Page 13 of Oath of War
‘Th’ only key is with tha’ mage twat who waves ’is nose in th’ air n’ walks like ’e shits gold,’ they replied, peeling off their mask. The rodent-like face beneath matched the sneering voice, complete with scraggly beard and beady, amused eyes.
I wondered whether he was testing my patience or just had a death wish, but I was on the wrong side of a locked door, and he was the one sent to free me.
‘What kind of rogue doesn’t have a lockpick? Never mind—how long will it take you to steal the key from Ihrain?’ I asked calmly.
He grinned, chuckling in response. ‘Did I say I didn’ ha’ one? Ye’r talking to th’ best thief in th’ Lowland Kingdoms, lady. But I was warned ye’r might be ... unpredictable. So what’ll it be? Ye’r be calm and follow my orders?’
I nodded, trying to place his accent. It sounded southern with how he maimed his aitches, probably from the coastal area near the light fae kingdom, a no-man’s-land filled with ghosts and shipwrecks.
‘I’m the epitome of calm. Now, would you kindly open this fucking door because I don’t have all day to waste—’
‘Alright, alright. I’ll just tell ’em Itriedto keep ye’r safe,’ he muttered, pulling out his tools. The lock groaned in protest before giving way with a loudclick, the door creaking open.
Stretching, I stepped into the hallway and fixed him with a sharp look. ‘Which way to Alaric?’
‘No, I told ya, ye’r t’ come with me t’ th’ kitchen gardens. Yer man said th’ dragon will take ya.’
I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. ‘Alaric told you to do that?’
‘Aye, kind of. He’ll only pay if ye’r alive ...’
‘Splendid, then let’s make sure I stay alive. Do you have any extra weapons, or will I have to swing this bone around like a lunatic?’
‘I don’t ’ave weapons, and we ’ave no time for this. Come, I know all th’ secret passages in this castle. Ye’ll be free in no time.’
‘Right, let’s make this clear, my friend. I’m going where my men are, and you’re showing me the way,’ I said firmly, daring him to argue.
He sighed heavily. ‘Fine, at least change ye’r clothes. Th’ guards are swarming like fuckin’ ants, and if ye’r gonna start a fight, I’m out. I’m only paid for freeing ya, not to die for ya.’
He threw a servant’s dress at my feet. Without hesitation or a shred of modesty, I swapped out my old battle mage robe, still singed from the fortress fire, for the simple attire. Then, we moved.
The narrow stairway reeked of mud and decay, the air damp as we wound through the maze of musty corridors. Light filtered weakly through cracks in the stone, barely cutting the gloom.
‘Gods, was the bottom of the prison recently flooded?’ I mused, wiping slime off my hand after touching the wet wall.
The palace was built on a steep incline with many beautiful terraces, but the old castle was cut from the granite bedrock of the hill rising from the river that meandered past its walls. I’d bet the lowest part of the dungeon was frequently flooded during the spring.
‘River takes care o’ th’ bodies. Just open th’ door, and off floats th’ poor sod,’ the thief said, and I realised that could have been my fate.
Lovely.
We were nearing the end of the corridor when he suddenly stopped, grabbing my arm. ‘Someone’s comin’. Hide!’ He dragged me into a curtained alcove just as heavy footsteps approached.
‘Check if she’s still there,’ snapped Ihrain’s unmistakable voice. ‘If the portal sigil failed, take her to the trapdoor—there’s a boat waiting below to take you to the island. The boatman will take care of the rest. The poison should last, but just to be sure, make her swallow this.’
Rage flared in my chest, and I reached for the aether. But all I managed was a faint glow at the tip of my bone weapon.
‘Fuck, no. No fightin’,’ the thief hissed, pressing us against the wall and covering me with his body.
Ihrain’s voice receded as he gave more orders.
‘If she is not there, report to the throne room. I need to set up an ambush by the servant’s entrance, then I’ll meet you there. Reynard thinks he can sneak his soldiers in under my nose, damn fool . . .’
When the corridor fell silent, I shoved the thief away.
‘Let’s go. I need to warn Reynard.’
He shook his head. ‘I told ya I won’t fight for ya. Ye’ can go wherever you want, lady. I’m outta ’ere. If that mage prick knowsof th’ attack, I ain’t gonna get paid. I don’ wanna become one of th’ bodies left t’ rot.’
