Lord of the Hunt

by Shona Husk

  Tied with a pale orange ribbon were five packs of human cards. She grinned as she undid the ribbon and opened the first pack. She thumbed the cards with their familiar suits. Never had something so mundane been so powerful.

  Chapter 7

  Tonight was a test. Everyone at the King’s table knew it and so did she. The first time she’d been new and the King had been curious because he’d known her mother well. Tonight was about her. Was she interesting enough to keep around?

  She’d slid a deck of human cards into her dress and made sure they were secure and hidden. Dressed in yellow, she looked far more confident than she felt, which was exactly as it should be. As the shadow served the food, she suppressed the urge to stare into the featureless face to try and see if she could find the person inside and ignored the nauseating roll of her stomach at the thought of becoming one of those…not creatures, not people anymore, just blank, silent shadows.

  One wrong move and that’s where she’d end up. She smiled a little too brightly and laughed at the joke. The Queen was almost being civil and everyone was on edge. When her gaze slid over Verden, even his careful mask seemed to have slipped. She could see the steel in his eyes instead of the illusion of nothing. Today he looked more dangerous; the razor edge had been sharpened. She flicked a glance at Felan. Him too.

  Interesting or worrying? How deep in the game was she? Did it matter when she couldn’t fold her cards and bow out? Her parents’ lives were in the pot and she had to win it.

  The King raised his hand; a shadow brought out cards.

  Taryn reached into her dress and pulled out her pack. That got some attention. She grinned. “How about a new game?”

  That killed all the conversation at the table. Then it spread as everyone in the hall realized something was going on.

  The King looked at the pack in her hand. “What are these?”

  “It’s a deck of mortal cards—four suits, two jokers, ace through to King, and no majors.”

  The King’s eyes narrowed. “A new game, with new cards?”

  Did he think she was up to something? Well she was, but given his suspicion, she wasn’t going to suggest gambling for her parents’ freedom tonight. No, this was an old King used to people sucking up and trying to extract favors. She had to do better. She had to give him something so he wanted to give her anything she asked. Still a game, but a much more subtle one. She was so proud of herself for thinking she had half a plan.

  She drew the cards out and shuffled. As she did, she carefully eyed every member of the table. “I need a volunteer to learn first, to show everyone how it’s done. Then up to seven people can play.”

  Neither the King nor the Queen would volunteer. They wouldn’t risk being made a fool of. Her gaze settled on Felan. “Prince?”

  Felan considered her for a moment and she thought he was going to accept. “I wish to watch and learn. Hunter, are you game?”

  That was when she realized the true extent of his role. Every job that the royal family wanted to avoid, every hard choice, was his. And any blame that needed shifting would be his as well if push came to shove. Did he realize he was being fucked over, or was he enjoying it?

  Verden’s lips turned up on one side in a predatory smile. “I’m always game.” The gleam in his eye wasn’t pretend.

  “Very well.” She made sure she sounded as though she didn’t care who she played against, but her heart was hammering hard on her ribs. She spread the cards carefully on the table so they could be viewed.

  While the expressions didn’t change, everyone leaned a little closer. Conversation had returned to the hall, but people kept glancing over, curious about what she was doing.

  “Across the veil, these are the cards that people use to gamble with.” She plucked one of the jokers out. “We won’t need both the wild cards tonight.”

  “We already have one at the table.” The Queen gave a little laugh.

  Taryn gave her a smile. Be nice to the Queen or she will make life hell…literally, since she was married to the King of Death.

  “Poker. It’s a simple game. You make the best hand you can and bet on it, hoping your opponent hasn’t got one better.”

  “Like Omission.” Verden met her gaze.

  “No. It’s about the cards in your hand, not the ones you don’t have. Plus, you can’t force your opponent to pick up extra cards.”

  That caused a ripple.

  She explained the rules as best she could, and Verden manned up and agreed to play her. No stakes. Again that caused a few murmurs. A game with no stakes?

  “If anyone else would like to try the new game and set stakes, please take my seat.” Verden went to stand.

  “No. A new game deserves time to be learned.” The King gave his permission for her to deal and begin.

  The people on her side looked at her cards the same way those on Verden’s side were looking at his. No one mentioned card names, but there was a fair amount of pointing and nodding going on. “If we were betting, now would be the time.”

  Verden nodded, his gaze flicking between her and the cards.

  She placed two cards down. A jack and an ace that were of no use to her, as they were the wrong suit.

  “But—”

  Taryn placed her finger on her lips. Verden threw out three cards. She dealt replacements. “A last chance for bets…or for folding…or bluffing.” She gave him a smile and lowered her lashes.

  “You could be pretending to have a winning hand when you hold nothing.”

  She nodded. “How confident are you in your cards?”

  “So you could be lying?”

  “Pretending. Isn’t that always the case? One must work out what is truth and what is lie?” He’d told her that.

  The King nodded, as if warming to the game. “Verden, do you hold the winning hand?”

