Page 33 of Oath of War
‘Pleased to see you again, provost. I was hoping to see the royal mage as well. After what happened with the king, and now theBarrier, his death is the only acceptable excuse for not showing up,’ I said, placing my hand over the symbol of my Anchor bonds in a battle mage salute.
Suddenly, Alaric pulled me away, positioning himself in front of me, a dagger and shield sigil appearing under his hand.
‘What—’ I began, just a noise alerted me that something wasn’t right.
‘I knew the dark fae were sensitive to magic, but I didn’t realise how much. I’m glad you survived, child. Now, can you tell your fae to lower his weapon? I don’t want to get skewered before he realises I’m not a threat,’ said the man who emerged from behind the provost.
‘Ari, that’s the royal mage,’ I said, placing my hand on his until he lowered the blade. ‘My lord, I’m happy to see you. It is about time we talked.’
‘I know who he is, but what I don’t know is what Ambassador Valaram is doing here,’ Alaric responded, staring straight into the darkness of the passage.
A rich, melodic laugh flowed out and Valaram emerged.
‘Is that everyone, or should I expect a party? I don’t know if I should call for reinforcements, not that a dragon would fit in here anyway, but we could try,’ I deadpanned, hoping they wouldn’t see through my bluff.
‘Your dragon is flying to the borderlands as we speak. Stop posturing, child. We are all here because we’re concerned about the same things,’ the provost said, gesturing towards the chairs and transforming them into a comfortable sofa. ‘Let’s sit.’
‘I bloody knew it,’ I muttered under my breath before addressing the royal mage. ‘If you all knew that Vahin was flying to the border, you know the Barrier has fallen. I can’t be the only one who felt that wave of aether.’
‘Yes, we know,’ the provost admitted. ‘Is that why you came? To deliver the news?’
I looked each of the three men in the eyes. How were they so calm? There werepeoplein the borderlands, most with no idea that the Barrier had collapsed. Yet here we were, sitting around like it was high tea.
‘No, I came to tell you it’s time the Council of Mages pulled their heads out of their arses and help. You have trained battle mages, healers, and artificers, and I want to send them where they are needed most. I get it—the old king was a puppet controlled by our enemy, but now? Why are you just sitting here when there is so much to do?’ I turned towards the royal mage. ‘And why aren’tyouin the palace helping Reynard? Where were you when Ihrain drew the portal to drag me to Katrass?’
‘I can’t help because Ihrain has my geas,’ he finally confessed. ‘When I first noticed something was wrong, I confronted him, only for the scum to pull my geas from his pocket. The only thing I was able to do was give Ormond yours to protect you.’ Seeing my shocked expression, he continued, ‘I’m not in court because I still have a key and spells that unlock the geas vault. Would you like me to give it to him when he orders me to?’
‘What—? Fuck.How?Only the king holds royal mages’ geasa—’ I started.
‘And we both know how lucid the king was,’ he interrupted.
‘But you can help now. With Reynard as king . . . You know about the Barrier, but did you catch the part about Ihrain creating portals to the Barren Lands? You need to send a team to the city to ensure all those who serve the Lich King are brought to justice. You should also send battle mages and healers to the borders and, for the gods’ sakes, have them train with dragons—reallytrain, as in, fighting in the air on dragon back.’
The royal mage looked at me for a long while. The silence stretched on, and the provost shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
‘She may be right, Riordan.’
‘I never said she was wrong. Alright, Lady Annika. Here is my compromise: the council will support your king, and we will follow your demands . . . under one condition.’
‘Which is?’ I asked.
Judging by the smirk that ghosted his lips, I knew I wouldn’t like the answer.
‘If you survive tomorrow’s trial, you will find and kill Ihrain and become my apprentice, just like I had planned for after you killed the wlok.’
‘What?’ I gasped, and only Alaric’s quick reflexes saved the wine glass I’d grabbed when I cocked back my arm to launch it at Riordan’s head.
‘That has to be the—I don’t have the patience or desire to deal with the politics of that position. Besides, I’m needed in the army. The riders need me to fight the spectrae,’ I said when I regained the ability to speak.
He simply shrugged. ‘I can’t live at the university until Ihrain is dead, and I need someone who can speak to the king on the council’s behalf—someone the king will trust.’
‘Fine,’ I conceded. ‘If you don’t find a better candidate, I guess I can do it.’
The ambassador chose that moment to begin slow clapping, startling me.
‘Bravo, my lady,’ Valaram declared with an inscrutable smile. ‘I look forward to working with you and your king.’
‘And what aboutyourpeople?’ I snapped. ‘Will you fight with Reynard?’
