Page 112 of Huntress

“You’re beautiful.”

The corners of the shopkeeper’s eyes creased with a smile.

“The color is flattering on you,” she agreed.

Mrs. FrogTree turned this way and that, making sure she approved of the clothes from all angles before giving the shopkeeper a nod. “They’re acceptable.”

A short while after the demon left, Elsie brought the outfits she and Riven had chosen to the counter. Perrie had returned her choices while the raccoon demon was checking out. Elsie stayed quiet, letting the witch stew in the misery of her own making.

“There’s no charge.” The shopkeeper bagged the outfits the girls had picked out.

“Everyone’s been saying that, but we don’t have anything to trade, so I’ll leave the money here on the counter if you won’t accept it,” Elsie warned. The woman shook her head.

“There’s no need for that either. Mrs. FrogTree already paid the bill on your behalf.”

“But why?”

“Because she was having a rough day, and you were kind to her.” The shopkeeper smiled. “Thank you for that. She recently lost her mother, the poor dear.”

Perrie crossed her arms and frowned as they exited. At each establishment they visited, the owners refused their money, and at each establishment Elsie overpaid. If these people were going to give her a free vacation, the least she could do was help them with coins she never got to spend anyway.

The day they were scheduled to leave, a small crowd gathered to send them off. Small gifts of treats and a book were pressed into their hands, and it took several minutes to break away. Only Anne and a young man continued beyond the curve of the mountain on the way back to the tram station.

“This is Neil. He’s our payment to the hunter clans, for your services.” Anne finally introduced him when they’d reached the station.

Elsie’s brow furrowed as her brain caught up to what the woman had said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” she asked angrily.

“Did you think the clans sent you here out of the goodness of their own hearts? Your services here are expensive. Neil volunteered one year of his life serving in your breeding programs. Your colonies benefit from new, stronger, healthier bloodlines. We get a dead demon child. That’s the trade.”

“My gods. It’s a slavery sacrifice.” Elsie’s mind raced. No wonder Roz hadn’t answered her when she’d asked what the payment was. She suddenly understood Anne’s request that they stay longer under the guise of tradition. She’d bought the man time to say a proper goodbye.

“The villager’s parting gifts were meant to build goodwill toward our people. Please watch over Neil for as long as you can, and I hope that one year from now, it’s you who brings him safely home to us,” Anne said earnestly.

“I’ll do my best to make it happen.”

Though the whole thing was repulsive, Elsie had no choice but to bring him with them. She’d breach the contract if she refused, and Mordane could demand a higher price.

Her crew watched Neil with pity as he boarded, then catered to him, offering every comfort they had available, before backing off and giving him space. Every time Elsie checked in on them, someone was looking at him with pity.

When they pulled into the compound’s tram station, Elsie gave a deep sigh. She didn’t want to walk up those stairs and back into the life of a hunter. What would Roz throw at her next?

Chapter twenty-three

Chapter 23

“Here he is! Roz didn’t tell me you vultures required a blood sacrifice for my services,” Elsie said as she ushered Neil into Mordane’s office.

She leaned against the wall. Saint had elected to wait outside the door after they’d decided seeing the demon might remind the man of her threat to Cornick right before they’d left for Frost Hollow.

The general barely looked up from the word puzzle he was studying. He mouthed the spelling of some mystery word, keeping count with a tap of his pen for each letter. Scratching the word in, he sat back and looked Neil over.

“Welcome, welcome, please sit down,” he offered. “Never mind the girl, she’s always had a bit of a nasty temperament.”

Neil sat down, but he didn’t reply.

“We appreciate your willingness to help us in our endeavors to keep our human population healthy. The men and women enrolled in the breeding program have access to the best healthcare, entertainment, and education we can provide. Not to mention they eat better than the rest of us,” Mordane said jovially.