Page 55 of An Honored Vow

Kairn cleared his throat. “And what are they needed for, Your Majesty?”

“To protect my armies and send thewaateyshirakfeasting on half-blood meat.” Damien sat back down in his throne and took another sip of wine. “If the Faeland is going to commit treason with magic, then I shall defend my kingdom with it.”

A cool confidence spread over Damien’s face, infecting the Arsenal surrounding him. Even though it wasn’t my memory, I could feel the swell of anticipation that had thrashed in Kairn’s belly that day. It was sickening.

The memory faded to nothing, and another took its place. This time we were on an island, but it wasn’t the Order.

Tall trees spanned across the large expanse in front of Kairn. He stood on a beach of pearls across a narrow passageway with Damien and the rest of the Arsenal. It was one of the northern islands of the Fractured Isles. He looked down and the pendant glowed along his chest as awaateyshiropened its beak and rained shadowy death onto the forest below. The forest where the local Halflings had taken refuge after we had destroyed the ports. The ones Gerardahad begged to come with us that day. But they would not abandon their homeland.

Vomit crawled up my throat. Damien had trained his Arsenal on them. As far from our scouts as possible.

In the memory, Kairn muttered something under his breath. I didn’t recognize the word as it left his lips, but I was connected to his mind. I knew the meaning because Kairn did.

Burn them.

My stomach knotted. Dynara had talked of burning people too. That was all this war had become: two wildfires coming to a head with nowhere else to burn. Either one would succeed, or we both would be snuffed out, but either way only destruction would be left in our wake.

Syrra’s words echoed in my mind.Is it worth all this suffering?

Thewaateyshirflapped its wings and wound back its neck. I thought it was going to attack once more, following Kairn’s command, but it thrashed its head instead.

The beast was fighting whatever control the pendant had on it.

“Let it go,” Damien ordered from his spot along the shore. “We have more important matters than burning a few stolen ships.”

Kairn relaxed, wheezing as he bent over his knees—the pendant took a toll to use.

The new Dagger tossed Kairn a towel to wipe his brow.

Damien watched the beast fly away before turning back to the group with a satisfied grin. “Faelin thought herself so clever when she vanquished those beasts. I doubt she realized how powerful the pieces of themselves they’d left behind were.”

“Pieces, Your Majesty?” the Shield asked.

“Thewaateyshiraklay eggs like any common bird.” Damien tilted his head to the side as the beast disappeared along the horizon, out to feast on the creatures of the sea before the suns rose. “Some ofthose shells were left behind. Enough to brandish the weapons I made you and the pendants you wear now.”

Damien turned on the ball of his foot. “The seal was the perfect catalyst. It was a rebirth of magic back into the land. But why couldn’t it birth something else? Magic comes at a cost. If the Fae wanted their magic back, then they would have to take their terrors back too. And with these”—Damien pointed to their pendants—“You can keep those filthy creatures from terrorizing us.”

Kairn wiped his brow. “The beasts will still pose a risk when the rebellion is dealt with.”

Damien merely shrugged. I could see in his casual confidence that he knew the beasts would only feast for a year. “I will face the brunt of any risk as long as it means I stay seated on my throne.” He met Kairn’s gaze. “And I will reward anyone who aids in that cause, far above the handsome sums I’m already paying you.”

The rest of the Arsenal grinned.

“What did it feel like?” Damien asked Kairn, his black eye pulsing with amber.

“It was like trying to ride a wild stallion. No, an entire herd. All at once,” Kairn answered honestly.

The Arsenal paled beside him.

“You must practice then.” Damien clutched his own pendant. “I cannot be everywhere at once to protect my kingdom. They are powerful beasts. I doubt true control is possible, but if we can keep them from attacking our cities, then I can rest easy with whatever damage they do.”

Feron and I shared a worried glance before he waved his hand and launched us out of Kairn’s mind. I had what I needed. Damien only had five pendants, and we now had one.

We could use it to protect our cities from theshirakjust as he had planned to do himself.

I turned to Riven, and for the first time in weeks, his eyes were filled with hope. Not at the idea of protecting our borders and the Elverin inside them, but of having something Damien wanted.

Badly enough to trade for.

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