Page 16 of Oath of War
‘Domina, I thought I was too late!’
The relief in his tone dulled the pain of my injuries. When he took a step towards me, two fae guards blocked his way, and I heard coldness replace the disdain in the dark fae woman’s voice when she spoke again.
‘Well, well ... Alaric’va Shen’ra, it has been too long. Won’t you greet an old friend?’
Alaric turned, looking as if he’d only just noticed her presence.
‘Oante’terec evako, Domina Tenebris,’1 he intoned, dropping to one knee. I was beginning to think everyone had turned to statues. Not one person dared to move as the situation unfolded.
‘So, you haven’t forgotten how to be a noble of my dark court,’ the empress crooned, approaching him with a soft, gentle smile before gesturing toward Valaram. ‘Val, darling. Kill him. But make it quick.’
‘As you command,’ the fae male answered, and I felt the aether gathering around him.
Rage—pure, unbridled fury—blinded me. I didn’t care why Alaric was so casually sentenced to death, or that Valaram was kin to the dark fae empress and a legendary primaeval high mage. He would not kill my man. Ari belonged to me, and even if Veles, god of the Underworld, came to claim his soul himself, I would fight him.
‘No!’ I shouted, staggering forward, but I was too slow. Still, my actions seemed to break whatever spell held everyone silent, and chaos erupted.
The dark fae ambassador cast a spell over Alaric, its silver threads covering my lover and ensnaring him. I recognised the net from my duel with Ari at the fortress. However, this one seemed more substantial, more dangerous, and I felt a shiver of fear run down my spine at seeing him held in its deadly embrace.
I threw myself forward, skidding across the bloody floor. The breath knocked out of my lungs as Orm picked me up before I hit the marble tiles. He turned, pointing his sword at my attackers, shielding me with his body from the two dark fae guards.
‘Nivale, you’re bleeding. You’ve got a godsdamned hole in your side!’ he muttered frantically as I pressed my hand to the still-seeping wound. ‘You need a fucking healer!’
‘I’m fine—stop worrying about me. We need to protect Ari!’ I answered, and he supported me as we moved to face the empress. She looked at me with such smug superiority, clearly enjoying the moment.
‘Tell your mage to release my fae,’ I demanded, not even bothering with pleasantries.
‘Your fae? The Shen’ra family belongs to me. His life is mine, and I’ve already decided his fate.’
‘I won’t let you do this,’ I said, reaching for the aether. I had little time. Soon, blood loss would render me unconscious, butwith Orm holding me, I felt able to access the aether long enough for a single attack.
As I opened myself up to the power, Reynard pushed the chancellor into someone’s arms and jumped in front of us, arms outstretched.
‘No, Lady Annika, Valaram will kill him and you if you fight.’
The incantation died on my lips, but I held onto the aether with uncertain control. Suddenly, a mournful keening interrupted our standoff as the king’s groom staggered through a small back door, wailing like a vjesci.2
‘The king ... the king is dead. The mages killed the king! The blood ... Oh gods, the blood ...’
The world I knew crashed and burned before my eyes. I didn’t know what to do. The old fool may not have been a good king, but his presence kept the nobles from tearing each other apart to replace him. Orm had told me that when they’d discussed the rebellion, most of the nobles had agreed on Reynard becoming king. Still, they’d planned on deposing the king, notkillinghim. Now we had to deal with the dark fae empress witnessing not just a rebellion but the regicide.
I had to salvage this situation in our favour, and if I couldn’t fight, I needed a king to fight for me.
I detangled myself from Orm’s grasp and hobbled to the centre of the room, feeling all eyes on me as I concentrated on not falling. I stopped next to the groom, and Ormond moved to my side. Locking eyes with Reynard, I sank to one knee with as much flourish as I could muster.
‘Long live the king! All hail King Reynard Erenhart!’ I exclaimed. Then, surging unsteadily to my feet, I pressed a fist to my chest, saluting as a crown mage. ‘I, Annika Diavellar, conduit and loyal battle mage, hereby acknowledge Reynard Erenhart as king of Dagome on behalf of the Council of Mages and Court of Aether.’
Reynard’s eyes widened before I saw the hint of a smile. We both knew I didn’t have the authority to make such a proclamation, but once he took over the kingdom, whoever had a problem with my unwarranted statement could take it up with the new king.
‘I, Ormond Erenhart, Lord Commander of Varta Fortress and the dragon riders, acknowledge Reynard Erenhart as king of Dagome on behalf of the Conclave of Dragons.’
A few nobles dropped to their knees, followed by a few more, until, after several moments, all the nobles of Dagome had kneeled and pledged their loyalty to the new king. I turned to look at the dark fae empress, who, in turn, stared back. The broken mage’s blood still dripped from my hand, staining the polished floors as we measured each other’s resolve.
‘Thank you, little mage. Now I know who to discuss matters of state with,’ she said with a smirk. I didn’t smile back.
‘If you are grateful, then release Alaric,’ I responded without sparing a glance at the man I’d just proclaimed king.
‘No, I don’t think I will. But I have to say, I enjoyed the show. I’d heard so much about Dagome’s conduit mages, and you didn’t fail to impress. I hadn’t thought you aspired to be a kingmaker. So refreshingly bold and unlike others of your kind who follow their male guardians.’
