Six of Ruin (Heirs of Irenwell #1)

They gave me the donkey.

Even Nickeltinker had a gorgeous, brown stallion and he was a whole head shorter than me.

Yet they gave me the damn donkey.

The forest was dark, but moonlight illuminated the cleared path through the thick trees. The night was calm and soothing. The donkey brayed underneath me and shook his head from side to side, almost making me fall off. Nickeltinker burst out laughing behind me.

“This is unfair!” I shouted, holding the reins tightly. “Why did I get a donkey?” My silk dress made sliding off the donkey way too easy.

Rixen turned his head slightly, “Donkeys are beasts of burden. And you are a burden.”

Nickletinker laughed out loud again. This time, Torvald joined in, too.

Only Danilo didn’t find the joke funny, “Rixen, I’m warning you.”

He was way ahead of everyone. Danth region, his birthplace, was on the way to the Woods of Loria, so he led.

“Yes, Rixen.” I mocked. “You have been warned.”

The shadowman glanced at me sideways, a smile tugging at the corners of his lips, “You’re the one who insisted on bringing your entire closet, so you get the donkey.”

“For your information,” I wanted to cross my hands on my chest to prove the point, but I’d most definitely fall off, “I only brought items I really needed.”

Nickeltinker let out a laugh, “How many tiaras did you bring, your Grace?”

I scoffed, “Only the main five, those I truly cannot go without.”

“Truly?” Rixen eyed me. “You would not survive without them?”

“You can mock all you want,” I exclaimed, “But my title is important. And trust me, people will treat you differently if they know you’re with a princess.”

“Did you hear that?” Nick chuckled. “They’re going to treat us differently.”

“Oh, yes.” Rixen nodded. “They will kill us and kidnap her Grace for ransom.”

My eyes widened.

Torvald rode past me and murmured, “Uh, no. Torvald protect. Ugh.”

“Thank you, Torvald!” I said. “At least one of you has manners.”

The brute grinned and rode all the way to Danilo.

“Irina is a princess,” Danilo spoke, “Just because she’s far from home does not change that fact. And she can carry whatever she wants.”

“Thank you!”

Rixen rolled his eyes, “Whatever. If someone kidnaps you, I am not going to look for you.”

“I wouldn’t want you to.” I smiled tightly and pulled the reins.

The donkey grunted and slowed down. Rixen’s eyes met mine and understanding passed between us. We had to talk. I had some information on operation ‘how to convince the mage to join us,’ but I needed more.

Except, Danilo couldn’t see me talking to Rixen.

Rixen’s eyes glimmered molten gold in the darkness, as if he tried to speak through them. I understood perfectly.

Nickeltinker noticed our secret conversation and glanced at both of us with unmasked interest, “Hey, knight, are we stopping soon?” He shouted at Danilo.

“There should be a nice clearing not far from here, where we can spend the night.” Danilo hurried ahead.

Nickeltinker jumped in, “Thank gods, I’m starving.”

“Ugh.” Torvald agreed.

Once Danilo was far enough, Nick cleared his throat, “Your Grace, one of the most important traits of any good player is knowing which games to engage in.”

I feigned confusion, “What are you talking about?”

“You’re conspiring with the bastard,” the green-skinned boy glanced behind us, where Rixen was left riding alone, “And the knight doesn’t like it. If you want to marry the knight, I suggest you stop sitting on two chairs.”

“I’m not-”

“I’m a floran.” Nickeltinker said. “We have the keen ability to understand subtle context.”

“Nick, just because you sprouted out of a flower doesn’t mean you understand people.”

Nick eyed me, “And just because you’re a princess doesn’t mean your hand in marriage cannot be refused if you piss the royalty off.”

“Sir Danilo will have to understand.”

“Sir Danilo is a proud man.” Nick shrugged. “Proud men react first and understand later.”

“Then I’ll keep lying to him.” I argued. “And if you think I’d ever conspire with a bastard unless completely necessary, your understanding of subtle context is faulty.”

Nickeltinker chuckled, “Secrets are a dangerous thing to share.”

Before I could come up with a retort, Danilo cleared his throat, attracting my attention, “We should stop here for the night.”

“Good idea, Sir Danilo.” I smiled innocently. “I’m getting tired.”

Thin layer of trees separated us from a secluded, grass-covered clearing not far from the main road. I did not feel safe sleeping outside. We passed through the layer and Danilo helped me get off the donkey.

Nervousness clawed at me at the thought of closing my eyes and drifting off to sleep, unware of enemies and monsters hiding behind the trees.

“What if someone finds us here?” I asked Danilo, still clinging to his strong forearm.

Danilo smiled at me gently, “Do not worry, your Grace. We’re all here to protect you.”

Rixen cleared his throat, “I’m not. I’m here to get the job done.”

“And I’m here for the money.” Nickeltinker jumped in.

I scoffed at both of them.

“Ugh, Torvald protect, hm.”

“Thank you, Torvald!” I crossed my hands on my chest.

Danilo sighed, “Let us light the fire.”

“Uh, are you going to cook again?” I narrowed my eyes.

“What’s wrong with my cooking?” Danilo gaped.

I put both my hands on his back and pushed him to the woods, “Why don’t you go hunt a boar and leave cooking to me this time?”

Danilo protested for a second, but then he sighed and grabbed the sword, “Alright.”

Nickeltinker chuckled, “You expect us to believe you can cook?”

“I mean, your Grace,” Rixen murmured, “You are a princess. Didn’t they only teach you how to nag and spit at peasants?”