  Verden looked at his cards again, then at her. His eyes burned with an intensity that would have brought a mortal to her knees in a quivering mess. But she was fairy. He couldn’t enchant her or glamour her into revealing the truth with just a glance. No, but she could affect him. She held his gaze and ran her tongue over her lip slowly and his gaze dropped for just a moment.

  “I fold.” He placed his cards facedown.

  Taryn placed hers down. “I win by default.”

  “If we’d gambled, I would have lost.” Verden gave a shake of his head, as if the idea of losing was beneath him.

  She reached over and turned over his cards. “You would have lost even if you hadn’t folded.”

  “Part chance, part skill, part ruse.” The King nodded. “I like it.” He beckoned over a shadow. “Fetch some coins. I want to see the flow of money.”

  Taryn swallowed and Verden drew in a breath. They were the entertainment. Not quite what she’d had planned, but the King was funding the game, so neither of them could refuse. On the other hand, she had an excuse for paying close attention to Verden—in case he started bluffing.

  It didn’t take long for the rest of the table to join in, and since the King had put up the coins, the only thing they were actually risking was loss of face. No one wanted to look stupid, but they picked up the game fast and were well practiced in deception. Despite the dangers, she began to enjoy herself. Most importantly, she was learning more about the people who held the power simply by how they played.

  Taryn glanced at Verden. When was he planning on taking her across the veil again? Tonight? He was so hard to read when he was here. And yet, when he lifted his gaze and looked at her, there was something more there than when he studied his other opponents.

  Patience.

  She’d never been patient, but then neither were humans. Their lives went by so fast compared to fairies, who lived for centuries or longer. She glanced at the King. He smiled at her with more warmth than she was comfortable with. This time there was no mistaking his interest.

  Verden’s question rung in her ears. How far are you willing to go, Taryn?

  It was still on
e question she couldn’t answer. Or one she didn’t want to answer. She liked to think she’d do anything so her parents could live…but in Annwyn, anything was rather broad and all encompassing. And the man she wanted wasn’t the King. She knew why Verden was so keen to only see her in the mortal world.

  “I’m done for the night.” She pushed her small pile of wooden coins toward the King.

  “Keep them. A token of my gratitude for the new game.” His hand lingered on hers.

  She was sure she could feel Verden bristle, but she didn’t dare look at him. She smiled at the King as if delighted and his gaze warmed for a moment. Could she really do this?

  There was no other choice but to accept the coins. She inclined her head and knew she’d bought her place at the table for a few more nights, but she was going to have to do something soon.

  ***

  Felan crossed the veil back to Annwyn. Repairing all the tears and trying to stop the bleeding of death into the mortal world was becoming more and more time-consuming, and he had other things he needed to be doing—like working out who was plotting against him. He hoped it wouldn’t come to battle, but since his mother had her hand in it, bloodshed was inevitable.

  He walked past a group of women playing Boule, something fairies had taken into the mortal world. Card games, however, had been a human invention that fairies had perfected. Sulia and her constant group of four followers, plus Taryn. He stopped, turned, and strolled back. The women glanced up and smiled. Sulia’s was more personal than the others.

  She was forever hopeful that he’d invite her back to his chamber. Annwyn would freeze over before that happened.

  “May I interrupt your game for a moment?”

  “Would you care to join us?” Sulia raised one eyebrow.

  Taryn was making sure to be seen in all the right places. It was like looking at Arlea and watching her craft the subtlest of plans for his father.

  “I just want to walk with Taryn for a moment. I will return her.”

  Sulia’s face hardened for a moment. “I would be happy to walk with you if it is company you seek.” Her smile was back.

  He needed to make it clear that he wasn’t favoring Taryn by requesting her presence. “Not pleasure I’m afraid, but business. Taryn.” He beckoned her forward and started walking, not waiting for her to join him.

  Taryn caught up. While she was doing a much better job of masking what she was thinking, he could see the worry in her eyes. “What have I done?”

  “You tell me. Where did you get the cards?” His voice was carefully level, and he hoped he’d get the truth from her and not a delicate lie. She was here on his command and out of respect for her father. He didn’t want to be sending her away. He couldn’t afford to send her away. He needed her…if he could trust her.

  “A friend acquired them for me.” She met his gaze without blinking.

  Which friend? But that wasn’t his business. At least she hadn’t left Annwyn. “I know what you are trying to do.” It was what he hoped she’d do, but it wasn’t enough.

  “Do you?”

  Felan smiled. Taryn acted more human than she realized. He liked that she wasn’t afraid to talk to him and that she wasn’t trying to sleep with him to raise her status. Maybe she could help him further.

  “Your games are attractive enough, but it won’t last for long. If you don’t ask for something small soon, his suspicions will be raised. So do you have a favor you could ask? Something almost worth nothing?”

  She frowned for a moment. “Maybe. Why are you helping?”

  He didn’t break stride but he paused before answering. He wasn’t used to sharing his reasons with anyone, but then again, few asked. “I don’t want Chalmer to die, but not even I can ask for his return.” Taryn could, and he needed her to succeed.

  “Are my parents okay?”

  “They are fine. I told them you have been well received. Your mother was pleased.”

