Page 62 of An Honored Vow

Vrail’s leg bounced and her eyes shot open. She gasped as she saw Crison’s arms stretched out to the sides, holding every songbird in the Dark Wood. Crison opened her own eyes, pupils glowing bright amber, and smiled.

“I called and they came.”

“Is this a new gift too?” I asked Feron as Gwyn knelt down to pet one of the birds.

His brows raised. “Yes. I have never heard of such a power before.” He reached out and pet a bird on Crison’s other arm. It chirped and didn’t move. “It seems Elverath has given you an extraordinary gift, Keera.”

I scoffed. “To curse Halflings?”

“Do Gwyn and Crison seem cursed to you?” Feron tilted his head at Crison’s wide smile.

“Well perhaps it is me who is cursed,” Vrail muttered. “Cursed to never discover my gift at all.”

“They’ve arrived.” Elaran nodded in the direction of the three giant shadows riding down the King’s Road.

I bent to the ground where we were still huddled along the edge of the Dead Wood, hidden from the approaching Arsenal’s view. I flattened my hand along the soil and closed my eyes as my magic coursed through the network of interconnected roots. It was slow at first, then exploded in all directions.

I could feel every living creature within ten leagues of us. Every mouse, every flower, and the dozens of soldiers Damien had hidden beyond the ridge of the hill, the beach, and the far reaches of the Dead Wood. “And they brought friends.” I stood, and from the hard sets of everyone’s jaws, I knew my golden eyes were glowing in the darkness. “Prepare yourselves,” I said with a glance at Syrra.

She nodded, the hilt of Faelin’s sword gleaming behind her back. Gerarda gripped a blade in each hand while Elaran took her place between them with an arrow already nocked. They were a fierce trio. There were no others I would trust to protect us from theshirakif the Arsenal called in some reinforcements.

I stepped out onto the road. My cloak drifted behind me in the evening breeze as something curled around my hand. I gripped the warmth. My body still expected to feel the softness of shadow but instead I found Riven’s calloused hand.

His jade eyes were dark and hard as he squeezed mine back. “They don’t deserve mercy, but make it quick,diizra. Nikolai has been gone long enough.”

I pulled his hand to my lips as if I could drain his worry with a single kiss, but I knew nothing would settle Riven’s fears until his dearest friend was back in the safety of our homeland. Even though he disagreed with how I had planned this mission, he still had faith in me.

I could not disappoint him.

The Arsenal stopped their approach still on their mounts a few hundred feet from the tree line. I walked alone to meet them, holding no weapon; the threat of my glowing eyes was enough.

“Do you have the pendant?” the burly rider in the middle rasped. In the moonlight, I could see three scars running across his face. They glistened like silver rivers against his pale skin. I knew Damien had chosen the most fearsome-looking warriors to fill his Arsenal, but while such scars may have struck fear into the hearts of city folk, all I saw was a man who didn’t protect his face in battle.

Such a man could never strike fear in me.

“I do,” I answered back with a casual wave of my arm to the forest behind me. “I have your first in command too.” I eyed the shiny Dagger at the man’s throat. He stood between the Arrow and a titleless soldier with one black eye. The Bow and Shield were missing from the escort. Damien had only sent enough to ensure that their two pendants outnumbered the one we held.

The Dagger grunted, showing as little concern for Kairn’s life as Damien had. Though I knew that was because the return of the Blade meant that the Dagger would be sheathed once more. The same jealousy that had plagued Gerarda for decades danced in the new Dagger’s eyes now. He hadn’t even had his post for a month and he already craved the taste of power only the Blade would provide.

“No trade without proof of the pendant.” The Dagger raised his chin, looking down at me from the spaces between his scars.

“I don’t even know your name and you’re already making demands of me.” I toyed with Feron’s glamoured ring on my finger.

“Quinton,” the Dagger answered. “And we have been instructed—”

“Yourinstructionsdon’t mean shit to me.” I raised my hand and the clouds crackled. “I am in charge of this trade, and if you listen tome, you shall leave with your heads.”

Quinton’s jaw pulsed but he nodded.

“Good boy.” I pointed at the large group of soldiers waiting at the crest of the hill. “We need proof of life to move forward. Bring out your hostage and we’ll bring ours and your precious pendant.”

Quinton turned to the Arrow beside him and nodded once. The Arrow was taller and leaner than the Dagger, but still one of the largest Mortals I had ever seen. His dark eyes never left my body as he leaned down and pulled something from his saddlebag. He uncorked the lid of a tiny glass vial and threw the open container directly in the air above his head.

A cloud of purple fog oozed out from the vial, only visible to me because it was lit from the full moon behind it. He lifted the torch in his hand and tossed it into the thick cloud. The fog erupted into purple flames, hot enough to pull the sweat from our brows.

The entourage started galloping in the darkness. I bent down, pretending to tie my boot, and let my finger graze the soil. My shoulders eased as I felt Nikolai’s presence in the midst of the herd. He was injured and sore. He would need more medical attention than I could give him, but he was alive and his heartbeat was strong enough.

I encircled the purple flames with my gusts, herding them into a small ball. My magic thrashed in my belly as I pulled water from the air to create a larger sphere around the flames. I froze it beforethe purple fire turned the water to steam. The flames puttered out, trapped inside with no air to feed them.

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