Page 4 of Winds of Darkness
“Fifty-two,” came the gruff voice of Feris.
She clicked her tongue again. “Fifty-two of my sentries and Marshals, Rayner. I am so disappointed.”
His lip curled back, baring his elongated canines at her. “I am going to kill you. I am going to kill you and everyone who knewwhat was going on here and did nothing. I am to kill every Fae that followed your orders without questioning a fucking thing.”
“And you, my pious Ash Rider?” Moranna asked, her arms folding and her chin resting on a thumb and forefinger. “You have killed on my orders. Did you question me?”
“You told me they deserved their deaths,” he snapped.
“And they did. They would have drained valuable resources from the colony. Everything I do is to keep those in my charge well taken care of. You know this,” she replied placatingly.
“Where is Aravis?”
“Who?” she asked, her brow furrowing in feigned puzzlement. At his snarl, she continued, “Oh! The other child? She has been assigned as a power vessel. I already told you this.” She stepped closer once more, bending down to speak softly to him again. Her fingers sank into his hair, her lips brushing the shell of his ear. “As soon as she has her first bleeding, she will be used until she is with child. She will bear many young for me. Surely one of them will be born as strong as you, no? I shall needsomeoneto replace you in my bed one day.” Her fingers tightened, tugging at his scalp. “But now, my Ash Rider, it is time to come back to bed.”
“I will never bow to you again.”
There were muffled gasps from the sentries still alive, and a low whistle came from Feris.
“Want him in a cell, your Grace?” the Captain asked, stepping to her side. He sneered down at him.
Moranna stood. “As much as it will hurt my heart to do so, perhaps that would be best for the remainder of the night,” she agreed. “Give him one with a proper view of what you will finish carrying out tonight.” She patted Rayner’s cheek twice before moving to the opposite end of the chamber. Her palm pressed to the rocky wall, and an archway appeared, a set of stairs that wound up appearing. A hidden passageway. That’s how she had made her way here so quickly.
Feris pulled him roughly to his feet, dragging him to a celldirectly across from the pool and the boats tied to the wooden docks. A perfect view indeed.
The door clanged shut after he was shoved inside. Rayner felt wards sealing it up.
“The Baroness’s favorite. Locked up. Can’t say I haven’t dreamed of this day, Ash Rider.”
“I am sure it will be your favorite memory of me.”
Feris snickered.
Rayner smiled back. A dark, wicked thing. The smile of a monster that had been awoken at the sight of Breya’s lifeless body on the ground. “My favorite memory of you will be when I watch the life drain from your eyes while I hold your heart in the palm of my hand.”
Feris stared back at him, blinking once, clearly unsure of how to respond to such a statement. Then he huffed a laugh. “I knew those swirling eyes meant you weren’t all there, Ash Rider.”
“You have no idea how true that statement is.”
Feris didn’t bother to reply, turning away and striding back to the remaining Marshals. There was a group of Fae, young and grown, huddled in the center of the chamber. Rayner counted them. Sixteen. Sixteen remained alive, while twelve were already dead.
Then he watched.
He watched as they drew daggers across throats. He watched every Fae fall to the ground, listened to every plea for mercy, and heard every cry of fear from a child. He watched as they filled the boats, and the Marshals boarded to ferry them outside the cliffs.
He watched as Breya was tossed thoughtlessly into the last boat. She would not be given a Farewell. None of them would. Her body might be burned, but she would not receive the rites of the Fire Court like she deserved.
He watched it all, taking in every detail, marking every face that would meet death at his hand. He let all of it feed the monster inside, let it all feed the growing appetite for vengeance. Notvengeance for him. Never for him. He should have done more long before tonight. He’d live with that guilt the rest of his life, however long or short that may be.
But as the chamber emptied and he was left in the silent dark, he made a vow that he would see Moranna dead before he left this world. He would see the entirety of the Southern Islands become a place that only the spirits visited, and even they would not want to linger after he was done with this place.
The sound of the iron door opening drew him from his thoughts. A Marshal appeared in front of his cell, his features shadowed in the flickering flames of the torch he held. He was one of the Marshals who had slaughtered Fae tonight. Rayner said nothing, staring back at him unblinkingly, contemplating which manner of death would suit him best.
“We do not have much time,” the Fae said, his voice raspy, as though he rarely used it. When Rayner didn’t move, he waved him over impatiently. “Come on, Ash Rider. That deathstone won’t remove itself.”
His eyes fell to the dark stone encircling his wrist. His wrist was bleeding where the stone was digging in. He hadn’t felt a thing. He was numb. Numb to all of it except the rage coursing through him.
“You expect me to believe you are going to take it off of me?” Rayner asked. “I am not a fool.”
