Her eyes go wide as something dawns on her. “You won’t send me back if I don’t find it, right? Either I find the relic, and go on my merry way, or I don’t find the relic, and I still go on my merry way?”
Elia still makes the camp sound like a prison, and I know I’m missing something. I don’t ask, content for the time being that she seems to be warming up to me, body engaged and life in her voice.
“Of course not. You won’t have to go back if you don’t want to. I’ll help you move to anywhere you want and make sure you’re properly safe and set up.”
“Thank you.” She sags in relief. “I hope your honor turns out to be worth something.”
I don’t respond. I’d already given her words, and something tells me that she’ll only respond to my actions from hereon out. I’ll have to show her that she can trust me.
“Can I ask what it is we’re searching for, exactly?” Before I have a chance to respond, she continues. “Wait – let me guess.” She taps her finger on the side of her jaw. “A wine cup that constantly refills. A fountain that spews gold coins. Another once in a lifetime object that the King absolutelyneedsto have!” She shakes her head, rolling her eyes.
“Why don’t you announce it to the public and make every person go on the hunt for it like before? Oh, that’s right –” Elia stares at me pointedly, as if daring for me to challenge her. “That didn’t go well.”
Her earlier disdain towards me is starting to make sense. She’s referring to the Golden Hunt – a kingdomwide treasure hunt that was announced almost eleven years ago. King Corvin was trying to find an ancient chest that was rumored to be filled with rare relics, ones that held the Ancients’ most powerful abilities, as well as other valuables.
He and the Hunters had announced that if it was found, the finder could keep a percentage of the items, relics not included.
In theory, it seemed like a good idea.
The execution, not so much, as was the trend.
This announcement grew bigger than expected, and people left their jobs and families to go find the treasure chest. It also didn’t help that the existence of the chest that all these people were trying to find was never actually confirmed nor the items inside. That information was told to the public after the fact, but it was ignored, people hellbent on finding the possibly-existing valuables.
The Hunt was called off about a year after it was announced. We had determined that there were no solid leads discovered in that year, and the economy was in a decline due to the loss of workers. Calling it off helped some, but a lot of people still searched until they couldn’t - either from lack of funds or from other, more unsavory reasons. And while I understood the obsession that came with any hunt, these ordinary townsfolks continued to sacrifice their entire livelihoods based on that one announcement.
No, this time we had real evidence that the relic existed, and we wouldn’t make the same mistake of telling the public. Besides, there is more at stake here than just the King’s coffers.
“You can ask. And I’ll tell you as soon as we arrive back at the palace.”
“That secretive, huh?” She arches an eyebrow.
I press my lips together, not wanting to give much away. Even though she agreed to help me, I’m not so naïve to expect her sworn loyalty, especially after her side remark about the Hunt. After all, she was bribed to help us. Plus, aside from Ginna, the rest of my Hunters on this trip don’t know about the relic we’re on the hunt for either, and I need to keep it that way until we reach the castle.
“Was that your boyfriend back there?” I try to switch topics, and that one is somehow at the front of my mind.
“Who?”
“The guard that couldn’t keep his eyes off you. The tall one with the beard?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I am merely trying to make friendly conversation.”
“And asking about past lovers is the topic you landed on?” She raises an eyebrow at me. She’s trying hard to stop the corner of her lips from tugging up.
“Okay, maybe not the best choice.” I grin for the first time in a while. “Not the worst choice, either.”
“I don’t want to know your worst choice.” Elia loses the battle and a grin breaks out across her face.
It’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen.
“Then you should answer the midchoice.”
“You first.”
I should have seen that coming. Elia crosses her arms, waiting expectedly.
“I’m unattached. Have been for the last five or so years.”
