Page 115 of Oath of War
After yet another round of cursing that would make a pirate wince, I opened my eyes to look around. I was in a dusty attic room full of bird nests that stank of mould bad enough to make me gag.
‘Kill it!’ The voice from below sent my heart into a painful stutter, and for a split second, I considered jumping down to shield Annika. Then I realised the man saidit,nother, and that even with my heavy build, I wouldn’t survive falling from such a height.
Instead, I ran.
Despite the intricate carvings that adorned its surface, the tower’s design was simple and utilitarian. Narrow at the summit, it widened as I descended the spiralling staircase, leading to rooms on the lower levels. I’d been lucky with my landing because the moment I opened the door, I found myself face-to-face with a monster.
The wild magic in my blood hummed with approval as I gave it free rein. I didn’t even need my sword, jamming my fingersinto the monster’s eyes before smashing its head against the wall until it collapsed to the floor, dead.
‘Is that all you’ve got?’ I roared, charging down the staircase.
The beast within me revelled in the carnage. Each step I took left a trail of blood. Monsters, corrupted Moroi—it didn’t matter. They all fell under my fury, every one of them a barrier between me and the woman I loved. The woman I needed to reach before that undead bastard could harm her.
By the time I reached the tower’s base, my armour dripped with ichor and gore. I barely paused to wipe the mess from my face before bursting into the chamber. The sudden brightness blinded me, but I pressed forward.
And I still arrived too late.
The air thrummed with magic, heavy and volatile. It stung my skin like icy needles, as though I’d plunged into a freezing mountain stream. Annika’s power roared around the room, so potent it locked me in place. I fought against its snares, my skin cracking with frost the harder I struggled.
Then Ani said something to the Lich King, her voice sharp and defiant, just before blue fire shot from her hands, engulfing him in a raging inferno. My breath hitched as Cahyon, his eyes filled with darkness, stepped forward.
The flames recoiled from his body, leaving him untouched. He laughed—a deep, mocking sound—and with a flick of his wrist, his magic surged towards Annika. Oily black tendrils wrapped around her, searing her skin and leaving red, angry welts wherever they touched.
My woman screamed in rage, her magic answering her fury. The torrent of blue fire intensified, punching through Cahyon’s dark shield. The ground trembled beneath me, the clash of their immense power shaking the very foundation of the world.
The Lich King, with the strength of the land at his command, met Annika’s unyielding might—she, a conduit capable oflimitless spells, wielding raw elemental force. Black flames writhed against blue fire, and for a moment, time itself seemed to hold its breath.
But Annika wasn’t alone.
A faint, otherworldly presence emerged behind her. The air shimmered as though the Veil had thinned, revealing nineteen spectral women. Their forms were indistinct, but their power was undeniable, a force that bolstered Annika’s own. Her blue flames burned brighter, their light searing through the choking black tendrils.
I didn’t fully understand what was happening, but when Cahyon staggered back, his face twisted in disbelief, I roared in triumph. He stared at Annika as if seeing her for the first time, his expression contorting with fear. Her icy fury burned through his defences, and for the first time, the Lich King hesitated.
‘Impossible ...’ he mouthed as he was forced another step back, wailing as his gaze fixed on something behind Annika. ‘Rowena!’
Following his line of sight, I surged forward, desperate to intervene, but ice and ash clung to me, slowing my movements. I watched in horror as Rowena raised a beautifully ornate dagger and sank it into Ani’s back.
My Nivale responded instantly, whipping her arm towards Alaric’s sister. A blast of magic flung Rowena against the wall with a sickening thud. It was an effective counterstrike, but it cost Annika dearly. The interruption broke her focus, and Cahyon seized the opportunity.
His black magic surged forward, engulfing her.
‘No!’ My scream mixed with a dragon’s roar and Ari’s anguished cry.
Annika choked, blood pouring from her lips as she fell to her knees. One of the ghostly figures standing behind her movedsuddenly, its ephemeral form darting between Annika and the oncoming attack.
The spirit took the brunt of the death magic, its shape solidifying momentarily. A familiar scent of herbal remedies filled the air as I saw Katja protect my treasure one last time. Annika’s shock reverberated through our bond, but with a guttural cry, she pushed herself to her feet.
Time stood still. My breath hung in the air, frozen mist suspended mid-motion as Annika drew on the aether with an intensity that was both terrifying and awe-inspiring.
It felt as though the Void had opened beneath our feet, draining the life from everything around it. I was sure we were dying. Darkness crept at the edges of my vision before, just as suddenly, it all stopped.
The world shifted, and Ani’s voice, low and cold, whispered a spell that resonated with finality.
‘Tae niti tue etera mago.1 The thread of your existence will end here.’
Pain shot through me when a bolt of aether shot from her hand, brilliant as the sun and icy as a winter storm. It struck Cahyon square in the chest, and he screamed, thrashing in agony, but Annika was relentless. The black tendrils of his magic shrunk and vanished under her assault while the Lich King howled in fury, clawing his chest.
‘You can’t do it. My magic ... you fucking witch!’ he screamed before his voice pitched when crimson dragon fire replaced blue flames.
