The Bounty Hunter
Chapter 57: A Royal Pain

March 3rd, 2089

I look around the streets of Obsidia in a cheerful mood as I walk towards the 9 Lives Trading Outpost.  I’m in my full bounty hunter gear and I have also shapeshifted beneath to my elven form.  I have moved the gargoyles and the vengeful undead ghosts to the apartment, while also removing all my hex magic.  

Real estate is valuable here so I am selling the store to gather funds to purchase consumables for my upcoming battle with Jupon.  Higher level healing potions are quite expensive after all.  I’ll leave a couple of my safe houses in Obsidia intact just in case I do ever have to return here.  The buyer was a dwarf planning to open up a smithy and he was happy to pay my 20 gold asking price. 

I handed over the keys and immediately headed to the nearest alchemist where I blew 120 of my 220 gold coins on the very best potions available.  I have decided to keep the remaining 100 gold as an emergency fund in case I come back here.  I have absolutely no intention of doing so, but I have learned that things happen regardless of one’s intentions. 

A good example would be what’s happening right now as I am surrounded by members of the Queensguard right as I left the alchemist’s shop.  As expected of this world’s naming sense, the Queensguard are the elite personal guard of the Queen comprised of dark elves.  A single one of them would have qualified as a threat level 11 before my recent upgrades.  Now however, the entire group is probably around a 5.  

“You have been summoned to appear before her majesty the Queen.  Follow us.”  I am surprised that the Queen even knows my name let alone that she wants to meet with me.  What on earth does she want from me?  I kept thinking about that question as I followed the soldiers. 

After about a half hour or so of walking the Darkmoon Castle loomed above us.  It was constructed of obsidian and dark mortar and seemed like the residence of a demon king.  It had many jagged spires and gothic style decorations on it.  But I think it was the gibbets all around the castle that made it look so demonic.  We entered through the raised portcullis and I started doing my usual preparations for a hasty escape.  I distributed faeire dust freely around and made sure to note quick exit points as I entered the throne room. 

On the throne sat an attractive dark elven woman with blue eyes and silver hair similar to Veronica’s. Queen Marielle Darkmoon, arguably the most powerful person in this world.  By her side was a young dark elf girl around Veronica’s age with the same blue eyes and silver hair as the queen.  She was pretty by elvish standards, with some modest feminine features.  That must be the crown princess Feneris.  And much to my disgust, the Dutiful Erilom was there along with the pregnant Arinera and Icarus Fell. 

The rest of the room had the Queensguard standing at attention and the Inquisition standing by Erilom’s side.  There were also 15 people standing behind the throne who were emanating impressive amounts of mana.  These must be the Court Wizards.  Erilom was wearing the 5 Chains of Adligo, so she must be here on official business.  I went down to one knee as I waited for the Queen to start speaking.  sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ NovᴇlFɪre .ɴᴇt website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of nøvels early and in the highest quality.

Surprisingly, I had my full equipment still with me.  The Queensguard must be truly confident in themselves to allow a heavily armed individual into the throne room.  Finally, the Queen spoke “So you are the bounty hunter whose name I have been hearing recently.  You may remove your mask, Erilom has already told me about your appearance.” 

Uh oh.  Although I shapeshifted into an elven form, it was not the “ugly” androgynous face that I showed to Erilom.  It is my natural face but in elven form.  I did this so I could lessen the mental “itch” I get from shapeshifting, and my natural facial features are quite masculine, so… I have a bad feeling about this.  I can’t alter it now, shapeshifting takes too long and the court wizards might notice.  Shit.  I took off my helmet, goggles and bandana.  It was quite refreshing to free my long pointy ears from being pinned back, but the problems will start now. 

I could already feel Erilom’s lecherous eyes fixing on me.  “My, my.  The last time I saw you Terra, you had a rather different face.  Care to explain?”  Erilom asked sweetly.  “I had hired a wizard to cast an illusion on my face in case Ine had managed to escape.  I had no interest in giving identifying info to a hostile wizard.”  I responded calmly.  The Queen coughed lightly and then cut in our conversation “Regardless of your appearance, I have called you here to ask you for information and to possibly make a request depending on the information you provide.” 

