Page 66 of Oath of War
There was a long moment of silence before I heard Orm’s retreating footsteps.
I whispered my thanks to the dragon and let my rage burn.
As soon as I reached the garrison yard, I swung down from my horse, my boots hitting the ground with a dull thud. The camp, set on the outskirts of the city, buzzed with activity, and I couldn’t help but wonder why Reynard had summoned me here instead of to the palace—especially with a war council meeting to attend.
‘Why are you so late?’ Reynard asked, striding towards me.
I grunted, running a hand through my hair. ‘My life suddenly turning to shit?’
‘That bad?’ He clasped my shoulder, his grip steady.
‘You have no idea.’
‘Come,’ he said, his voice softening. ‘We’ll discuss it in private. There’s still some time before the meeting, and I’ll always have time to listen to my brother.’
We walked across the parade square, passing the lord marshal’s office, the armory, and the quartermaster’s building, where military bureaucrats meticulously tracked every coinspent on the army.
‘How many men can you deploy into the city?’ I asked. ‘I have the names of several spies and allies of the chancellor. We need to move on them quickly.’ I took a deep breath before continuing. ‘Also, when was the last time you checked the chancellor’s cell?’
‘Why?’
Before I could answer, a sergeant marched past with his unit, shouting, ‘Hail to the king!’ The soldiers saluted crisply, and Reynard returned the gesture, though I didn’t fail to notice his shudder.
‘I haven’t had time,’ he admitted. ‘Between the dark fae, an endless stream of whining nobles, and gathering the army, I haven’t even thought about him. Last I checked, he’s chained up, fed, and under guard while every spare man I have is searching for Ihrain.’
‘Then you should check again,’ I said. ‘And don’t bother looking for Ihrain. He’s a bloodless corpse in our basement.’
Reynard’s eyes widened for a split second before a frown replaced his stunned expression. ‘Your report ... Do I even want to know what happened?’
I waited until we were in his office with the doors locked behind us before relaying yesterday’s attack, Ihrain’s capture, and what Alaric had told me about the Lich King and his plans. Reynard sat through all of it with a stony expression, slowly sipping wine from a battered cup.
‘These are the names of spies and conspirators,’ I said, sliding a parchment across the desk.
Reynard nodded, then rang a small bell. When his adjutant entered, he handed over the list. ‘Summon the Dark Brotherhood,’ he instructed calmly. ‘Send them to the people on this list. I want them dead before noon.’
I stiffened, frowning. The Reynard I knew was decisive but not ruthless. The man sitting in front of me was no longer the brother I had teased about his fleeting relationships with the ladies of the court. This was the King of Dagome, a leader capable of ordering the deaths of forty noblemen—some from the most powerful families in the realm.
The adjutant saluted without hesitation and left the room.
‘Don’t you want to spare any of them?’ I asked. ‘We don’t know how deeply they were involved.’
Reynard shook his head. ‘If the chancellor has escaped, any one of them could be aiding him. Dagome needs to be united. If it takes excising their cancerous presence to achieve that, then so be it.’ A bitter grimace twisted his lips before he could control it. ‘But that’s not what’s bothering you, is it? Tell me, Orm. Maybe I can help.’
‘Nothing can help,’ I muttered, slumping in my chair. ‘Alaric’s headed for Katrass. Annika thinks I should’ve stopped him but chose not to, and now won’t even look at me ...’ My voice rose as I continued, desperation creeping in. ‘Fuck! All it took was one night—one godsdamned night—for my life to turn upside down.’
Annika’s tears and rejection were tearing me apart, and I needed someone to believe me. I wouldn’t have sent Alaric to the Barren Lands if there were any other way.
Reynard studied me for a moment. ‘Annika will come around,’ he said finally. ‘I’m sure she’ll realise you’re not to blame. If you didn’t drive Alaric crazy with every little thing that could go wrong before he left, then I don’t know you at all. She’ll see that. I’m sorry, Orm. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you.’
His words eased some of the weight on my chest, and I rose from my chair. ‘Thank you for letting me rant. Now, let’s go. Your letter mentioned wanting to show me something, and if we dally, you’ll be late for your own war council.’
Reynard hesitated as though wanting to say more, but I didn’t need his pity. Besides, Vahin had sent a message through our link that Annika was getting ready to leave the manor, and I needed to see my woman.
We’d barely stepped out of the building when I caught sight of an archer aiming in our direction. ‘Down!’ I shouted, shoving Reynard to the ground and shielding him with my body just as an arrow thudded into the doorframe where we’d been standing.
‘Someone’s trying to kill you?’ I asked, looking around for the culprit.
Reynard sighed, his expression unnervingly calm. ‘No, Orm. Those are my fucking soldiers, or rather, the palace guard I inherited from the previous king.’ A look of disgust twisted his features. ‘That’s what I wanted to talk about.’
