Sorem didn’t relish giving the hunchback much credit in anything. In fact, he had his misgivings about leaving Matax, the fairy, to care for the women while he and Wyrn hunted.

Everything in him screamed to stay with a distraught Vadde and offer her a comforting shoulder to cry on, as a woman of her fine refinement would require to stave off the disappointment of the unicorn fiasco.

But the prospect of the hunchback returning to their campsite with a great bounty while Sorem had nothing would prove far more embarrassing.

In truth, Sorem wasn’t fond of hunting. It was something his cousin and he had attempted often, Sorem usually at the losing end. But the hunchback’s people were a hunter clan and so long as he stayed close, he could claim victory for any catch.

Now, as he followed behind Wyrn in the tall grass, he was careful to scrutinize him in every way. His posture wasn’t terrible despite his back. Yes, he did hunch, but he had all his faculties otherwise. The round shape of his back did speak of a shield. Perhaps it provided him some support.

Wyrn raised his right hand and lowered it. Sorem, though ready to remind him he was a prince and no one’s lacky, obeyed. This was technically werewolf land so it was rich with good hunts, Wyrn had argued.

But after a long bout of silence, the hunchback did not move.

“Do you think, perhaps, a princess is simply not suited for this life?”

His voice was so soft that Sorem hardly heard it.

To anyone else, he would have given the guidance provided by a high priest, but this was no mere lost soul looking for absolution. It was a small man cheating fate by employing magic.

Sorem was careful when he chose his words. “It is dangerous,” he admitted. “We are in werewolf territory, after having encountered an ogre and finding rejection from one werewolf faction—wolves are rather disloyal. The camp that we made is in the open and outside. A—a proper gentleman would have sought out an inn. Or…or asked the dwarf for board.”

Wyrn didn’t look back at him. Finally, he confessed, “No. I couldn’t ask that. Not after he denied her to even let her see a unicorn. It would hurt her too much.”

“Hurt her?” Sorem asked, “or hurt you?”

The man moved not a muscle.

Sorem, recognizing that he had the hunchback’s attention, explained, “We can make up all sorts of excuses for why we don’t do something. And even for why we do something terrible. But in the end, all that matters is the end results.”

From the way the hunchback lowered the bow and arrow, the words were having an impact.

They affected Sorem as well. Here he was, standing in the open with this evil hunchback, and after encountering so many dangers not even a day prior. Sorem could slay him now, not with that shield on his back, but a shove of the arm could turn Wyrn to him enough for Sorem to run him through.

After that, the spell would be broken, and Vadde could be free.

Sorem’s fingers traced the hilt of his sword. No, that would be risky. The dagger strapped to his chest would be swifter.

Wyrn turned to Sorem, brushed the long brown hair from his eyes, and said, “You are a good man.”

Rather than grip the knife, Sorem swallowed hard.

“I hadn’t expected that for a prince.” Wyrn let out a sigh. “You put up with our sad little party and you let my wife cry when she needs support. If I’m honest, sir, I…I was a bit envious of her attention to you. But….” He paused then said, “Know that I appreciate your honesty.”

But his words didn’t sound gentle or even at all appreciative. In fact, he stared Sorem in the eye as he drew his bow, aimed behind him, and let loose without looking.

A bird made a sound then nothing more.

Dread welled up inside Sorem as he stared the hunchback down. The spell. Blast this spell. It’s made him too powerful.

“Thank you,” Wyrn said again then turned and made his way into the clearing.

When he returned with his arrow, Sorem’s lips parted. It was not one bird, but two.

What manner of evil was this man?

They shared a glance, and it was in that moment that Sorem knew…this magic was far stronger than he’d realized, and it wasn’t one he would easily beat—not head on. He’d have to start thinking drastically.

Wyrn walked past him and Sorem, at first stunned, followed. “We’re a few days away from Wisen and the temple there. Let’s complete the quest so that we may return home.”

Something in his tone put Sorem on alert. The hunchback was right about one thing, they were close to Wisen but Rowil was the same distance in the opposite direction.

Minute after every minute, Sorem formulated a way to send word to Vadde’s father. Surely, this was good fortune.

At first following behind Wyrn, Sorem slowed in his stride and looked back to the clearing. The birds.

“The birds,” Sorem said aloud, a slow smile creeping up his face. He waited for Wyrn to leave him behind before unhooking the Jvalan. “Are you able to control lesser creatures to do your bidding?”

Instead of floating, the Jvalan sat, knees to her chest. “Are you asking for a bargain?”

“No. I’ve thought about it and a few days prior, you said you would provide me with a boon should I engage the hunchback. Well, I have engaged him. So I am calling in that favor now.”

She opened her mouth to argue but Sorem waited with confidence.

Something about her scowl didn’t sit well with him.

“Very well,” she said, a bit too easily. “Bring me to the animal and I will enchant it.”

Ten minutes later, a small piece of parchment attached to its leg, a bird took off from the clearing, heading right for Rowil.

“And it will reach the king, and only the king?” Sorem asked yet again.

“And only the king,” the Jvalan echoed.

Sorem’s chest swelled with pride and satisfaction as he trudged back out of that tall grass.

“Prince Sorem,” the Jvalan called.

Her voice had him heaving a sigh. “What now?”

But she didn’t answer. With her so quiet, he slowed and picked her cage up. She looked…strange. Weak.

“What is wrong with you?”

She picked her head up and regarded him in sadness. “I do not know. I…I think I am dying.”

Eyes squinted, Sorem considered the trick. How convenient that she, a nearly immortal fairy, would be on her death bed so suddenly.

“What? Why?”

