Godfree the Harbinger escorted me through the narrow walkway in the garden. Flowers and other leafy plants lined the path. We moved shoulder to shoulder, making us so wide that our arms brushed against the plants. The only other yaksha in the royal garden were servants, busy trimming and watering the plants. They scurried from our path when we approached.

  As we paced, Godfree puffed out his chest. Most yaksha, including the proudest knights, felt the need to exaggerate their physique when walking next to me. Even after so much time with limited food and exercise, my thick frame dwarfed the large yaksha. While he was nearly as tall, his eyes lining up with my mouth, his arms were less than half mine, and his shoulders even smaller.

  Despite my strong appearance, I managed only a few steps before having to stop and rest. After such a long time without proper food and training, my weakened body barely functioned as it once had. While I wasn’t sure how long it would take to regain my former strength, I knew I hadn’t time to waste. “How do I prove the men I bring are Void Wigons?”

  “Men or women.” Godfree fiddled with the hair tie that held his light brown messy hair in a ponytail. I always thought the type of hairstyle to be foolish for a fighter, allowing for your enemy to control your head by grabbing it. I kept my own hair cut as close to the skin as possible. Despite such an impractical hairstyle, he made an important point. Like the Naser Wigons, the Void religion allowed both men and women to practice.

  This concept wasn’t new to me. Naser Wigons fought beside us in the war of Inges Salvos as part of the Three Kingdoms Army. But they were on our side, so I didn’t need to raise my sword to a female. If my life depended on it, could I cut down a woman? I shook my head, clearing the thought from my mind. “You didn’t answer my question.”

  “You will receive parchments describing known Void Wigons. Turn in the parchment upon delivery, and you’ll have no need to prove your account. If you discover a previously unknown Void Wigon, work with the local council. Show them proof, and after an investigation, they’ll sign off on any valid claims.”

  “What if they decided a head I brought them isn’t from a Void Wigon?”

  “Then you won’t receive a potion.” He grinned. “We can’t have you just bringing random heads to survive.”

  For a moment, I wondered if the royals had created that rule when they started this crusade, or if they had to receive numerous questionable heads first. “Any punishment for chopping the wrong head?”

  He pursed his lips, making them nearly disappear between his thick mustache and long beard. “You ask too many questions.” Thinking for a moment, he added, “We don’t want our hunters to fear retribution for making honest mistakes, thus causing their abundance of caution to allow a Void Wigon to slip through their fingers.” He cleared his throat. “But if an abuse of this power is suspected, stern consequences might follow.”

  This wasn’t the Mallma I grew up in. Before King Merek fell in the war, the kingdom was careful about being fair with its punishments, especially one that took a citizen’s life. While I noticed a dangerous trend during the remainder of that war, I thought it was a reaction to living under the threat of annihilation. When I got back, I realized it went deeper.

  My own imprisonment was merely a confirmation of what I already believed. The new king and his policies carried Mallma in the wrong direction. In a dangerous direction. The people of Mallma still have high spirits after beating a force that threatened to wipe us out. But as those spirits wear off, will we be left with a population eager to revolt?

  Godfree glared at me as if he wished to read my mind. But what would he think if he knew my thoughts? Did Godfree the Harbinger have the courage and honor to stand up against superior forces when they overplayed their hand? I couldn’t be sure. Nor would I take a chance by asking him or by displaying my disagreement with the current leadership. Instead, I’d keep our conversation on the job. “When will I be reunited with my squire, pages, and servants?” I asked.

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  Godfree shook his head. “Your squire refused to testify against you.” He looked away from me.

  “They threw Bart in prison like me? I will need for him to be released.”

  Godfree shook his head. “Along with your pages and servants, he was executed.”

  My stomach sank. Bart was more than a loyal apprentice. He became like a son to me. The only one I’d ever know if I couldn’t find Lirit and my baby. I gritted my teeth. Just thinking my wife’s name made my heart beat faster. Was she really practicing as a Void Wigon? Did she escape, leaving me to be tortured? Did she and my brother betray our marriage vows? All questions I wasn’t sure I wanted the answers to. In that moment, I needed only to survive. My best chance of surviving was not to show my anger for what these monsters did to Bart and the others who served me. “Will I get a new squire?”

