by J. M. Page
She opened her mouth for a rebuttal, but snapped it shut. What more was there to say? He was right on all accounts, but it still made her feel guilty even if she couldn’t say why.
Maybe it was because he’d saved her twice from the Royal Guard without asking anything in return. Maybe it was because he’d risked his own life to help her.
After everything, Snow felt that she should be able to trust Hunter, but for some reason, she couldn’t.
She thought of the night when she’d first discovered the contacts. That exquisite dinner he’d made, how he’d opened up to her. And when they went to call the first contact, how they’d pressed the button together.
Her heart fluttered at the thought of his hand covering hers. HIs husky voice telling her how beautiful she was.
A warm flush crept into her face and she eyed him at the controls, all seriousness and business. No hint of that rakish dimple or glittering eyes. Where was the carefree man she’d met in the forest of Zomer? The infuriatingly reckless man who taunted her even while she pointed a blaster at his chest?
And she still remembered how quickly he’d killed the call when Harold’s body appeared on the screen. Trying to protect her from horrors she’d already seen too much of.
She sighed after a long, drawn-out silence. “Hunter… it’s not that I don’t trust you—”
“Save it,” he said. “We’re almost there.”
Snow clamped her jaw shut, her hands balling in her lap. There she was trying to explain, trying to ease his worries, and he couldn’t even hear her out. Maybe leaving him out of the conversation was for the best.
Chapter Twelve
Hunter
Hunter landed the ship in the small port near town, and wasted no time getting off to give the Princess her privacy.
He stomped down the steps, his footsteps clanging on the metal grate of the dock. The main section of the town was still a fair distance away from where the ships ported and he set off in that direction, ignoring cautious glances from passersby.
What was he thinking? Telling the Princess not to trust him. He might as well sign his own death order himself. He was supposed to be getting in on her good side, figuring out her plan, and reporting back to the Queen. That was it.
The Queen… Clearly, she was behind the ambush at the cottage. There could be no mistake about that. She’d tracked his chip and loosed her guards on him to send a message. And he’d received it, loud and clear.
Hunter spared a glance over his shoulder back towards the ship and Snow. He shouldn’t have let her lack of trust get to him so much. He needed to keep his head level, stay focused on the task at hand.
He reached into his pocket, withdrawing the communicator without a thought. The disc felt warm in his palm as he closed his fingers around it and squeezed. The Queen would want to hear from him. Not that he had anything to offer her.
Better to get it over with.
He couldn’t meet his own eyes in his reflection as he waited for the call to connect.
“Hunter! There you are,” the Queen answered. He suppressed a wince at the sound of her voice and skittered off towards a leafy area nearby. Snow was right about one thing: there were eyes and ears everywhere. And not just the Queen’s. Beaver could very well have spies on this planet and being seen talking to the Queen wasn’t going to do Hunter any favors.
“Your Majesty,” he said, dipping his head.
“I was beginning to think I’d never hear from you,” she pouted.
“My apologies. I had nothing new to report.”
The Queen arched an eyebrow, only the faintest hint of a wrinkle appearing on her forehead. “Perhaps it’s time to finish your assignment.”
He swallowed. “That may be hasty, My Queen. The Princess has made contact with the rebels, of that I’m certain. I don’t know of their plans yet, but I will soon enough.” He looked for a place to sit, but resorted to pacing instead.
“That’s very encouraging. The sooner we can take down the resistance, the better,” she practically growled. “That little stunt on Zomer has loyalty down across the Empire. People have gotten careless. Far too reckless with their tongues,” she said, making Hunter clamp his jaw shut tight. He’d like to keep his tongue.
“But nevermind that,” she said cheerily, “my best man is on the job.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.”
“I do worry about your lack of communication, though,” she said, somehow sounding genuinely hurt.
“I apologize, I was only trying to—”
“Am I not incentivizing you properly, Hunter? Is the promise of Captain not enticing enough for you?”
Hunter’s eyes went wide, his free hand pressing against his sternum. If she thought his loyalty was waning, that he didn’t want to do the job, all it took was a single button…
“No, of course not Your—”
“I think I can do better for my future-Captain,” she said. “And your father agrees.”
His knees buckled and it was only a nearby rock that stopped Hunter from falling to the ground. He sat on it, his ears buzzing, his hands suddenly sweaty and shaking. Was this another power play? More manipulation?
“My father?”
“Oh yes,” the Queen said with a smile. “We had a lovely chat today. I thought it best if he kept me company until I heard from you.” The image on the mirrored screen shifted, sweeping sideways through the Queen’s opulent sitting room until it stalled on a skeletal figure heaped on an offensively ornate chaise. The chaise was a deep rich red, stitched with shimmering gold in stark contrast to the person huddled upon it.
Gray rags, sallow, malnourished skin, and grime made it hard to pick out the shapes, but it was undoubtedly a person. Yellowed eyes peered out from matted greasy hair, too deadened to the world to even be frightened anymore.
“Dad?” Hunter whispered, not recognizing the ghost of a man on the screen.