“I mean, Rixen,” I mocked, “You are a bastard. Didn’t they only teach you how to envy the wealthy and hate the Kingdom?”

“Peasants bought those dresses and crowns for you!” He shouted.

I rolled my eyes, “I brought a lot of spices from Irenwell.”

“What?” Nickeltinker’s eyes grew wide. “Are you telling me there were spices all this time and I let Danilo’s bland cooking violate my stomach?”

“Hey, it was not so bad.” Danilo said, but quickly frowned and sighed “Fine, I’m going to hunt boar.”

I took out the blanket from my suitcase, sat on it and waved with my hand, “Light the fire, peasants.”

Nickeltinker and Rixen both rolled their eyes, but Torvald happily fetched some branches.

Once Danilo disappeared in the forest, I pulled Rixen’s sleeve, “I have to talk to you.”

“Is that how it’s going to be?” Rixen sat on the ground. “Talking in hushed tones when Danilo isn’t watching us? I’d love to be your secret. Anything to piss him off.”

“Shut up.” I narrowed my eyes. “The mirror mages are after is indeed in Orathia.”

“Oh, I’m here for this.” Nickeltinker dropped between Rixen and me, an amused glint in his eyes.

Rixen frowned, “How do you know that?”

“After the War of Men, humans stole a lot of artefacts from the mages, especially from the abandoned Kingdom of Naz.” My eyes escaped to the woods and I hoped Danilo wasn’t secretly listening in on this.

“Cite your sources.” Nickeltinker said.

“I stole some books from my father back in Irenwell.” I said. “One of them mentions the Truthteller, an unknown object Irinth of Irenwell stole from Naz more than five hundred years ago.”

Torvald crouched and began lighting the fire.

“Are you sure that’s it?” Rixen asked.

I nodded, “Wanderers should not gaze upon the reflection in the Truthteller, for the strongest of men crumbled beneath the truth.” I recited. “Sounds to me like a mirror.”

Nick confirmed, “I’m certain the mages were after a mirror.”

“Wait,” Rixen lifted his hand, “How did it end up in Orathia?”

“Irinth of Irenwell only ruled for two years.” I continued. “Before his brother dethroned him. Then, he took all of his belongings and fled to Orathia. That’s where he was last seen.”

“So, he could have taken the mirror with him.” Nick said. “Or we’re completely wrong.”

“It’s our best bet.” I shrugged. “I’m not done reading the books, but I’m pretty certain this is it.”

Nickeltinker frowned, “But wouldn’t mages know about a magical artefact last seen in Irenwell?”

Rixen answered, but looked at me, “There hadn’t been a mage in Irenwell in forever.”

The intent behind his words came through and I let out a sharp sigh, trying not to address his knowledge of my magic.

“We can’t rely solely on this information.” I said. “You need to tell me more about the mage if you want me to manipulate him.”

Rixen’s eyes slightly widened, almost as if I surprised him, “Ask away, your Grace.”

“You said the mage we’re looking for helped back when the debts were created.” I began.

“That’s how the story goes.” Nickeltinker shrugged. “Allegedly, he created the spell that’s now locked in Orathia. ”

I frowned, “Why can’t he just do it again? Why make us go to the end of the world to fetch a spell he created?”

“Magic is tricky.” Rixen shook his head. “It always requires something. This time, I believe it required a debt.”

Curiosity streamed through me, but I shoved it aside. I did not want to know about magic, especially not my magic. Rixen seemed to notice, because he shook his head, a knowing smile decorating his lips.

“Either way,” I said, “the mage helped for a reason. That’s what we need to focus on.”

Rixen scoffed, “Somehow I doubt it was his genuine compassion.”

“He did it either to show everyone he’s a good person or to show everyone he’s powerful.”

Both Nick and Rixen focused on me. The green-skinned boy smiled, a hint of surprise in the corners of his lips and Rixen raised his eyebrow, apparently wildly amused.

Nickletinker cleared his throat, “What do you suggest, your Grace?”

“Those are the two cards we play.” I said. “It’s either his need to be seen as good or his need to be seen as powerful. I will undermine both to see which one elicits a reaction. Once I know what he wants, I can make him do anything.”

Rixen cocked his head, “Are you suggesting you’re going to talk to him?”

I nodded.

“Is he going to listen to a princess?” Nickeltinker asked, obviously just stating a fact and not trying to offend me.

I sighed, “Yes. Danilo cannot talk to him. It’s safe to say he’s not going to succeed.”

Rixen let out a small laugh, “That’s true. But why not me?”

“Because you’re smug and over-confident.” I eyed him. “Also, I’m very good at insulting men without them realising it.”

Rixen’s eyes landed on me, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. Warmth from the fire reached me and heat spread down my arms and legs.

Nickeltinker grinned, “Your Grace, you’re full of surprises.”

It felt good to be seen as somewhat useful. The world required of me to behave like a princess, to have princess-like characteristics and values and skills. But my talents lay elsewhere and no one could ever know.

Rixen kept looking at me, almost like he was reading my mind.

I looked away, the heat underneath my fur coat turning unbearable, “Alright. It’s time to cook.”

“We have some leftover boar until Danilo returns.” Nickeltinker jumped up. “I cannot believe what I’m about to say, but thank gods it’s so cold the food doesn’t easily spoil.”

I smiled, the fire cracking in front of me, waiting for some sizzling meat.

My nerves cracked, too, for some other, unknown reasons.