Page 25 of Oath of War
If I knew my way around, I could have gone to the training grounds to light up my sword with fire and dance, practising the battle mage kata until exhaustion took over. But my circumstances dictated patience. I had no sword, no clothes, and besides, my men deserved their rest after everything we’d been through.
I snorted at the absurdity of it all.From hedge witch to kingmaker in three easy steps. What a ridiculous story my life had become. The mental image of me dictating my scandalous exploits to a frazzled scribe almost drew a chuckle.
The sound of a deep sigh behind me caught my attention. I turned to see Alaric nuzzling into Orm’s chest, the fae’s body instinctively seeking warmth. Orm’s strong arms encircledhim without waking, their peaceful intimacy tugging at my heartstrings.
This is perfect, I thought. Everything I had wished for had somehow come together; just when I thought I couldn’t be happier, Vahin’s voice filled my mind.
‘Little Flame, you’re awake at last. I thought they’d worn you out yesterday—or at least that was the worry I sensed in Orm’s mind.’ Relief and joy radiated from him, and I couldn’t help but smile. I could finally hear my dragon, and there was nothing that could compare with feeling his consciousness merging with mine.
‘I was tired,’ I admitted, ‘but far from worn out. Where are you?’ I asked, moving to the window where a bowl of fruit and a carafe of wine waited. My stomach growled as I picked up a piece of exotic fruit, its velvety sweetness bursting on my tongue.
‘I’m enjoying the morning currents. Would you like me to return?’
‘No, but talk to me, please. I missed you,’ I said, leaning on the windowsill. The sight of him gliding effortlessly above the mansion stole my breath. ‘Your voice ... I was alone in the darkness, powerless without my magic, but that didn’t scare me as much as not being able to hear you.’
‘And I missed you, Little Flame. Your absence ...’ His voice faltered, emotions bleeding through our bond as he executed a dramatic loop in the sky.
‘Vahin!’ I scolded, heart racing.
‘You are mine to protect,’ he declared, his tone firm but tinged with vulnerability. ‘I will never let the world take you from me. If the bond between us must break, it will not be my doing. I’m yours until the time stops and even the oceans turn to dust.’
His words struck a tender chord, though beneath them, I sensed a lingering darkness—a scar left by our separation.
‘Whatever happens, even if I pass behind the Veil, you will always have a shard of my soul,’ I answered, trying to soothe him, but Vahin’s thoughts became more depressive, and I felt my dragon trying to shield them from me as our happy interlude came to an end.
‘Do you know anything about this trial?’ I waited, the silence on the other side of the bond speaking louder than words. ‘Vahin, tell me. Whatever it is, I want to be prepared.’
‘Only that it forces you to face your deepest fears alone. I can lend you strength, bolster your magic with dragon fire, but beyond that ...’ He hesitated, pain echoing in his words. ‘Letting you endure this is agony for me. My kind do not take loss lightly.’
‘You can give me strength? Are you telling me Orm is built like a brick outhouse because of you?’ I asked teasingly, trying to hide my fear from the dragon.‘Should I be worried about becoming a big, burly, hairy bear?’
‘No, Orm’s bond is different. I’m not responsible in any way for his natural attributes,’ he answered, mirth sneaking into his words before he paused. ‘Annika, with you ... Your grief called to me all those years ago. The moment I first saw you, filthy, your heart torn asunder, and determined to die and join your loved ones, I wanted you to live. I wanted it so much that my soul reached out, giving you the strength to survive, hoping one day you would find me again.’
His memory of me—broken, caked in dirt, and determined to die with my Anchors in that avalanche—flashed through my mind. I saw myself as he had: stubborn and wild, yet alight with potential. If not for him, I’d have perished then and there, never to meet Orm or Ari.
‘Thank you,’ I whispered, tears falling from my eyes.
‘It was an honour, Little Flame. You burn so brightly, and I won’t let anyone steal your light. Just remember how strongand loved you are. Whatever you face, you are no longer alone. Promise me you’ll believe in yourself.’
The determination of his thoughts made me sigh. ‘Do you think it will be that bad?’
‘I don’t know,’ Vahin admitted. ‘But those who survive this trial are few, and whatever they face seals their lips. Dragons know little about it, as none of them were bonded to my kind. I don’t like not knowing, and it worries me not having an answer for you.’
‘Me too,’ I replied softly, catching a glimpse of Orm stirring in bed. ‘But as long as I can save Alaric, I can handle anything.’ I tore my gaze from Orm and added, ‘I need to dress and meet Reynard, but I’ll come to the landing field later. I have to tell him what I learned about the chancellor and the Barren Lands. My mind wasn’t working yesterday, and I had ... other things to do, but I have to tell the new king that the kingdom is riddled with enemies.’
Vahin chuckled, the sound warm in my mind. ‘Those “other things” are burned into my memory. Orm was projecting so strongly I had a front-row seat. No need to explain, Little Flame—it would only make me jealous.’
I choked on a piece of fruit, coughing out a laugh. ‘Vahin!’
The noise woke Orm, who blinked before understanding flashed in his sleepy eyes.
‘You can talk to the dragon in bed, Nivale.’ He smiled, stretching in a long, deliciously shameless motion. ‘I wouldn’t mind cuddling for a while.’
I pointed at the now nearly empty bowl of fruit. ‘I can talk to him, yes, but I was famished, and the only thing I ate yesterday was a sweet roll and ... erm, Alaric.’
Orm burst into laughter, sliding off the bed. ‘We can’t have you going hungry. Shall I wake Ari to feed you again, or would you prefer a normal, boring breakfast?’
Alaric’s eyes cracked open, narrowing into a glare.
