Page 87 of Oath of Betrayal
I picked up the book I’d been studying recently, a rare manuscript detailing the violent creations of foul magic. After a moment’s consideration, however, I put it aside. I didn’t need to learn how to deal with these monsters; I needed something else.
I knew somewhere there should be aTreatise on Immortality. I’d discovered it in the library catalogue by accident and had been searching for it for the last two weeks. It was written before the Necromancer’s War by a half-crazed mage and almost immediately after was entered into the index of forbidden books. Nonetheless, as with everything, Varta Fortress had its secrets, and I’d discovered one of them.
Since learning we couldn’t restore the Barrier and that it was only a matter of time until the Vel demons descended upon us en masse, I hadn’t stopped trying to find a way of undoing the spell that sustained the Lich King. I had no delusions about my ownabilities. I couldn’t create complex glyphs or cast multi-layered spells, but if I could siphon off the aether that prolonged his existence, then maybe I could kill the immortal Lich.
It was a dangerous thought and one I didn’t want to share with Orm until I knew I could do it. He’d had enough of disappointments and failed hopes already. ‘Can I do something that insane?’ I asked myself, sighing.
I stood in front of a bookshelf on my tiptoes, stretching out to reach a dissertation titledThe Noble Undead. The name suggested its subject might be helpful, but the book was too high up, and I was feeling too lazy to look for the ladder. I cursed quietly when the shelf I used as a step creaked ominously and prayed to all the gods for the ancient wood to support my weight a little longer when a deep voice called out behind me.
‘Can you do what, Nivale?’
‘Shit!’ I yelped. My foot slipped from the polished wood, flinging me backwards. In a panic, I flapped my arms like a clumsy chick trying to fly, but a pair of muscular arms caught me as if I weighed nothing. After I felt his lips briefly caress my neck, I was suddenly spun around and found myself looking up into Orm’s amused gaze as he spoke again. ‘I sincerely hope not what you just exclaimed. So what you are trying to do, Nivale?’
Kill our enemy? And probably die in the process,I thought, inhaling deeply to calm my pounding heart. Orm smelled like autumn. I couldn’t describe it any other way; the scent of ash and spices reminded me of nights cuddling in front of the fire with a loved one. I hadn’t seen him since yesterday, and I had missed falling asleep to the sound of his heartbeat. With a content sigh, I embraced him, breathing in his scent.
‘I like autumn,’ I said out of the blue, noticing the dark shadow of stubble softening the sharp angles of his face. Orm’s brows drew together, and he slid his fingers into my hair, poking andprobing my scalp under the braid. His touch was gentle but unexpected. It was my turn to frown.
‘What are you doing?’
‘I’m checking to see if you hit your head on your way down. Why are you climbing the shelves in the first place? You know we have a ladder here, yes?’
‘I didn’t hit my head, you idiot. Your scent. You smell like autumn fires from my childhood, that’s all. I climbed the shelves because I was too lazy to get the ladder. I would’ve been fine if you hadn’t scared me, so you can let me go now,’ I answered, half laughing because I couldn’t blame him for misunderstanding my words.
‘I’m glad you aren’t injured as I need to ask for your help. I know you’re not a healer, but we have several badly injured people and I fear it’s too much for Alaric.’ He stroked my braid. Only then did I notice his hand shaking ever so slightly and his usually radiant smile missing.
‘Who was injured? Tell me what happened!’ I insisted, frowning when I noticed the soot smeared on his cheek. ‘Never mind. Tell me on the way to the infirmary.’ He nodded, taking my hand. As we left the library, I watched the relief flicker on his face before the emotionless mask slid into place.
‘We had to go fight a family of rarógs that had built their nest near the border. Do you remember the forest fire right after the worm attacked us? That was the cause. To make matters worse, the pesky creatures don’t perish in dragon fire, so we had to fight with sword and claw … and it ended badly for a few riders.’
Suddenly, I felt a tightness in my chest and sped my steps. ‘How many are injured? Does Ari already know, or do we need to fetch him from his workshop? I can enhance his spells, even the healing ones, but I can’t do complex healing by myself. Gods, I should have gone with you. I could have frozen those bastards in the air.’ I almost ran before Orm pulled me to his side.
‘Breathe, Nivale. Alaric’s already there, and I came for you as soon as we had finished carrying in the wounded. I know you’re no healer, but I also know you’d rip my head off if I kept you in the dark about this. Just please try to not overexert yourself. I need you on the patrol tomorrow. The unit stationed near the Rift sighted several spectrae.’
I whirled around sharply. ‘Did you even consider it? Not telling me?’
‘No, but as commander, I have to weigh every option. Alaric and the healers can help the wounded, but only you can deal with the spectrae. I need you combat-ready tomorrow if I don’t want any more wounded. Ani, I’m sorry, but I have to ask: can you use your conduit powers safely? The situation is … We’re no longer able to keep the monsters back. Three other villages were attacked and decimated so completely that there was no one left to ask for help. It’s almost a full-scale invasion. I sent letters to my brother and our allies, but until he’s dealt with the king, we are on our own.’
‘Yes, I can use my abilities. It would be even better if I could Anchor Alaric, but he’s been avoiding me lately. If I could boost his foul magic, we could tap into the very source of the Vel.’ I bit my lip, looking for signs of anger on Orm’s face as we walked. ‘I wish he’d open up to me.’
‘He loves you, and I think he needs you now more than ever, but with the Lich King tied to his curse, I think he considers it too dangerous to Anchor you now,’ he said, not looking at me, though I felt his hand briefly tightening on mine.
‘Did you say something to him?’ I was baffled by Orm’s admission but relieved when he shook his head.
‘My feelings won’t change just because he loves you. When I first realised you were my soulmate, I was angry and possessive, but Vahin made me realise something: for him, you are hisLittle Flamewho brought light to the fog that enveloped his mind.For me, you are myNivalewho gave meaning to a life that had become a never-ending battle. And for Ari? I think you may well be his salvation.’
Orm lifted me over a small stone wall as we took a shortcut through the rocky castle garden and briefly held me in his arms. ‘He’s been my friend for so many years. How could I refuse him the chance to be as happy with you as I am? There are things that prevent him from being your Anchor right now, but I’m not one of them, I promise.’
‘Well, whatever his obstacles are, I will conquer them one after another, and once I’m done with the healers, I’m moving some clothes to your bedroom. No, scrap that. I’m moving in. I’m done sleeping alone, and this is your first and last chance to object. Just be ready—because Agnes, Katja, and Bryna will be strolling through your man cave, and most of the time, they don’t even bother to knock.’ His answering smile took my breath away.
‘I would suffer greater torment to have you by my side,’ he beamed.
We walked to the infirmary in comfortable silence after that. Orm still held my hand as we descended the many stairs to the encampment next to the landing field, and I shook my head, trying to hide my smile.
As always, my protective warrior ensured I was safe on the slippery, weathered steps. I wasn’t sure if he realised how expressive he had become after we bonded. Even now, his thumb stroked the soft, sensitive part of my inner wrist, almost as if he wanted to comfort me or reassure himself that I hadn’t changed my mind.
‘You know I can fight monsters and even destroy half a mountain,’ I commented when he lifted me up over another puddle of water.
‘And what prompted that remark?’ he asked without looking at me, focused on navigating through the small crowd of men gathered near the infirmary.
