Page 9 of Oath of Betrayal
Just as I was leaving for the empress’ court to ask for permission to go to Ozar, I received a letter from our mother. Instructing me to sell her valuables and whatever else I could to finance an escape—not just from Ozar but from our own dark fae empire as well.
The empress ignored my pleading, pleased with my father’s plan for a political marriage. But, consequences be damned, instead of following my mother’s instructions, I wrote to my father. In the letter, I demanded that he abandon this insanity and send his wife and child home immediately.
Then, one day, word came of a new power in Ozar. Indeed, Cahyon Abrasan no longer reigned. Now, the kingdom was ruled by the Lich King, an undead monster who was even more power-hungry than his predecessor.
The memory blurred, and I felt my chest burning as my curse marked the next part of my torment. The scene sharpened, and I found myself in front of a sallow-faced messenger.
‘Master Alaric, you are summoned to the palace,’ the young man wheezed as I sat at my father’s desk, writing—begging—my friends for help to rescue my mother and sister.
It didn’t take long to get ready, and half an hour later, I was at court. To my surprise, I wasn’t brought inside. Instead, the emperor consort—a mage and my mentor—intercepted me, gesturing for me to follow.
We walked through several dark corridors, the walls dripping with moisture and the air stale with the smell of mould. A sense of foreboding settled over me and I trembled with apprehension, my heart pounding in my chest. What was going on? Had I done something wrong? … No, if that was the case, I’d be in irons and stripped of my magic.
I couldn’t think of a reason for this strange excursion and worried that someone had discovered my abilities despite the lengths I’d gone to to hide my strong necromancy in order to avoid my father’s wrath.
‘I’m so sorry, Alaric,’ the mage said when we entered one of the summoning chambers, its wards strong enough to contain a powerful demon. Then I saw it. A casket. With a woman inside.
My mother looked so peaceful, as if in the midst of a gentle dream, but the signs of corruption were clearly visible, even if I hadn’t been a necromancer and knew what to look for.
‘Who … who did this? Where is my sister?’ I cried out through gritted teeth, fighting the tears streaming down my face.
‘Your father. Your sister … is still in Ozar, but I have to tell you—foul magic was used on your mother. Roan … Your father sacrificed your mother for something wholly appalling and used her life force to transform Abrasan into the Lich King. The empress is furious and has stripped your family’s titles and lands.’
The mage’s words failed to penetrate the numbness that overwhelmed me. All I could do was stare at my mother, the tears still falling from my eyes.
‘Your mother’s body arrived with a letter to you and a declaration of war. I hid the letter from the empress, but… the Lich King is marching south as we speak, and you … there are orders to lock you up. I will give you a moment to say goodbye; then you must run.’
‘You’d go against the empress?’
‘She is hurt by your father’s betrayal and frightened by the threat of Abrasan. I refuse to incarcerate you for the sins of your father, especially since—unlike him—you honour our traditions and care for those weaker than you,’ he said, patting my shoulder. ‘I’ll leave you with her. You have an hour before I return with the guards, and I hope I won’t find you here.’
‘No, he can’t be that evil. No one could …’ I trailed off, remembering the abuse, and fell to my knees.
The next thing I knew, I was standing over my mother, purple aether flowing through me as I revived her, begging for the truth. I watched as my magic breathed life into the body, its spirit settling within the corrupt vessel.
It was then I noticed the tendrils of the blackest aether flowing over my wrists and sinking beneath my skin. ‘Hrae!’ I shouted. I’d forgotten to shield, had revived her without a single protection in place, but most importantly, I’d forgotten what my mother was.
She was a dreamwalker, a strong psionic mage able to influence other people, and in my semi-delirious state, I had no way to stop her. I watched in disbelief as I cut runes into my chest, weaving the silver adorning the corpse into my bleeding flesh. Then, I uttered the words of an unbreakable vow—a hideous blood oath, cursing myself to a life of misery until I rescued my sister or avenged her death.
With a blinding flash of silver light, reality came crashing back, and I screamed once again, feeling the pain of burning metal sinking into my skin. I was covered in sweat, and smoke drifted from my top as my marks seared both my skin and clothing, so I ripped the fabric away, tossing it into the fireplace.
With an unsteady hand, I grabbed a pitcher and tossed its contents over my chest, cursing. This night’s dream had been the worst I’d ever had. I squeezed my eyes closed, hating the person I’d become.
The man who’d once braved a lashing to protect an innocent child was now someone who planned to Anchor an unsuspecting conduit mage and use her to kill the bastard who sired him, and—if the Dark Mother allowed—the one who stole his mother’s life.
I couldn’t tell Orm. He wouldn’t understand, and he certainly wouldn’t accept using the woman like that. He needed an excuse, something more worthy of such a sacrifice. I’d already told him I wanted to replace the damaged keystone, knowing it wasn’t possible. Now, I had just added another lie, making him believe I could do it if I was bonded to a conduit mage.
I was a selfish, overtired fool bent on revenge, but what choice did I have?
Both my father’s transgressions and my own mistakes condemned me. Even worse, I hadn’t fled the room after being cursed, and I’d cut down the guards that arrived before finally escaping. I lived as a fugitive in my own country for years; penniless, unable to pursue my quest.
When war broke out, I was forced to fight for my life at every turn. By the time I had gathered the strength to face my torment, the war was over and the Barrier was in place, preventing anyone with foul magic from getting past it.
I spent years looking for a way to break through that impenetrable wall that kept me from finding and avenging myloved ones, then even more years trying to remove the curse I had been compelled to inflict upon myself. Pain, my constant companion, ceased to be a punishment and became almost a need … because I had discovered that only the torment of my flesh could ease the pain that ravaged my soul.
‘I knew I’d find you here.’ Orm’s voice cut through the clear mountain air, and I turned to watch him approach. I smiled at my friend but couldn’t prevent the stab of bitterness from ruining my mood. ‘Am I that predictable?’
‘Since you came here nine years ago, I’d always find you here when you needed to think,’ he said. ‘The servants saw you sneaking out of your room before dawn, so I thought it likely you’d be here.’
