The Royal Hunter Read Free

most people think you are dead.”
    “Perfectly acceptable to me. Allows me more timeto enjoy the pursuit of knowledge. Never had patience for politics or the abuse of power. Especially powers that are misunderstood.”
    “Why surface now?”
    “It is time,” he said simply.
    And yet Archer was fully aware there was nothing simple about this. “Then you know where she is?”
    Baleweg nodded.
    Archer felt the initial buzz of excitement, but it was tempered by wariness. “Why haven’t you offered this information to the queen?”
    “I had other allegiances. I believe you might understand the predicament.”
    Archer ignored that. “And now?”
    “Now it is time,” he repeated.
    “We’d all have had a hell of a lot more time if you’d come forward sooner.”
    “Ah, but then you wouldn’t be in the position to earn such a handsome paycheck.”
    Now he understood. It always came down to money. So much for the mystical mumbo jumbo. “You want to know what your piece of the action will be if this works, right? Well, mate, I have a standard—”
    “I do not wish recompense of any sort.”
    Archer sat back on his heels, surprised into silence. It was beyond him why anyone would willingly turn down money. It made him suspicious. “But you will help me? Why?”
    “All things happen as they do for a reason, young Archer. You needn’t know those reasons to benefit from them, aye?” Baleweg rearranged his flowing robes over his legs. His hair was white and sparse on his tanned head, but his face was almost baby smooth, the skin translucent. Add in those eyes and he was a rather unique-looking character. Part gnome, part sorcerer, part mental patient. “The human mind is a supremely stubborn thing,thwarting its own ability to expand and encompass ideas not easily explained.” Baleweg tilted his head and gave Archer a probing look, real interest in his eyes now. “Are you willing to expand your mind?”
    Archer had no idea what the hell he was talking about. “I just want to find Eleri Trahaern.”
    “Then you must accept that not all things lie on a scientific plane.”
    Like that transmission you made into my home earlier? he wanted to ask, but didn’t. Instead he shrugged. “I’ve learned not to question the existence of things just because I don’t understand them. I operate on instinct. Saved my backside many times.”
    “Then let your instinct guide you now. Eleri is no longer here in this time.”
    “Excuse me?”
    Baleweg stared at him, his eyes sparking a blue so sharp and clear it almost hurt to look at them. “She is no longer in this time,” he repeated calmly. “Meaning she is in another.”
    “Time travel.” Archer swore silently. “Right.” He pushed to a stand. “Sorry to have taken up your time.” Though he was only really sorry at having been suckered in by this quack. No wonder the report had been so short.
    Baleweg didn’t rise. “Did you not just state that you don’t dismiss things you don’t understand?”
    “Scientists have tried to bend time for centuries. No one’s ever done it.”
    Baleweg smiled. “As I said, not all things exist on a scientific plane.”
    “Okay, then, tell me how to get to where she is and I’ll leave you to your business.”
    “This is nothing so simple. You do not enter a time that is not your own, nor disturb the life of another, without good reason.”
    “Saving the queen’s life isn’t a good reason?”
    “I did not say it must be good for another. What good is in it for the one whose life will be disturbed?”
    The man was more frustrating than Ringer. “I will gladly pay her and pay her well for her help.”
    “Ah, but not all things can be solved with money.” He lifted a finger to stall Archer’s response. “Nor is money the reward all men, or women, seek.”
    “Then tell me what she wants and I’ll bloody well give it to her.” In Archer’s extensive experience, everyone had something they wanted, and were willing to