Page 81 of Oath of Betrayal
A single tear tracked over my cheek as I uttered the command.
A wave of aether distorted the demon’s form, and the monster fought for control before he lost his shape, once again becoming birdlike. The rest of the flock rose into the air with a mind-shattering scream. I closed my eyes as sharp claws sliced past my face, so close that I felt the movement against my cheek. I fell back a step, shocked, but watched as the demons flew around me, not once touching my body.
Orm had been worried that an assassin would kill me, but our enemy didn’t want me dead—he wanted me alive to use my magic. I smiled grimly and took advantage of that. I felt another breath of wind against my cheek, and my lips curved viciously.
The endless chaotic energy of wind, the power that gave the latawce their magic, was right there, at my fingertips. I spread my arms and took a deep, calming breath, releasing it slowly andletting the aether move through me, catching and moulding it to my need as I spoke.
‘Vor’me.’2
The aether wrapped around me like a happy puppy eager to please, and I did what I promised Katja I’d do. I ripped the wind from under the demons’ wings. They screeched and fell from the sky, feathers flying, their song forgotten, right onto the swords of the soldiers Bryna had rallied from the garrison.
It took some time to clear the town while I wove spell after spell, manipulating the wind every time a latawiec tried to escape. The spells were exhausting as I didn’t reach for my conduit skills, but I smiled each time a vile creature fell from the sky, hitting the cobblestones like rocks, helpless before the soldiers’ blades. Bryna and a young officer directed them with surprising efficiency, protecting Katija and her healers while they helped the injured citizens.
An enormous shadow moved over the ground, startling me. Raising my head, I saw a dragon gliding across the sky, its scales gleaming like pure jade in the setting sun. I followed his gaze: on the far end, near the landing fields, was a child.
A boy, maybe eight or nine years old, was sheltering his bloodied mother, hitting an injured latawiec with a broken branch. On instinct, I formed a fireball, but I didn’t have time to release it before the jade dragon plummeted from the sky, incinerating the latawiec, then landing next to the child.
I knew from the awe on the child’s face what had happened.
Vahin had told me about the Binding. In times of great distress, a human soul could call a dragon from the sky, binding them together. It was why dragon rider families left their male offspring in caves, scared, starved, and alone.
I felt tears pricking my eyes as I watched the child reach for the dragon, the massive beast lowering his head to let the smallhand caress his eyelid. Amid the carnage, I had witnessed a miracle.
The birth of a new dragon rider.
Seeing a dragon pairing with my emotions working properly felt exhilarating. The fact that I was using my magic with ease made the experience almost euphoric, and I couldn’t restrain my grin as I surveyed the battlefield.
As I felt that ease falter, I knew Vahin was drifting too far away, but with only a few demons left, I closed myself off to the tempestuous wind and used my favourite familiar fire. Despite my tiredness, it took little effort to burn away their feathers, sending the creatures to their doom. With the last notes of the maddening song dying down and the smell of burnt feathers making me sick, I sank to my knees, breathing heavily.
‘My lady, drink this, please. You look tired.’ The voice came from beside me and I raised my eyes to see the crippled man from the tavern. He passed me a tankard and I took the offered drink, raising it to my lips. I sighed with pleasure as the ice-cold fluid hit the back of my throat, the apple cider sweet and refreshing. When I turned to thank him for his kindness, the old soldier had already hobbled away.
‘Ani, you bloody witch, you did it!’ Bryna roared so loudly that several heads turned in our direction. ‘She told me she would take the wind from under their wings, and she did exactly that. Cheer, you fuckers, cheer for our saviour!’ she yelled at them, and a resounding roar rang out as the soldiers raised their swords.
I sat on the cobblestones, holding the tankard to my chest, forcing a smile while dread washed over me.
We had successfully defended against one attack, but how many more were there to come?
This had been a shrewd move, happening the moment I’d been at my most vulnerable. I felt a pricking sensation, as if I was being watched.
The Lich King.
I didn’t know how he did it, but to lure Orm and Alaric from the fortress while attempting to take advantage of my raw emotions was a genius—and very cruel—scheme.
I was no longer hesitant to take an Anchor. Fuck, I would Anchor an entire army of mages if it would help, because witnessing the Binding, seeing my people fight together to protect each other? That was worth any heartache.
I was a bloody weapon. Imperfect, scared, and occasionally unhinged, but if this attack had shown me anything, it was that I could make a difference—not just for myself and my men, but for all of those too weak to defend themselves.
Sitting there on the cold cobblestones, dressed in singed blacksmith castoffs, I promised myself that if war was inevitable, then I would stand up and be counted. I prayed to the gods above and below that I wouldn’t fail this time. I would rather die than let my home become a playground for monsters.
1.Return to your nature!
2.Obey.
Three days had passed since Orm and Alaric went to aid Vodianka. I hoped they’d been as successful in their endeavour as we had been here. I spent most of my time in Orm’s office, doing my best to assist with fortress affairs. I wrote a few letters to people I hoped I could trust at the university, detailing the attack and asking them to raise the issue at the next council meeting. We needed more mages and more protection at the border. It was about time they stopped sticking their heads in the sand.
When I wasn’t busy writing, training, or talking to the citizens of Varta, I worried about the two men who held a special place in my heart. I tried to keep it under wraps, but my mood had noticeably soured and my brave front earned me concerned looks from Katja and Bryna. The only relief for my gnawing anxiety was drinking in the tavern, and with my friends both busy elsewhere, I was feeling less than pleasant.
‘Mead—the strongest and sweetest you have,’ I shouted to thebarkeep, rolling a silver coin over the counter.
