Page 78 of Oath of War
I’m in the Lich King’s palace.
The thought shocked me, and I instinctively reached to my chest, patting the remains of my curse. But it was silent. I’d worried how the wretched thing would react in proximity to its master, but the Dark Mother’s touch was truly a mercy.
I followed my magic, which now hummed like a tense rope attached to my wrist. I was close to Rowena, so I pushed forward, determined to find her and leave this place as soon as possible.
Those who stood in my way were dispatched quickly. I bound all the undead to my will, slaughtering those whose life force still burned under Cahyon’s corruption. As I stuffed another body into a storage room, I couldn’t suppress my dark humour.Now, this palace has a skeleton in every closet.
The farther I went, the more I mourned the lost Kingdom of Ozar. Despite centuries of neglect, the beauty of the palace was breathtaking. The faded, rich tapestries still gleaming with golden thread, exquisite paintings, candelabras shaped like roses, and polished marble floors impressed me so much that I scarcely noticed the layers of dust or occasional rodents in dark corners.
The sun set below the horizon, but in the meandering corridors, I was no closer to finding my sister than when I’d started. I was working through the last floor of living quarters, dreading the thought of going to the dungeons when distant footsteps diverted my attention. I was distracted for a moment, but then I felt it. A strong pull from one of the smaller rooms.
I entered it, and time froze.
‘Don’t touch me! Don’t come closer, or I swear I’ll gut you. If the master sent you here, tell him I’m working on it.’
The panicked female voice stunned me into silence, and I stood there, still in the shadows, staring at a petite, golden-haired woman wielding a dagger that looked more like a letter opener than a weapon.
She’d changed—matured—and the haunted look in her eyes reflected her suffering, but it was still the face of the little girl who’d smiled as I hugged her goodbye all those centuries ago.
‘Ro ... Oh gods, Rowena. I finally found you.’
The dagger clattered onto the desk, which was covered in half-opened books and drafted sigils. My sister backed away, pressing her back to the wall, looking at me in disbelief.
‘No, you’re another nightmare sent to torment me. You’re not real.You are not real,’ she hissed, staring at me with wild, bright blue eyes, and I felt the aether build around me as if she were trying to dispel an illusion.
‘It’s really me, Ro,’ I said, stepping forward to stretch out my hand, then promptly ducking when she released a small fireball.
She truly believes I’m not here.
I knew only one way to convince her. In a blur, I lunged, and before Ro could draw another breath, I was beside her, crushing her to me in a fierce hug, whispering the lullaby I’d used to sing her to sleep with as a child.
‘It’s all right, little sister, I’m here,’ I said once her thrashing slowed, little by little. ‘I’m finally here.’
Rowena’s shouting turned to sobs as she hammered her fists into my chest.
‘Why now, why after all these years, did you come now?’ she cried. The pain in her voice tore my heart to pieces.
‘I couldn’t come earlier,’ I said. ‘I’m so sorry, I tried. I even experimented with a conduit mage, but nothing got me past the Barrier. Only now was I able to find a way to come for you.’
Rowena inhaled sharply, placing her head on my chest. Years of torment melted away as I held her in my arms. I finally had my sister back and could get her home safely.
‘Who is this conduit mage? Is it that Annika father’s so intent on killing?’
I frowned, unsure why she’d asked.Surely the Lich King has mentioned her?The stray thought came and went as she stifled a sob.
‘She is so much more than that, Ro,’ I said. ‘I found my domina. Annika is more than I could ever dream of—and yes, she is the conduit. You’ll love her. She’s suffered so much, but there is such kindness in her, and a fierceness that would humble any warrior.’ I smiled involuntarily, almost as if invoking Ani’s name made everything better.
‘Your domina? Are you blood-bonded to her, brother?’ Rowena wiped her tears, looking at me with a shy smile.
I nodded. ‘Blood-bonded, Anchored ... I belong to her in every possible way,’ I said, releasing my hold since she seemed to have calmed. ‘Come, we need to get back to the portal. Bring only thebare necessities, as it is a long trek. Everything else I can get for you in Dagome.’
‘You truly came to take me away from him, away from these monsters?’
‘Of course,’ I said, ‘but we need to hurry. Our luck can only hold for so long.’ I pulled her towards the window, wishing I had a dragon of my own to climb onto and fly us away from this cursed place. Instead, I hoped the tangled roses could handle us both.
‘We can’t go, not during the night. His constructs ... They all become active when the sun sets and they can sense me. We need to wait until sunrise,’ she insisted, pulling me back into the shadows.
‘It is better to risk a midnight hike than spend time here. The longer I’m present in his realm, the higher the risk the Lich King will detect me,’ I said, noticing her eyes widen. ‘Don’t be afraid, I can protect you. Let’s just say I left a trail of bodies in my wake getting here. And while this place is a beautiful maze, I don’t think they’ll remain hidden for long.’
