Page 53 of War Mage

Urim looks at me gravely and I can feel his sorrow in the bond.

“Hey,” I say soothingly. “You’re acting like it’s a sure thing that I’ll die. We need to plan for success, remember? Luck and preparation. You taught me that.”

The orc closes his eyes and shakes his head ruefully. “You are right, Adara. But I do not know what to do with this fear. It is new to me. I have never wanted to put anything before a mission before.”

I kiss his lips again, a little longer this time. “Thank you for worrying about me. But it’ll be alright. I have better ideas of what we can do with our time than worrying about a future we can’t change.”

“Oh?” Urim asks, his eyes darkening and his hands stilling on my body. “What did you have in mind?”

“Oh, a few things,” I say, smiling impishly. “But we’ll need my manacles.”

Chapter 23

Grazrath

Most of my most zealous followers have arrived for the war council, but there is no trace of this Magistrate Zadicus and his gift. I do not like to be kept waiting and the anticipation is unbearable. Just one sip of magic blood should be enough to awaken many of my dormant powers, to give me the power that is my birthright.

I sit upon the Onyx Throne, watching the depraved revels of pain and blood acted out by my followers, but my mind is consumed with the air mage coming to me. Finally, Malik enters the throne room, followed by a haggard man wearing my symbol on his chest.

“Magistrate Zadicus, Great Demonic King,” the vampire prince announces. But before I can grow too excited he says, “But there is bad news, I’m afraid.”

“What?” I hiss. “What bad news? Where is my mage?”

The room goes deathly silent at my angry words, as they should. After waiting days for the very thing that will make me as strong as an arch-demon once more, I am denied once again? This is not to be borne and heads will roll.

“The magistrate was waylaid by raiders looking to steal blood slaves. They slaughtered the magistrate’s men and took the slaves he had with him. He barely escaped before they could kill him too.”

“You left my mage behind?” I roar, furious. “And saved your own worthless hide instead of my prize? Are you an imbecile?”

“My Lord of Pain and Misery,” the magistrate says, falling to his knees, speaking in hushed tones. “I only ever live to serve you! I wouldn’t have lost your slave, but these raiders . . . there was something off about them. They overpowered dozens of trained guards! Their fighting prowess was far beyond that of a normal highwayman. I . . .”

“Excuses,” I spit out, silencing his distasteful explanations. “My mage should have been your priority! You should have taken her with you, not saved your own worthless self! You have failed me.”

“No!” he gasps out. “Lord Grazrath . . .”

But I’m already flying across the room, down from my throne, hands outstretched. I reach the shocked magistrate in an instant and with as little effort as breathing, I rip his head clean off his shoulders. A spray of blue blood erupts from his empty neck and then his body crumples to the floor.

The magistrate’s head still in my hand, I whirl on Malik.

“This is unacceptable,” I seethe. “I want my mage!”

“Yes, of course, Lord Grazrath,” he says, bowing. “I will send out my best riders to hunt down these raiders and bring your blood slave back to you.”

“Good,” I say, holding up the head in my hand so that it is eye-level with the prince. “Or this is the fate that awaits you.”

“I will not fail you, Our Lord of Pain and Misery,” the prince says, before beating a hasty retreat out of the room, barking commands at the soldiers out there.

With disgust, I toss the magistrate’s head at a guard, who hastily catches it. “Place that at the palace gates with the others,” I command. “Remind everyone of the cost of failing me.”

“Yes, Lord,” the guard says and then exits out the way that Malik went.

Growling, I walk back up to my throne, my mood dark. I was so close to having what I needed, only to have it ruined by some random raiders. But were they so random? I haven't heard reports of other raids, so why did they target the one caravan that had the mage that I need and spirit her away? Perhaps there is some sort of plot against me. I thought that I had killed all the dissenters and replaced them with those who were easy to control, but maybe there’s a traitor in my midst. I’ll have to have Malik investigate.

Heavily, I sit back on my throne, stretching my wings back. “Well?” I snarl. “Are you not going to entertain me?”

The tension rises in the room as the activities around the chamber recommence, a sense of urgency and desperation in the air that wasn’t there before. But I don’t care if my followers fear me. They should. Soon all the world will learn to fear me and worship in despair at my feet.

I just need that fucking mage first.

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