Page 16 of A Fable of Riddles and Redemption

The noble city of Adael is in need of a magical barrier to keep the troublesome red pandas out of the city. A way to lure the same pests away from Adael is also required. Any mage who can assist in this effort is encouraged to report to Adael Castle as soon as possible.

Whoever successfully purges Adael of these vermin without injuring them will be well compensated.

This missive has been sent to every realm within Caelia.

Duke Armand Moncharmin

Zorina blinked twice. It was the very thing she had suggested to Herrick—and not one of the pathetic solutions brought up in the recent meeting. Had Herrick told his superiors of her idea, or had they come up with it on their own?

Considering how foolish all of their solutions had been, she rather doubted it.

Herrick must have told them.

Zorina couldn’t decide if she was glad…or angry. Glad because it was a good idea, and if they were smart about it, it could solve all of the city’s red panda problems. Angry because it could bring unwanted attention to her.

Wait…could that be the real reason Herrick keeps ‘investigating’ at the pottery shop? Not because of anything involving smashed pottery, stolen coins, or red panda behavior, but because he’s watching…me?

Fury, hurt, and betrayal twisted her stomach at the thought. Just as she’d started to maybe trust him, at least a little bit.

But no. Like most people in her life, he was not to be trusted.

And yet, a tiny part of her felt a little flattered by his attention.

She shoved that thought away as quickly as she could. It certainly wasn’t an attracted type of attention, after all, and it would be foolish to even consider the possibility.

No, he was watching for magic.

From her.

Nausea crawled up her throat at the thought. If he learned the truth…

It was a good thing she had spent her entire life keeping her powers a secret and being as careful as she was.

With the exception of one moment of weakness that had nearly ruined everything…

Which was part of the reason she was in hiding from three different realms.

Granted, Princess Odette had inexplicably forgiven her for almost unintentionally taking her life, but she still wasn’t exactly welcome in Caledonia, Delmyra, or Odell as a result. Most of the other realms would likely spurn her, too, what with all the royal alliances across them. If she hid in one of them and they were aware of it, anyway.

As the only realm not currently under royal rule, Jolan was her place of solace—and only because the royal family and most of the realm’s nobility had long been missing, thanks to some mysterious beast.

At Anala’s chirps in her ear, Zorina realized she’d been standing in front of the missive for far too long, lost in thought. She quickly maneuvered her way through the crowd and headed to the pottery shop, her mind spinning at all of her new revelations.

When she arrived, she carefully pried Anala off of her shoulder and put her on the ground. “You are not coming in. Stay outside,” she said firmly. The red panda scrunched her nose in apparent distaste, but she stayed outside as Zorina opened the door just enough to squeeze through before immediately closing it again.

Herrick, infuriating liar that he was, already leaned against the wall inside the shop. He watched her with a smile that would have melted her insides if not for her recent realizations.

At her glare, his expression shifted to confusion. “Zorina? What’s wrong?”

“You.” It was all she could muster at first.

He blinked a few times, his green eyes looking puzzled. “Me? What do you mean?”

She stepped right up into his space, trying to ignore the warmth radiating from him. “Why are you really here?” she demanded, peering up at his bearded chin. With their height difference, she wasn’t nearly as intimidating as she wanted to be. Why did he have to be so blasted tall?

Herrick frowned. “I already told you: I’m investigating red panda behavior, along with why your particular favorite one likes to destroy pottery in search of money.”

Zorina poked her finger hard against his chest. “So you say, but after seeing that proclamation seeking for magical aid in the very way I suggested, I think it likely you’re investigating me instead.”