reached for the bag on her back and pulled out a handful of emeralds. “Will these do?”
His eyes lit up and he reached for them, but Jordan pulled them back. “Within the hour, little man, or I’ll be back, and you won’t be happy to see my face.”
The gnome snarled at her, showcasing pointy teeth. “I’m never late. Now pay or leave and don’t ever come back.”
Jordan dropped the gems into the grotesque hand of the gnome. “Nice doing business with you.”
Oliver pulled her back before she could get herself into any trouble as she seemed to have more to say. Once we were out of earshot of the gnome, he said, “You couldn’t have just said please and thank you?”
“What’s the fun in that? They need to know we’re not to be messed with. Arvaytans are already perceived as weak. I won’t give them any reason to prove that fact,” she responded with a sneer.
This was a side of Jordan I’d never seen before. She was always so carefree and lighthearted. If she was taking the situation that seriously, I knew I needed to up my game.
“Now, where do we go?” I asked, because I knew contacting Yelah was not our only goal for the trip.
“Now, we stroll through the marketplace and see who comes to us. It’s no secret that Alaryk is out there and hopes to use you to increase his power in order to tip the scales toward the darker part of the Otherworld. Those who wish to stand against him will come forward, but some in their own ways and when we least expect it,” Stryx said.
Oliver moved to stand at my side with Stryx, and Jordan slid in close, looping her arm through mine on the opposite side. We continued to walk, and I kept my face neutral for the most part, smiling at those who made eye contact and leaving alone those who didn’t. Assuming that they all knew who I was with the crown on my head, I didn’t bother to try to hide myself.
There were witches, vampires, more gnomes, pixies, and so many other creatures I didn’t recognize, but the most disappointing part was that nobody approached us. Besides the few smiles thrown our way, everyone kept to themselves, which was a huge discouragement once we exited the marketplace about an hour later.
“Yelah or one of her people should be here soon. I’m going to go wait at the gate for her. Do you think you guys will be good without me?” Jordan teased.
Oliver flexed his arms and grunted. “I got this.”
I patted his shoulder. “Oh, whatever would we do without you.”
“Likely suffer without my handsomely good looks.” He flashed a grin at me that featured adorable dimples.
While I considered Oliver extremely handsome with his longer blond hair and pale hazel eyes, there just wasn’t any attraction present when I really looked at him. I’d never be able to see him as anything more than my friend.
“Let’s head to the castle,” Stryx suggested once Jordan took off.
I had no objections to that, because I’d been curious about it ever since we arrived, mostly wondering if the golden glow around it was real or a trick of the eyes from the bright overhead sun.
After a five-minute walk, we were met by a group of guards and one stepped forward. “What is your business at the castle today?”
“We’d like to speak with Queen Navi,” Stryx said.
The guard eyed the three of us several times before speaking. “Follow me.”
He led the way inside, which surprised me because he’d asked no other questions. He’d simply trusted us, which didn’t make any sense until we passed through the entrance.
Brace yourself, Stryx whispered in my head just before an invisible gel-like sensation covered my body and it took every ounce of strength to move through it to get inside the castle.
“What the hell was that?” I heaved once we were through.
“That was our security system. Seems you passed the test. Pity. It’s been a rather boring morning and I was hoping for some excitement,” the guard said, and I immediately wanted to throat punch him.
“Where do we meet the monarch?” Oliver asked.
The guard pointed to me and Oliver. “You two wait here. Only the owl is allowed any further. If the monarch wishes to see you, she will do so when she’s ready.”
I really didn’t like this guy.
It’s okay. I expected this and should have told you ahead of time. You’re perfectly safe in here, and I