The Queen came back into focus, still offering that simpering smile that was a permanent fixture of her face. “I know you doubted whether he was alive, but I’m a woman of my word, Hunter. If you’re successful, there will be more than a promotion for a reward. I think your father is quite ready to go home.”
A weight as heavy as the whole planet settled on Hunter’s chest and he struggled to fill his lungs with air.
His father? Alive?
For so long, he’d convinced himself that the Queen was only using his father for further manipulation. That he was long dead like so many others.
But all this time… He’d really been in the Queen’s prison?
Bile rushed up and clung to the back of his throat, filling his mouth with the taste of acid. He swallowed.
“That’s most generous of you, My Queen,” he said, his voice robotic and automatic now.
He could have his father back.
They could be a family again.
“I suppose it is, isn’t it?” she trilled with a giggle. “I hope you remember that I reward those who are loyal to me, Hunter. You will remember that, won’t you?”
“Of course, Your Majesty.”
“Wonderful. I suspect you’ll have the information I need to bring the resistance to its knees very soon. We must quash this dissent before it spreads like the plague that it is.”
“Your Majesty always knows what’s best,” Hunter said, swallowing another wave of bile, his hand trembling so much the Queen’s image was blurry.
“That’s right,” she said. And just as he thought he was going to be dismissed, she said, “And Hunter?”
His heart skipped, racing after that. Trying to get far, far away from the scheming monarch. It would never be far enough, though.
“Yes, My Queen?”
Her gray gaze hardened and she dropped all façade of being pleasant, for a moment looking every one of her years. “Don’t ignore me again.”
Her face disappeared and Hunter was left with his own pale, clammy reflection.
“Hunter? Are you out here?” Sno
w’s voice carried through the bushes that concealed him and Hunter took a deep breath, pocketing the communicator.
He ran a hand over his face, wiping away the cold sweat, and shook his head, trying to get himself back into character.
But the image of his father — barely more than bones, dead-eyed and confused — wouldn’t leave his mind. He couldn’t see anything else.
“Hunter?”
With a final deep breath, he stepped from between the bushes and scanned the dock for her.
“I’m here,” he called to her back, his voice strained and raspy. He needed to pull it together or she was going to see right through him.
Her dark hair floated on a breeze and she turned, spotting him, a small smile lifting her lips as she did. “There you are. I was worried you’d gone into town without me,” she said, crossing the distance.
Hunter shook his head, his throat dry, his tongue leaden. “I thought you might want a say in the supplies we get.” He didn’t even have to make an effort to think up the lie.
“Good idea,” she said, the little smile still present. She looked like a new woman. This contact — and whatever he’d told her — seemed to have renewed the Princess’s faith in her cause. Her eyes were brighter, her posture more confident, she wasn’t even trying to hide her pleasure, which spoke volumes to Hunter.
For a brief moment, he’d thought maybe he could be on her side. Maybe they could stand a chance.
But that was before his father’s life was on the line. It was always a distant possibility, but now it was a certainty. If his father wasn’t freed, he would surely die soon. He didn’t look like he had much longer.
It wouldn’t matter though, if Hunter’s betrayal was discovered, the Queen would kill them both instantly. He had no choice. He had to play the part for Snow and get what he could for the Queen. It was his only hope for survival.
They started off towards the small port town, silence hanging between them.
Finally, Snow spoke up. “Look, Hunter… I’m sorry about—”
“Don’t be,” he said. “It’s really alright. I shouldn’t have gotten angry about it.”
She nibbled her bottom lip, her next words lost. “No, you had every right to be. After all you’ve done to help me, there’s no reason to mistrust you. I should have told Beaver as much.”
Hunter shrugged. He wouldn’t keep telling her she shouldn’t trust him.
“Did you know the resistance has been in hiding for over twenty years?” she said. “That’s before my father even died…” She sniffed; Hunter thought it might still be hard for her to think about her father’s death.
The apprehension in her tone made it clear that this was significant. The rebellion existed before the Queen. That was news even to Hunter.
“So why would they want to help you?” he said.
His guess was rewarded with a firm nod. “Exactly. They don’t like Imperial rule at all. They don’t even think the Empire should exist. So what is there to gain by helping me take back my throne?”
“Did they say they wanted to help you?”
Her brow creased and she stared off into the distance toward town. “Not in so many words. But he gave me—” She stopped to sniff again, her nose twitching. “He gave me some informa-a-achoo,” she sneezed, covering her face and sniffling. “Information.”
“What kind of information?”
She sneezed again, her eyes watering and glassy. She shook her head, warding off another.
In the bright golden sunlight, fluffy motes of pollen danced on the breeze like cottony snow.
“Allergies?” he asked.
She started to shrug, one shoulder lifting, but then a trio of sneezes attacked her all at once, a high-pitched chorus of “choo, choo, choo,” coming with them.
Hunter frowned and took her hand in his. “Come on, let’s get you inside,” he said, tugging her toward the town.
They ducked into the first storefront Hunter saw, Snow still sneezing uncontrollably. A plump older woman sat behind the counter and gave Snow a pitying look, clucking her tongue.