“I…I do not know. I think,” she said, hesitating, “I think Matax is killing me.”

“Matax? That fairy?” Sorem scoffed. “And why would you eat anything from him? And what has he given you and when? We are never apart.”

In the fading light of day, the Jvalan didn’t look terrible. She was black from head to toe with two silver green eyes. If not for what she was, he might have kept her longer as a pet. But the fairy kind were untrustworthy and foul. This, too, he knew to be a trick.

Her lips parted but closed.

She could not tell a lie. Sorem laughed in triumph. “Your deception does not work on me.” He tapped his head, boasting, “I’m far too clever.”

The moment she hung her head without arguing, he reattached the cage and made his way back to camp.

A fire greeted him. Now, two birds hung on sticks propped up close by, roasting.

Vadde sat beside it, her eyes fixed there as she said not a word. Her captor hunchback sat by her side but said nothing as well.

Laughter filled the air from Matax and Jeze—more so from Matax.

They sat entangled in one another’s embrace, Jeze between Matax’s legs, wrapped up in his arms.

Sorem sat closer to the wagon, pleased with his ambush.

That bird, aided by the Jvalan’s magic, would reach the palace before sundown, and by morning, an army would overrun this place, slay the hunchback, and bestow what was rightfully his—the princess.

Sorem smiled to himself but came back to reality when Wyrn handed a bird to Vadde and instructed her to bring it this way.

Vadde looked past the hunchback to Sorem then obeyed. Once she presented Sorem with the gift, she asked, “May I share it with you?”

Pleased, Sorem nodded. This way he could be sure it was not poisoned while also enjoying her company.

But other than a few nibbles, she didn’t have much of an appetite.

“Are you all right?” Sorem asked, tearing into the meat.

Vadde let out a sigh. “I’m tired of being asked that.” She turned her big brown eyes on Sorem. “Have you thought of my request, sir, about absolving my husband?”

Had he thought about it? It was all he thought about.

“I would absolve anything if you’d run away with me,” he joked.

But as their eyes met, she didn’t smile in return.

That tepid response had Sorem watching the ground as he ate.

“I can pay,” Vadde offered.

But the payment that interested Sorem wasn’t one she put forth.

“We’ll be at the temple soon,” Sorem argued. “It’s a just cause and a matter of life and death, lady. I cannot simply absolve it.”

She rose to her feet in a huff then marched away. Once she flopped down beside Wyrn again, she snaked her arms around his waist, leaning into him.

Whatever whisper they first shared, Sorem didn’t hear it, but he closed his eyes to activate his hearing for the second.

“We’ll look for an inn,” Wyrn offered.

“An inn? Why?”

“You speak as if it isn’t dangerous,” Wyrn countered.

“We don’t need an inn. I have you.”

Her words directed at that blaggard were gentle, but they kindled Sorem’s ire nonetheless.

Some hours later, after the fairies sang, something they insisted would keep all manner of creatures away, they rested their heads for the night .

Still at his perch by the wagon, Sorem watched as the two couples, on opposite sides of the camp, settled in.

Matax’s voice carried on the night breeze. “Cuddle, and then we fuck.” He paused and asked, “Wait. Are you still wearing those blasted boots? Take them off.”

“Never!”

And they both laughed.

Vadde’s side of the campsite was far quieter but Sorem listened with intent.

“Why can’t we just go home?”

“I can’t take back my word, Princess.”

Her silence came from defiance.

“Please have more faith. Once we reach the temple, this will be at an end. I’m not foolish. I do have a plan.”

Vadde drew in a sniff. “And what plan is that?”

“I cannot say it. I’m sorry. But…but we’ll be all right.”

She settled in closer. “And then we’ll go home?”

“Don’t you want to explore more? We have money, from who knows where, I can rent a spot in a new land and see if the gatekeeper follows us there. Should it do just that, then—”

“No. I no longer care about traveling. I’ve been selfish and it’s threatening everything I hold dear. I no longer care. I just want to go home.”

After a long pause, Wyrn asked, “Are you sure you weren’t trying to get home to Rowil?”

Vadde scoffed. “What home in Rowil? You’re the only home I need.”

“Jaffo! Jaffo!” Matax called, guttural. “It works. I’m in!”

Jeze’s laughter drowned out his boasting.

Vadde was the first to laugh, then Wyrn who’s words were stifled with a kiss before he asked, “What are you doing?”

“Well, they always watch us, don’t they?”

“But as fairies—”

“We’ll be extra quiet,” Vadde promised. “Stop moving my hand.”

“Princess, there’s another guest here.” Wyrn’s voice held confusion. “You’re usually so considerate of others whenever I crave you. You’re the one who forces us inside commonly.”

Vadde took another kiss but whispered, “The fairies will give us cover.”

When they uprooted the blanket and disappeared under it, Sorem’s spirit crossed.

On the right of the dead fire, Matax cried out like a brute. On the left, Vadde stifled her sounds with languished kisses and in the center…in the center was Sorem bearing witness to the debauchery. He half wondered if they’d have mixed should he not be here.

“Prince Sorem,” a voice called. The damn Jvalan. “Prince Sorem. We must get away from here. Please.”

In the pale moonlight, Sorem stared at where Vadde and the hunchback romped, hating them with everything in him.

It was late by the time all noise quieted for the night.

With an iron resolve, he fished a lantern out of the wagon, lit it, found a rock, marched to Vadde and tore the blanket back.

She came from slumber in a fright, going so far as to feign modesty by covering her chest. Her surprise garnered a groan from the hunchback who dragged himself up to sit. “What is it?” he asked before Sorem brought the stone clear across his face.

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