Page 38 of Oath of Betrayal
‘Ready for what?’ I inquired, submerging myself further until nothing but the top half of my head was visible between the floating herbs.
‘Ah, Annika, it is a pleasure to see you awake. I need to examine you. After all the trouble you gave me last night, I’m here to ensure my patient is recovering,’ the dark fae said. I sighed, blowing bubbles before lifting my head slowly. It seemed everybody was dead set on seeing me naked.
‘As you can see, I’m in the bath. Come back later,’ I snapped, but he was already halfway into the room. ‘Should I bounce a fireball off your head to stop you? I said come back later.’
‘If you’re worried about me seeing your body, darling, that ship sailed last night.’ He smirked, coming closer, and I crossed my arms over my breasts. ‘Yeah, but as I haven’t seenyounaked, you shouldn’t make yourself too comfortable in my room.’
‘That can be easily rectified if you’d like.’ A mischievous grin lifted the corner of his mouth. ‘Although I don’t usually strip for my patients, the idea does pique my interest.’
‘Good grief, what is wrong with everyone today? Shouldn’t you be dark and broody? I can’t believe I have to work with someone with asense of humour,’ I huffed, pulling myself to the opposite edge of the bath.
‘You demand a lot from your poor healer—dark, broody,andnaked? I’m not sure if I can sacrifice my sunny disposition even for such a cause.’ I rolled my eyes.
‘Oh, cut it out. What do you want me to do?’ I gave in because the bastard had made me involuntarily smile and the mischief hadn’t left his eyes.
‘Right now, I only wish to examine you. There is a lot to talk about, much more than we can cover today. I trust Orm told you that we need to replace the crystal to fix the Barrier? Its magic is decaying faster than expected, and the incident with the wlok unfortunately sped up the process significantly. I’m afraid that your role in all this involves spending time with me and additional training in transmutation and artefact construction,’ he said, and I pulled a face.
‘Fine, I can do it. Anything else?’
‘Judging by your expression, I assume you haven’t done that since your university days. There is another way, in which I perform a spell using a conduit mage connection; however, that would necessitate you considering me as your second Anchor. Itwould make things much easier, but as it is not a decision to be hastily made, we will talk about everything later.’ He reached out towards me. ‘Your hand, please.’
I was still mulling over his statement as I reached towards him, placing my hand in his. While Alaric checked my pulse, I couldn’t help but wonder if Orm had told him how physical the Anchoring was because his request felt so impersonal. Once he’d finished, the dark fae handed me a small vial.
‘Here, drink this.’
I stared at him until he raised an eyebrow and smirked. ‘It’s just a revitalising draught. Drink up, or I’ll call Orm,’ he threatened, and I huffed in annoyance, reaching for the liquid and gulping it down in one go. What followed was a moment of pure bliss that left me moaning and slowly slipping beneath the water.
Alaric chuckled as he grabbed my chin and supported my head until I regained control of my body. ‘That will help you heal and rejuvenate your energy. We will start our lessons tomorrow. Until then, Agnes will provide you with anything you might need,’ he said before I pulled away. He’d saved my life the other night, but I was irritated by his constant commands.
‘Your name’s Alaric, yes?’ I asked just to antagonise him, and when he nodded, I sat up straight, brazenly exposing myself. ‘Thank you for saving my life, but even your “sunny disposition” won’t be enough to convince me to Anchor you. I’m sure you know that already. Also, you aren’t my teacher; I will be your partner, a second mage for the fortress, and you will treat me with all due courtesy. That means you can’t come into my bedroom uninvited when I’m in no fit state to receive a guest—’
My tirade was halted by the sound of banging and crashing outside.
‘Don’t try to stop me, you bastard. Where’s Ani? What have you done with her?’ The muffled, angry voice made me standup, barely registering that Alaric had hastily grabbed a towel and wrapped it around me. He positioned himself in front of the door with a dagger in his hand right before it burst open to reveal Katja as she fought with a soldier.
‘The commander said our lady should not be disturbed while the healer is with her!’ the man bellowed, and my eyes widened in shock. Somehow, over the course of the day, I’d advanced in rank without even knowing it.
‘She is notyour lady. She is Ani,ourtown mage, andI’mher healer! Why does she even need a healer in the first place?’ Katja fought like a mountain lioness, and my mind finally registered that I should say something.
‘Alaric, tell them to let my friend go and that if anyone else touches her, they’ll regret it,’ I threatened. The soldier instantly let the feisty woman go, bowing to me. ‘Lady Mage, my apologies. I was instructed to ensure your privacy.’
‘Go. Lady Annika is safe with me,’ Alaric said, and the guard bowed again before leaving and closing the door behind him.
I gestured Katja towards the table where Agnes had left food and drink while I put on a white nightgown. Despite its simplicity, the fabric was soft and smooth, luxurious to the touch. I hadn’t expected to find such finery in a mountain fortress, so it only added to the place’s appeal.
As soon as I was dressed, Katja was by my side.
‘How are you? And why is this dark fae claiming to be your healer? Ani, what is going on? One moment we’re flying here, stuffed in those damned baskets like market goods; the next, the sky was burning, and everyone was saying you did it. Then I found out that the commander had locked you away in his bedroom! … Are you a prisoner? I thought riders never forced their women.’
Alaric’s snort earned him glares from both Katja and me. ‘After that display of magic, I doubt anyone would dare tryforcing Annika to do anything, or did you miss the guard’s reaction to her threat?’ He snorted again, and my glare darkened.
‘Of course they’d never force a woman. How dare you even suggest such a thing? And … and … The lord commander is the noblest of them all!’ Agnes bristled, adding her thoughts to the discussion. For a moment, I thought she might have even smacked Katja with the serving tray.
‘There’s something you should know …’ I interjected warily, and both women looked at me, forgetting their quarrel.
‘Spill it, sister, because I know that look. Your magic … that wasn’t something a small-town mage could manage, even if she was university-trained.’
‘Katja, I … I deserted the Crown Mage Corps before I came to Zalesie. Orm—I mean, the commander—obtained my geas to bring me here; but after a little negotiation, I agreed to come—notas a maiden, but as a mage. I know what it looks like, but this irritating fuc …faehere claims I can help him stop the Barrier from failing.’ The words came out in a rush.
