AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Translation: the two things that the Lyra family wasn’t particularly skilled at. It should have been insulting, but that was just how things worked on Broom’s Isle. Nature balanced everyone’s skills so that they lived in harmony and no one would abuse their power. Of course, power was subjective, and the Lyra family had a ton of it not just related to their magic.
“Might I remind you that if she ends up failing at this, there would be consequences, and my grandparents wouldn’t be happy about it?”
“She won’t fail,” John said confidently. “Give her what she needs and she will help you solve your issue.”
“Wasn’t her sister, Sapphire, the one who was good with potions?” Henry tried again.
“Yes, Sapphire was. But she’s no longer here and Pearl’s the present best option. Now, if we still had Silver with us, who was good at everything—”
“He’s not. He left.”
“He’s innocent,” John reminded. “He was punished for his crimes and has since then made amends with the affected families. His siblings have been making amends for the minor stuff, too, to clear their family name.”
Yet it didn’t erase the fact that Silver had still wreaked havoc, and Gunther hadn’t been the same since that fateful night. Henry had a feeling that Gunther had lost a bit of himself during that horrible killing spree, even when the man refused to talk about it—and yet there were people like Pearl, reckless and uncaring in the aftermath.
“He still left,” Henry finished, then grew thoughtful. “What about Ruby, the youngest? I heard she’s powerful.”
“With spells, sure. And natural magic. She’s pretty loaded, though. Didn’t you say you needed help now?”
It seemed like he was stuck, and every option he pointed out circled to the same answer. He bit back a sigh.
“Yes. My family can’t delay it any longer.” And lose any more. “Very well. Have her sign the contract.”
“I will.” John sounded relieved—probably because he could move on to other stuff already after his family’s constant badgering. “She will sign it tomorrow and meet you at your manor.”
“Hmm.”
When he ended the call, he found Ryan already reserving a table and the man they were supposed to meet with sitting beside him. This was the last place Henry deemed appropriate for a meeting, but Ozak Mallory had insisted on it. Perhaps it was an eccentricity like the man’s swampy residence.
“Did you bring what I asked for?”
Ozak raised a brow while Ryan sent Henry a warning look. Henry didn’t care, waiting until the man guffawed.
“And here I was expecting some free drinks and pleasantries before we get down to business.”
“I don’t have time for either. What do you have for me?”
Ryan grimaced. Ozak sighed, then took something out of his pocket and slid it over toward Henry. Henry gaped at the box that could fit right in his palm.
“Is this it?”
“Yes. Freshly made and teeming with good bacteria. Just use a bit and you will be good to go.”
And what was the reason we had to meet up in a bar instead of you just delivering this to my home?He wanted to ask, but Henry already suspected the answer. Carefully, he pocketed the box and handed some coins over, then a few more.
“Order your drinks and food. Don’t get too drunk. We might need a few more boxes and will contact you as soon as we do.”
He snuck away before Ozak could reply, with Ryan’s footsteps running up behind him. Outside the bar, the fresh air did wonders for his tense shoulders but didn’t eliminate that tension fully.
“I think some ‘how are you’s’ would have made the man more eager to volunteer for help next time,” Ryan teased, then sobered at the continuous silence. “Not that he can refuse.”
“He can refuse,” Henry corrected. “But then the Council would hear about it and our family would be at their necks until Ozak relented.”
Ryan looked like he wanted to argue again but thought better of it. There was spirit there, still untied to their clan’s strict rules as Ryan wasn’t waylaid with responsibilities yet. Henry couldn’t remember a time when he had been like that. But then again, Henry hadn’t been the typical teenager, as the pressures of his role already took most of his childhood away.
“Go back to the bar,” Henry found himself saying.
“What?”