“Oh, honey. It’s that time of year. You’ll want a shawl,” she said, more to Hunter than Snow, rounding to the front of the counter. She didn’t wait for a response before grabbing an orange-flowered scrap of silk from the display and thrusting it at a sniffly red-faced Snow.
“Go on back and wash your face before you put it on or you’ll never stop,” the old woman said, her matter-of-fact tone making it clear she wouldn’t hear any arguments.
Snow was in no position to argue anyway, her eyes already practically swollen shut with how puffy and red they were. Hunter was thankful the pollen didn’t seem to have the same effect on him.
“First time to Avuuna?” the woman asked once she and Hunter were alone. He nodded, examining the goods she had on offer. Hers looked to be a general store, a little of everything for a quick pit stop on a longer journey.
“It is. We were thankful to find such a convenient little spot to refuel and resupply,” he said.
She nodded, rummaging under the counter. “‘Fraid it’s too late for your lady, but take one of these and the pollen won’t bother you,” she said, sliding a packet of pills over to him.
Hunter dipped his head in thanks, popping them in his mouth. “How much?”
She waved him off. “Don’t worry about it. We don’t get too many visitors this far out anymore. Tell your friends.”
“I will, thanks,” he said, trying to come up with the name of even one friend he could tell. He went back to browsing the shelves, grabbing food and spare ship parts they might need.
The shopkeeper sighed, rocking on her heels. “Y’all on vacation? Honeymoon?”
That one word was enough to conjure images of Snow in a flowing gown, her cheeks flushed, her eyes smiling as he dipped in for a kiss at the altar.
Where the hell had that come from?
He shook his head as if that image was a fly on his forehead that wouldn’t leave.
“Something like that,” he answered, seeing the woman’s suspicious look. He’d taken too long to answer.
She pursed her lips, nodding again. “Folks don’t travel like they used to. Not like it was back…” Her eyes narrowed at him. “Where did you say you all were from?”
“Other side of the capital,” he said, producing the lie without much thought. But she already suspected him. People never knew who they could trust and Hunter’s quiet appraisal of things often set them on edge. Time to change the subject. “It was different when the King was in power,” he agreed.
She tsked, shaking her head. “You couldn’t have been more than a boy. You missed the best years… After the fighting in the outlands was over, King Stuart and Queen Adriana on the throne. Those were the golden days, son,” she said, sighing and looking off into the far distance.
A tiny shudder ran through Hunter. If he was more dedicated to his job, this woman could be tried for treason for what she’d said. But he had a mission of his own to worry about without bringing in harmless yokels from the furthest reaches of the galaxy.
“I can’t imagine what it was like,” he said.
“Well, I’ll tell you one thing. People weren’t afraid of travelin’. They wanted to see what the Empire had to offer. Now everyone’s tracked everywhere they go and no one wants anyone wonderin’ why they did that or went there. Queen’s got people scared of their own shadows,” she huffed.
Snow reemerged from the back of the shop, her head and lower face covered by the shawl. Her eyes were still red and puffy, but it seemed like the most of her sneezing had stopped.
“Feel better?” Hunter asked.
Snow nodded, her voice muffled slightly by the silk covering her mouth. “Much, thank you,” she said, turning to the shopkeeper.
“Don’t mention it. Wouldn’t want your romantic vacation ruined by some allergies. That would kill the mood, wouldn’t it?” she laughed.
Snow’s eyes went wide and she whippe
d around, glaring at Hunter, but he just smiled and took her hand in his.
“That it would,” he said, dropping their purchases on the counter.
The woman rang up the items and Hunter paid as she bagged them. As she handed the bag over, she said, “You two be safe out there on your travels, you hear? Never know who’s listening.”
“We will,” Hunter said before Snow could say anything. He wasn’t sure how the Princess would respond, but he wasn’t eager to find out just yet.
“And if you’re feeling peckish, head over to Mulaney’s for a bite. He’d be just tickled to see new faces.”
Hunter nodded, prying the bag from her grip. “Thanks, we will.”
Before she could tack on anything else, he added, “Thanks again for the hospitality.” He walked toward the door, one hand settled on Snow’s lower back, steering her along with him. She had the good sense to keep quiet until they were outside again.
“Nice disguise,” he said once they were back on the cobbled streets of the quaint little town.
“Do you think I need one?”
“Can’t hurt.”
“What was all that in there?” Snow asked sending a glance over her shoulder.
Hunter shrugged. “Just polite conversation.”
“About how much you hate the Empire?” she asked, one brow arched.
He reached for her hand; it fit within his so well that it seemed the natural thing to do. “You worry too much. Are you hungry? You haven’t eaten much lately.” Her collar bones had begun to poke out in the past few days, and if he dared to touch her side, Hunter was sure he’d feel the ridges of her ribcage under his fingertips. The Princess didn’t cope with stress well, it seemed.
“I could eat,” she said, her eyes narrowing at their joined hands. Hunter squeezed.
“We’re just a happy couple stopping for supplies,” he said. The words echoed in his traitorous mind. He couldn’t help wishing the lie was closer to the truth. “Don’t want to draw unnecessary attention, do we?”