  “You forbade me from leaving Court, but I could ask to see my grandmother.” She watched him, waiting for a reaction, but he ignored the jab. She couldn’t be at Court one day and gone the next if she was to get her father’s pardon. Keeping her here was in everyone’s best interest—including Taryn’s.

  He gave a small nod in the direction of the other women. “You play with dangerous friends.”

  “Oh, I don’t trust them as far as I can throw them, but enemies close and all that.”

  “Indeed. You are doing well.”

  “I just want the damn pardon.”

  “If it were easy, I would have done it already.” He had tried a couple of years ago and his request had been denied. Taryn was his last hope of getting Chalmer pardoned. “You will have to deal for your father’s life.”

  “I know, but I’m not sure I like the price.” Her fingers crushed the delicate fabric of her dress as she made a fist. Worry pinched her features.

  It took a moment for him to realize what she was so worried about. He laughed, then lowered his voice. “You don’t know my father. He hasn’t taken a mistress, ever.”

  “But…”

  “It’s a show. Everyone thinks he does, even the Queen. But he gets more enjoyment from watching her squirm than he would from a lover—then, of course, he’d have to keep two women happy. No. Being King is enough work without making it harder.” He touched her arm. “Keep the secret alive.” He began leading her back to the game. “We can help each other, Taryn. I will watch out for you, if you watch out for me.” He let the sentence hang. It was several paces before she spoke.

  “Spy.”

  He stopped walking. “Yes.” That was exactly what he wanted. She was in the one place he couldn’t go.

  She shrugged, and her gaze drifted from his to the other women who were pretending to play while trying to watch what was going on. “You think they are up to something.”

  “Everyone is always up to something.” He knew that the threat was in the Queen’s camp. He needed someone he could trust and who was trusted—or at least untainted by previous alliances. Taryn was that person. Deals and games. And the stakes were getting higher. Soon, he’d be all in.

  “I don’t want to end up trapped as a shadow.”

  “It could have been worse for her.” If Verden hadn’t have shown up, it would have been. He needed to get the Hunter more firmly in his pocket, but it was damn hard. “I will not ask you to do anything other than listen and tell me what you hear. Your father would never forgive me if I let harm befall you.”

  “In exchange, you make sure I stay at the table.”

  “I will do what I can to help you get the pardon. Go. They are waiting and I don’t want Sulia to think I am favoring you with too much attention.”

  Taryn lifted the hem of her dress and walked back to the game, but he didn’t stay to watch them pepper her with questions. He had other business to attend to before going back to the mortal world.

  ***

  Taryn braced herself as she walked back. They would want to know what the Prince had wanted to talk to her about and she was going to have to lie—or at least be very creative with the truth.

  “Well?” Sulia asked, but the others all hovered with expressions ranging from rehearsed boredom to eagerness—which was probably also rehearsed.

  “He wanted to see how I was doing at Court and make sure I had some new games to bring to dinner.”

  “That was dull,” said the brunette.

  Taryn looked at the woman, trying to remember her name, but didn’t answer. Knowledge was power here. It was better to let people think she wasn’t catching on than have them wise up. Already she was being included in the gossip of who fancied whom, who was being shunned for a slight. It was like reading those magazines filled with celebrity gossip, only the people were being pointed out to her. Rhodia. That was her name. Always preening.

  “And do you?”

  Er…she was pretty sure that Black Bitch and Snap weren’t going to win her any friends. “Of course.” Euch
re maybe if she could remember how to play before dinner. What a pity there wasn’t Monopoly in Annwyn; she was sure they’d like that, or maybe Risk.

  Could Verden raid a toy store for her and get some more games?

  Not that Verden had spoken to her since learning how to play poker, and even then nothing had been said that meant anything. He’d passed her this morning without pausing, too busy talking to another man. That they were virtually ignoring each other at Court just made her want him more. She hoped he felt the same. But she couldn’t rely on him to fetch what she asked for. No board games. Besides, they liked cards and dice and gambling, but also strategy. Black Jack was probably too simple, and they’d all be counting cards in no time.

  “Maybe you could tell us more about the mortal world. You must be so glad you are here.”

  Oh yeah, it was a laugh a minute. “What would you like to know today?”

  This was the trade; she got their company while she told them snippets about the mortal world. Some of them had never left Annwyn—Rhodia had never left Court. She’d been born in the castle and thought that gave her status. Sulia, on the other hand, knew more about the mortal world than she let on. Sulia knew more about everything.

  “About human men. Are they rough and uncivilized?”

  “Some, others are delightful.” It had always been a shame she couldn’t be with them for too long. It became too hard because she had no house and no car and technically didn’t exist in the mortal world.

  “Have you slept with one?”

  “We aren’t allowed to take a human lover.”

  “Remember what happened to Ancelin?”

  The other women shook their heads as if they shouldn’t even be talking about it.

  Taryn managed not to roll her eyes. They took their social standing so seriously, they wouldn’t have any fun.

  She’d give them some gossip and maybe make them jealous. “Of course I’ve had sex with human men. Five of them.”

  There was a gasp.

  “Well, I suppose you had no other choice.” Rhodia looked at her like she needed sympathy.