Page 145 of Oath of Revenge

The trees began to thin and an eagle swooped down. The flapping of their massive wings created a deafening hurricane like whoosh. Bella ducked, her arms protecting the potted rose as Scarlet jerked on the reins. The horses whinnied in freight, tossing their heads as they careened sideways, just out of reach of the eagle’s lethal claws.

Ashur launched himself over them, tackling the eagle to the ground. Ice and snow billowed from the impact, and the ground shook, making Bella grip the pot tighter. She looked back as he punched it in the beak.

It fell limply, convulsing. Scarlet turned their horses, and Bella looked forward, squeezing the pot. They approached a wall of thorns and roses, and her heart pounded faster than the horses hooves. Her magic vibrated and broke free, latching onto the helrose hedge. It grew, thorns reaching higher into the sky to stab at the eagle above. Through her beating heart and terror of the rose being trampled underneath the hooves, she focused on the wall. The pot acted as a focus item, she gripped it so hard, and she actually maintained some semblance of control over her magic despite her terror. They raced along the edge of the wall, large shadows swooping until they turned sharply into a tunnel through the wall.

The sounds of battle faded as they slowed to a walk, and her magic faded. Bella’s heart slowed as the horses calmed.

Ashur nodded and explained how the king and queen—Knox and Eirwyn—were working to solve the eagle problem. He talked quite a lot about it, the adrenaline from battle lowering his formerly stoic expression. Bella stopped listening as they exited the tunnel. Her jaw dropped, and she floated off the horse in surprise. It was the castle from the fire magic last night!

Anticipation hung in the air like a heavy fog that obscured the truth and hinted at secrets yet to be revealed. Her gaze swung to where the large brown dragon had fallen. A boulder sat in the middle of a tight circle of trees, barely visible through the grove’s thickness. A tree grew out of the top of the boulder, barely a sapling.

Scarlet said, “The tree was the first magic I tried to reverse the curse.”

Guilt made her wince as she replied, “The one in the center?”

Scarlet nodded. “It used to produce golden apples that had incredible magical powers. It grew in the middle of the ballroom for the past few hundred years, until it was destroyed.”

Dread made her gulp, but still Bella asked, “How was it destroyed?”

Scarlet’s hands tightened on the reins. “Gastone cast a spell to animate a dragon skeleton, which attacked Knox and Eirwyn. The tree was destroyed in the battle, but they’ve replanted it. The gardener said the roots have taken but with the winter, it’s not produced any fruit. No fruit, no golden magical apples that might reverse the curse…”

Bella absorbed this new information, her mind already churning with possibilities and plans and hope. With all the resources available to her in this magical castle, perhaps she could finally correct the mistake that had tormented her for so long. The tree might be the key, if she could ferret out the secrets of this place.

She looked up, scanning the towering castle. It was easily taller than the Winter Palace in Demerel that she’d finally escaped from. Gray stone with white mortar and dotted with narrow stained-glass windows towered over them. The room where the dragon fought in her vision must be on the other side.

Bella grabbed the pommel of the saddle, anchoring herself back to sit as Scarlet halted the horses at the wide front steps. A servant took their horses’ reins, but didn’t even give Bella a second glance.

Bella frowned, surprised to not have a comment about a ghost. Scarlet took the pot with her rose and walked to the front stairs, taking them two at a time. Bella followed, her stomach in knots. There were people in there. People who might help, but also people who might hate her for what she’d done.

Her feet dragged, and the door to the manor swung open. Bella stopped on the top step and sucked in a breath. A petite black-haired woman stepped into the light, her face practically glowing. Her signature blue and red dress was in a new style than what Bella was familiar with, but the fabric and cut fit her friend to perfection, highlighting her new curves. Bella’s chest ached at the sight of her friend so healthy and happy.

Eirwyn’s flushed face beamed at them. “You made it! I knew you would. Where’s—oh.”

Scarlet stepped through the door, and Bella met Eirwyn’s gaze for the first time since that fateful day. Her eyes widened, but the pity in her face made Bella tip her chin up and curtsy.

“Oh Bella,” Eirwyn breathed, reaching with arms out for a hug. Eirwyn’s arms went through her, and she stepped back with a gasp, tears pooling in her eyes.

Bella’s smile was sad as she shook her head and wiped her tears. “I can’t,” Bella said. “As you can see, I’m a ghost. I—I hope you’ve been well?”

She couldn’t quite bring herself to ask all the million questions she wanted to ask. Eirwyn had stood by her side for ten years when she’d tried to run the tavern and shop. She’d helped sell the shop when the tavern’s homemade brew became more profitable. Eirwyn had helped her prosecute several bad people who had frequented the tavern too, all without revealing that Bella had been the one who’d overheard all the confessions and illegal deals.

She’d been so alone for six months, but here was her dearest friend in the world, ready to pick up their friendship where they’d left off.

Eirwyn stepped back, her nose red as tears ran down her own cheeks. “I’ve been fine, better than you, it looks like. You’re a ghost! Wulfric said, but I didn’t believe—and he’s back! Your father is alive! Bella—“

Bella laughed and wiped her cheek. “Perhaps we can chat like old times? If you’ll welcome me. I’ll understand if you don’t want to.” Bella tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. She wasn’t sure how much Da had explained about what had happened.

“Of course you’re welcome here. I’m so glad to see you. Come inside, please. Wait until you see the library. Oh you’ll love it so much! But I’m going to wait until after we talk to show it to you. You’ll be too distracted otherwise.“ Eirwyn waved a hand down the hall but turned to the right. Bella followed her with Scarlet behind them.

She stopped in the doorway of the drawing room and held her hand to her stomach. It twisted and lurched. She could almost see a hazy version of the dragon in the floor to ceiling window. She blinked, and the image dissipated. She glanced to the left of the room where the man had hidden behind a chair in her vision.

While the room had been rearranged and redecorated with more modern fabrics, several of the pieces still looked the same. This was where the dragon had died. Both of them. Nothing good could come from this place.

Except, she was already dead. And it was the only place she might be able to work on the curses.

“A library, you say?” Bella asked. New books meant new spellbooks to explore. Perhaps one of them would know how to reunite her body and spirit.

Eirwyn laughed, the sound light and airy and filling Bella with comfort. “A one track mind. Still the same as always at least. I’m glad some things never change.”

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