  “If you find someone who deserves the position, then you can fill it. The same as pages and servants.” He grinned. “But as you no longer receive a salary, you will need to pay them directly.”

  I raised my eyebrows. “No salary.” I scoffed. “Am I to live off the potions you provide?”

  “You may take the possessions of the Void Wigons you catch. Sell or use them as you will, including paying your men.”

  My skin itched as I realized what I’d become. Instead of an honored knight of the prince, I was an empire-sanctioned bandit. Would any yaksha that followed me truly be a squire, or would they be a member of a gang? What type of yaksha would agree to such a service? One without honor I presumed.

  “What about potions? Am I to use whatever potions I take from Void Wigons, trusting they do as prescribed?”

  Godfree shook his head. “If you stray from the True Blood Wigon ways, another Void Hunter will be turning in your head.” He peered at me through squinted eyes. “Don’t use or sell any potions or illegal ingredients you obtain. Turn them over with the captive or the head.” He paused. “I’ll give you a selection of potions to start. They won’t be exactly what you’re accustomed to, but you will receive more when you turn in a prisoner, along with the special vial Prince Tilman referenced.” He grinned. “I’ll also provide you with a horse and some weapons.”

  “My hammer?”

  He glanced at me. Do you still have the strength to wield it?”

  “If you’d like a demonstration, hand me my hammer and grab yourself a sword.” I locked eyes with him and raised my eyebrows. The man didn’t scare easily, and wasn’t nearly as weary of me as he once was. But for a moment, I recognized a spark of concern in his battle-weathered face.

  “You don’t appreciate your new station.” He stood up straighter, trying to meet my eyes. “Your days of intimidating the other knights into having your way are behind you.” He paused. “But I do want you to be effective, if only for the sake of Mallma and the True Blood ways.” He grunted. “I’ll let you have your hammer, but if you threaten me again, I’ll have your tongue cut from your mouth.”

  I shrugged. “Too much talking is exhausting, anyway.”

  He chuckled. “Same old Stevyn. Won’t back down to anyone, even when he should.”

  But it wasn’t true. The old Stevyn would have already ensured Godfree’s insides didn’t remain there. I moved up the ranks of knights, standing beside the third prince in battle due to the devastation I caused with my hammer and my willingness to wield it against those who dared step against me. But this was no battlefield, and I wasn’t a soldier any longer.

  Despite his perception of my attitude, I did my best to keep my temper under control, realizing my challenge to him went too far. Regardless, I wouldn’t admit to such, nor would I apologize. Weakness wasn’t respected among knights, only strength and determination. “Do I not eat until I catch my first prisoner?”

  He rolled his eyes. “I’ll give you some jerky and bread from my own stores. But remember how good I have been to you.” He made eye contact with me. “We never liked each other much, but I didn’t agree with the decision to lock you away. You might be a pompous asshat, but your bravery on the battlefield earned you the benefit of the doubt, or at least a chance to state your case.”

  “Asshat?”

  He scoffed. “Of course, that’s all you took from what I said.”

  “I appreciate your words. The situation I find myself in is a difficult one. You’ll understand that being thankful is the furthest thing from my mind.”

  “Understood.” He thought for a moment. “Prince Tilman wants you to travel to Kusi Vilca. You may need supplies before undertaking such a long trip. I have a parchment of a known Void Wigon you can apprehend on your way.” He grinned. “And since I’m feeling particularly giving, I also have the location of an unknown Void Wigon much earlier on your voyage. I’d suggest taking him by surprise and ending him quickly. Don’t worry about finding the proof of his spell-craft before executing him. He keeps his potions close by at all times. Find them after you have his head. They are all the proof you will need.”

  I nodded. “Provide me with the details. I won’t forget your help.”