously glanced around, tying her hair into a loose bun. Once she saw me, she walked confidently through the hall, smiling. Being around harska for months had made me used to looking down. I had to crane my neck to meet her eyes. We stood outside the bath, chatting about my experiences outside the fortress.

  “Greenspring told me. Said his spell never stopped working, though he couldn’t speak to you. I’m sorry you had to go through that,” she said, frowning. “Taking a life isn’t easy, no matter how many times you do it.”

  “Thanks. I just… Sometimes I can still feel his fingers around my neck.”

  Nia placed her hand on my shoulder. “You had to do it.”

  “I know.”

  Greenspring came out of the bath looking like an entirely different person. His face was cleared of dirt, not a wrinkle on it. His long hair was tied neatly behind him. Without the dirt covering his arms, I could see how muscled they were. It was like he climbed mountains for fun. Even his legs looked like they could run for miles. He smiled, his teeth white as snow.

  “Thanks for that, Norman. Nothing like a warm shower after a day in the mines.”

  “Mines?” I asked, glancing toward Nia.

  “Greenspring’s been working in the mines since we were captured.”

  “The further down in the earth, the harder it is for my magic to work. But now…” Greenspring flexed his arm, making a fist. “I can feel my strength returning.”

  I grabbed his arm and pushed it down. “Not here,” I whispered. “Back in the room.”

  We walked back, continuing our conversation. I walked a little faster than the others, eager to show them the leaf Sunday had given me. Sunday, the opoamer I met in Orten, had told me to give the leaf to Greenspring. Though he didn’t tell me what it was for.

  Opoamer were tall, lanky creatures resembling possums. With the thick cloak he had been wearing, he didn’t seem out of place among the others in the city. Of course, he was still taller than everyone. I hoped I could trust Sunday, because he was key to getting everyone out of the fortress safely.

  I nodded to the guard outside my room. He didn’t return the gesture but didn’t seem unfriendly otherwise. There was a job to do, and he was assigned to do it. Covering my mouth with my sleeve, I faked a cough. Everyone looked at me, but I waved them off.

  “I’m fine. Caught a bit of a cough back in Freeriver,” I said, before faking a coughing fit. “I’ve got some water inside.”

  Nia and Greenspring followed me inside, closing the door behind them. Once it was closed, I pulled them to the far side of the room. I held a finger over my mouth, gesturing for everyone to be quiet. They nodded. Repeating the spell I had cast in Louis Korpi’s meeting room, I coughed and pounded my chest. Once I was done, I laid on my bed to catch my breath.

  “What a hassle,” I said, my voice coarse.

  “Are you okay?” asked Nia.

  “Yeah. Just need to catch my breath.”

  Greenspring, who as a magician himself, understood what I had been doing. He smiled. “You have grown, Norman. You are hardly the man I first saw performing back in Kent’s Crossing.”

  I laughed. “Don’t know whether to take that as a compliment.”

  Nia took a seat on the floor, crossing her legs beneath her. Arienne sat down next to her. “Was that some kind of spell?” Nia asked.

  “It’ll keep those outside the room from listening in,” I said, rubbing my throat.

  Greenspring and Nia looked at me expectedly. “What did you need to talk to us about?” asked Greenspring, sitting down next to Nia.

  I stood up from the bed. Inside my closet, hidden among my clothes, was the leaf Sunday gave me. I rummaged through my things until I found it. The leaf was still as green as the day I was given it, with not a spot of decay on it. Nia looked confused, leaning forward to get a better look. I had told Arienne about the leaf, so she wasn’t as surprised. Greenspring’s eyes widened, his mouth falling open.

  “How did you get a Diagum Leaf?” he asked, stroking his long beard.

  “It was given to me by a friend. Do you know Sunday the opoamer, Greenspring?”

  Greenspring smiled. “Of course, I know Sunday. He was there when I first received my name.”