"Hello, sirs. Sorry to interrupt your negotiation, but are you Suke, the hired gun?"

The merchant didn't look pleased, but held his tongue.

"That's my name, Captain. Don't wear it out."

"Well, your reputation precedes you; you're requested at the Spire, to do some work for the Crown," she said, giving the caravan-master an apologetic nod, "And it's somewhat urgent; you don't have to be there within the hour but you should present yourself before sundown."

"Well, if you're asking so nicely, how can I turn ya down? Sorry, Clev, I expect y'll need to find another shepherd. I'll be along soon, Captain."

Honestly, this was a bit concerning. Getting involved with royalty is frequently hazardous to your health. But refusing the requests of royalty is one of the primary causes of that hazard, so, eh, what could you do? So an hour later I'm at the gates of the Spire, headquarters of the Crownwatch and Valkyrie.

"Hello. Captain Igweni said I was requested to come here. Name's Suke."

"Ah, yes, the bounty hunter. The First Captain and Lord Commander are awaiting your arrival on the second floor."

"I'll head up."

This looks more dangerous every minute.

But I went up anyway.

When I did, I saw the young, pretty Captain and the old, severe Lord Commander Rolant, uncle of the dead king, sponsor of the creation of the first valkyrie. I glanced down to his left hand, never having seen his prothesis up close. Sure enough, there was his Iron Fist. I didn't think he was sensitive about it, but better to look up anyway.

"Lord Commander, sir. The Captain tells me you want to hire me?"

"Indeed. Your reputation with our sheriffs and with the Elysians is quite impressive. Both for effectiveness and for discretion. I have a job which will require both."

"Well, thank you kindly, but I'll need to know specifics before I can take the job."

"Very well. You are of course aware that my nephew Caiphus has been missing, presumed dead for a month. What I hope you are not aware of is that my grand-niece Vara, his legal heir, has not been seen in Argenport since the day after his death. Myria needs stability, but without an official coronation of the new queen, stability will not be believable. Your task is to find her and bring her back to the capital for her coronation."

"If she's been kidnapped, why have you waited this long to get a hunter on her trail?"

"All signs indicate she left Argenport voluntarily. She has not sent any correspondence since, neither to inform us of her return nor to abdicate and make clear that she is shirking her duty. What is keeping her I do not know, but whatever her feelings on the matter, she is needed here."

"So I bring home the princess, future queen, pretty likely by force. Not sure I'm interested; this seems too likely to get me killed."

"You will have the thanks of the Crown for the future, and be paid well."

"Sir, it's the thanks of the Crown I'm worried about. Unless you're going to force her to stay a figurehead, in which case I don't see the angle where this is good for you."

Rolant's teeth and his right fist clenched. "Do not push me, boy. She is needed here. If she wants to abdicate formally, then she will be free to leave. But we must have her here in person. The safety of Argenport and stability of Myria depends on it."

Shitshitshitshitshit, need to get out of here alive. What can I say... oh!

"Commander, I still can't accept if I'm not confident I can get her back unharmed. And I'm not sure it can be done. I'll at least need a plan, and a partner. I can come up with the best I can of each in a week and get back to you. Acceptable?"

"Sundown in three days, not an hour later. And be grateful you're not spending it in a cell."

"Then I'll get right on it now, sir. If I can leave?"

"Go."

I left. But much later, I heard what he said next.

"Captain? Spread the word to our sky patrols; he's to be watched. I don't want him leaving the city until he's met with me again." 

"As you say, Lord."

She left the office, leaving Rolant to his desk. On the ground floor, she tasked a guard with spreading the watch order and headed out after me. Valkyrie move fast; she caught up easy.

"Suke! Could you wait a moment? Please?"

I looked up, skeptically. "Got extra orders for me, then?"

"No, I... Rolant's a good man, but not a nice one. And I think he's right about Princess Vara. And I knew her; we sparred regularly.

This, leaving and not giving any word even when asked... it isn't like her. I'm worried."

"If Rolant's really nervous about having a stable succession, why hasn't he crowned Kaleb? No one really doubts he's Caiphus's son, even if his mother is a secret."

"Rolant and Vara were never close, but Kaleb... Rolant never treated him as family, and Kaleb hates him for it. By this point I think it's mutual. Also, he left the city last week, so that horse is out of the barn. And we can't find her."

"'We can't'? Who's 'we'?"

"The Crownwatch...this is the part Rolant really didn't want to mention, so please don't share it. You've probably heard of Marshal Ironthorn? He was sent out to find her two weeks ago, and five days after that he sent a message saying he thought he'd tracked her down and would be on his way back to Argenport with her soon. We haven't heard from him since.

If you won't do it, we're out of options that might actually work."

"Ah. Ironthorn's competent, and not one to exaggerate. So...

You're worried about a friend and liege, and about a colleague."

"You don't get his reputation without knowing the risks. I'll mourn, but it's not him I worry for.

Look, I know you don't like it. You'd probably rather skip town, and I don't blame you. But if she's not found, I don't think the rebels can be dissuaded from an ugly siege on Argenport. Rolant barely backed down from the power of all the mountain clans together; he won't give in.

So please: try. I love this city and I couldn't bear to see it starve like that."

If she was just that pretty, or just that sincere, maybe I would have turned her down. But she was both, and I couldn't resist.

"Alright, ma'am. I'll do my best."

"Thank you. And if you need a favor some time, I'll be listening."

Her look of relief almost made it feel worth it to me, too.