Page 61 of Oath of Betrayal
‘Remember your promise, you crazy lady, and come back in one piece. Otherwise, I’ll send Bryna after you. Well, if I can drag her away from the garrison forge, that is. That woman is having the time of her life there.’
‘Bryna’s here?!’
Katja looked at me, then at my sword, and sighed. ‘You need to come down from your ivory tower more often. Castle life—or the company of those two men—has left you witless. How do you think you got that sword? It grew wings?’
‘I thought she just packed my stuff,’ I mumbled sheepishly, and Katja burst into laughter. ‘Oh, she packed your stuff—alongwith herself. Then came here, claiming the soldiers needed someone sensible to keep them safe with us two around.’
‘And she thinksshe’sthe sensible one?’ I asked, roaring with laughter. Bryna, our lusty blacksmith, had only ever mentioned being ‘sensible’ when taking three men to her bed because—as she claimed—it was a perfectly ‘sensible’ use of sticks and holes.
Katja nodded, and when I finally caught my breath, I didn’t feel a drop of this morning’s anger. With Bryna’s arrival, Varta Fortress felt like home, and I was more determined than ever to protect it.
‘When I get back, I’ll meet you both in the tavern. I need Bryna to instruct me on the most …sensibleway to deal with those men. Between Orm and Alaric, I feel like an uneven, wobbly table.’
‘You’ve already bedded them?’ Katja’s eyes widened, and I frantically waved my hands. ‘No,no, nothing like that, but … you know.’ I bit my lip. ‘We’ll talk more when I return,’ I promised before turning around. ‘Stay safe, my friend. I’ll see if I can bring back some weregoats for Bryna.’
Katja nodded, a troubled smile on her face as I walked away, but the idea she’d planted in my mind stubbornly grew.How would it feel to be between Orm and Alaric?
I remembered my time with Talmund and Arno, the shared touches and nights we’d spent together … Even if I couldn’t feel that love anymore, I knew we’d been happy.
Gods, what am I thinking? There’s enough trouble brewing without me inviting them both to my bed,I thought angrily as I rushed towards the gate.
Ihoped this journey was worth keeping Ani in the dark because at the moment, I felt like the worst kind of arsehole. However, if my brother’s informers were right, I could expect a messenger from the Lich King trying to cross the Barrier today; and the gods help us if that monster discovered Ani was alive.
I knew I’d been unreasonable, taking my precautions to the extreme, but I had my reasons.
Only a few days after I returned from Truso, I had received letters from court demanding Annika’s return, and I knew I would have to talk to her about it. Worse, though, was my brother’s warning of not only the growing unrest but also rumours of ‘special means’ for bringing Ani back.
For a mage of her calibre, that could only mean that someone planned to use her geas. The royal mage had assured me he had given me the only copy, but could I trust him? Could I trust anyone in Truso except my brother?
This is the last time Ani, I promise. Alaric has almost finishedchecking the fortress for spies, and once he is done, we will hunt together, my beautiful Nivale.
Even now, I couldn’t stop thinking of that fierce, caring woman who always had a smile for those she held dear, who was merciless in destroying those who targeted the weak. I couldn’t wait to receive anothervictorykiss. To feel the elation of her choosing me … Except that she didn’t choose me—it had become painfully obvious when I tried to talk to her. Reynard was right; Ani had demolished the years of rigorous training and walls I’d built around my emotions.
My thoughts turned to Alaric, and I felt my chest tighten as my hands gripped the pommel of the saddle. An emotion I couldn’t identify made its presence known. I saw how he looked at my Ani—the raw hunger in his gaze matched mine. For the sake of this godsforsaken kingdom,heshould be her Anchor; and I wouldn’t stand against it, even if it killed me.
You have to let it happen. They share a powerful magical synergy, and that connection will only strengthen their bond. I thumped my chest, but the pain the thought caused didn’t want to subside. The reality that the man I thought of as a brother deserved to be loved by Ani more than me was a bitter potion to swallow.
‘Fuck!’ I knew I had lost this battle. I should step away—a better man would … but I couldn’t. Not anymore.
The night I’d spent in her chair after being injured had been the most beautiful torture. My whole being demanded that I wrap myself around Ani and tell her how I felt—and hope that she would accept me and that no one would take her from me. I’d pushed the memory into the deepest recesses of my soul because it had shocked me that I wasn’t repelled by the idea, but the reminiscence of the night I touched myself thinking of her and Alaric intruded on the moment.
‘Orm, you’re thinking too loud, and I really don’t want to be imagining your hairy arse anywhere near Annika,’ Vahin said in my thoughts.
‘Do you think she hates me?’
‘No, of course not. Why would Annika hate someone who refuses to reveal why he’s so overprotective and acts erratic and confusing? Who fails to see that she is dying inside, suffocating in the golden cage he put her in?’I could feel his sarcasm and anger, which only served to increase the guilt eating away at me.‘The least you could have done today was explain why you refused her request.’
‘I will apologise and explain everything, but she must understand that I wasn’t doing it to spite her.’
‘Must she? Even if you tell Ani about the letters, what other reason could you possibly give her? That you feel guilty for using her geas and swore you wouldn’t let anyone do it again? Or that seeing her almost die awakened a fear you never knew existed? Of course, you could tell Ani you’re harbouring a secret obsession with her, but I’m sure you’ll keep quiet because you fear her having to choose between you and Alaric, thinking she will reject you.’
Vahin lashed me with his opinions, the anger and concern entwined with them making it even worse.‘You’re trying to do the right thing, but in the wrong way. Don’t keep her locked in a cage of your fears, assuming you know what is best for her. It won’t work, my friend. Those born with wings die behind bars, even if those bars are made of gold and good intentions.’
The image that Vahin shared with me was shocking: a beautiful dragoness, her kind eyes lifeless, and her wings—bound by a golden rope—withered and dry. It was the wake-up call I needed. Was that what he thought I was doing to Ani? Binding her wings?
I looked down at the squadron as we circled the Rift, swooping back and forth through the Barrier, but there was no sign of movement. No activity—human, animal, or monster. There was only the vast, bare, poisoned plain spreading out from the Rift.
I directed Vahin closer to Tomma, ordering him and two others to stay in position as a precaution. They signalled their agreement, and I sighed, feeling defeated. I’d argued with Annika for nothing. We were no closer to finding out who in the court was the Lich King’s ally.