I naturally have no interest in her request.  The only reason I haven’t slaughtered the Queen, Arinera and Icarus for their roles in harming Veronica is because Veronica asked me not to.  She has moved on and has no interest in revenge.  I’ll honor her wishes, but that does not mean I have to agree to anything. 

“I will do my best to assist your Majesty, however I have retired from bounty hunting so I don’t believe I will be of any help for your request.”  The Queen made a frown at that statement “I will be the one to decide that.  The information I would like is about the Fey Woods.”  She nodded towards Icarus as she spoke “The Prime Minister has provided some rather valuable information regarding the Fey Woods along with other compensation in order to pay for and pardon his daughter’s treasonous actions.  However, I would like to confirm it.  Otherwise I will be forced to allow the Dutiful One to enslave him as specified by the Chain of Blood.” 

This is way too amusing.  Arinera’s plot to eliminate Veronica has backfired since she escaped capture.  Even though the Queen was a collaborator, she was quick to take advantage and suppress the Fell House with this incident.  Since Veronica has escaped judgement, her sins fall to her closest relative:  her father.  Haha, he must have gone bankrupt in order to get the Queen to “pardon” his daughter so he doesn’t get enslaved. 

I really want to refute whatever the info is just so I can see Arinera and Icarus freak out, but the Court Wizards likely have cast truth spells of some sort.  I believe the 5 Chains also grant Erilom the ability to recognize lies.  So as tempting as it is to screw over the Fells, I will have to restrain myself.  “I am at your Majesty’s service, please ask.” 

The Queen nodded regally and then asked “You are the first person to have successfully journeyed to the Fairy Queen’s Grove in the heart of the Fey Woods in the past 300 years.  The Prime Minister has provided information passed down his household for generations that claims that one can contract with the one of the high-level fairy spirits that reside there if they bring an offering of water from the Tearful Maiden’s Spring.  Is there a naturally formed cup and altar at the grove where one can pour in the water?”  I paused at her question as I brought back my memories of the Fey Woods.

 The Fey Woods are located in the northeast of the Darkmoon Queendom and are a forest of illusions with many wild fairies roaming there.  The Fairy Queen’s Grove is where the strongest fairies reside and they are notoriously difficult to contract with.  Fairies are a subset of spirits that are the magical personifications of the natural world.  Dryads, undines, etc. are all considered fairies. 

Elves and pixies are in fact believed to be descended from fairies and thus are sometimes called fairy-kin.  Spirits are able to reproduce with residents of the material world, although they have to be extremely high-level to do so.  Interestingly, it is believed that the human was the precursor to all of the races of this world.  They mingled with the various spirits in this world and eventually the pure-blooded human disappeared.  This theory does explain why all the races can interbreed and why they all have somewhat similar forms and ways of thought.  But I digress.

The illusions in the Fey Woods cause people to get lost and fall prey to the creatures lurking there.  I had gone there to hunt Dreamwood Treants for an alchemist that needed their bark for his experiments.  I was able to navigate by using a compass to keep my bearings, which doesn’t exist in this world, while also mapping my environment.  I then ran into a high level dryad and immediately ran away before it noticed and seduced me. 

In my haste I got lost and ended up at the grove.  There had been a cup and altar there made of wood and flower.  “Yes your Majesty, I do remember a cup and altar at the grove.” I responded.  The Prime Minister and Arinera visibly relaxed at my confirmation.  The Queen nodded “I see, then I declare the debt settled regarding my niece’s treason.”  At this point Erilom stepped forward “I have witnessed this declaration.  The Prime Minister has honored the Chain of Blood.” 

The Queen nodded towards them “You may leave now.  The rest of this discussion will not concern you.”  Arinera and Icarus were sent out and the Queen now brought her attention back to me.  “Now I will tell you my request.”  I really want to leave, but I am wary of the Court Wizards and the 5 Chains of Adligo.  I’ll have to hear out this request, hopefully I can get out of having to do it.

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