The Potion Diaries Read Online Free PDF

turns to look at him, he touches his staff to the wall, and the window to the Princess goes dark.
    ‘She doesn’t look like she’s in mortal danger,’ says someone I don’t recognise.
    ‘Then you don’t understand anything about the Royal family and aren’t fit for this Hunt,’ snaps the King. ‘We dedicate our lives to keeping the flow of magic in check. If Evelyn’s mind is compromised in any way . . .’
    ‘She could bring the entire city of Kingstown to its knees,’ says my grandad. ‘Once again endangering us all,’ he mutters under his breath, so that only I can hear.
    The King doesn’t say anything, but his silence speaks volumes.
    Renel steps up again. ‘Now you understand the gravity of the situation. We have enough doctors here to keep the Princess in a stable condition. But that could change. How quickly we can save her is down to you.
    ‘Now, there hasn’t been a Wilde Hunt in over sixty-five years, so I must make you aware there are several rules that must not be broken. Not only will the Royal family enforce the rules, but the Hunt demands it.
    ‘One: Only Participants called by Auden’s Horn are eligible to compete in the Wilde Hunt. The first Participant or his apprentice to submit a potion that turns the Horn gold will be declared the winner. Submit the wrong formula, and the Horn will remain black.
    ‘Two: You are the chosen Participants, but you still have a choice. You have twenty-four hours following the call of the Horn to enter your name. Once you do, you are bound to the Hunt. In return, you will be issued with Royal-approved Wilds passes, giving you access to anywhere you need to hunt for ingredients.
    ‘Three: In addition to the Participant and his apprentice, one Finder may be chosen per team.
    ‘And finally: since a love potion antidote is a mirror cure, the winning potion must be as close to the Princess’s formula as possible. That means that all ingredients used in this Wilde Hunt potion must be natural.’
    ‘Your Highness, with all due respect, that is preposterous!’ Zol exclaims. ‘We could have a synthetic potion prepared in days . . . Hunting for the ingredients could take weeks.’
    The King sighs. ‘Zol, this is my daughter’s life at stake. We cannot take any chances.’
    ‘Auden’s Horn called you because you are a master alchemist, in addition to your synth mixing, isn’t that correct, Zol?’ says Renel.
    ‘Well, of course, but . . .’ Zol splutters.
    ‘Then you will know how key it is that we follow these rules exactly.’
    ‘How are you so sure that no synths were used in the manufacture of the Princess’s potion?’ Zol asks. ‘With the exception of a few of these old-timers . . .’ he looks pointedly at my grandfather and me, ‘almost no one operates completely synth-free any more. This is the twenty-first century after all!’
    Renel reaches into his suit pocket and pulls out a slim journal, its pages edged in gold. ‘This is the only remaining evidence of the Princess’s mix. She began a record of her formula, although she only got as far as to write down a single ingredient. But one thing she did specify is that her potion was made with one hundred per cent natural ingredients. It appears she feared that using synthetics would be too easy to trace. So I will reiterate: the potion needs to be completely natural.’
    Zol scoffs, but doesn’t protest again.
    Renel continues. ‘Those who choose to participate will be given the name of the ingredient the Princess wrote down as a head start. After that, you are on your own. The prize for the correct potion is one million crowns and access to a private stream of Novaen Royal magic for twenty-four hours.’ His nose wrinkles as he mentions the prize, as if it should be of no consequence when it comes to saving the Princess. It’s of big consequence to everyone else, though. ‘Since love potions are illegal, you will also consent to having the ingredients and any record of the formula wiped