Page 120 of Oath of War
The stench lingered for days, but as the work neared its end, Alaric had gathered the remaining undead outside and granted them their eternal rest.
‘Is my presence really necessary?’ I asked, sliding off my perch, careful not to hook my gossamer-thin spider-silk dress on any malicious protrusions.
Winning the war had uncovered the hidden face of Ozar, initiating a change we weren’t ready for. As news of the battle’s result and the demise of the Lich King spread over the Barren Lands, its remaining citizens flocked to Katrass in surprisingly large numbers.
Perhaps they sought refuge under the safety our army provided, or maybe it was the mountain of gold and treasures we’d discovered in the palace vaults. The undead had no use for wealth, and Cahyon had been ostracized even before he became the Lich King. Now, we had inherited the spoils of his pillaging—the riches of the former Ozar Kingdom at our disposal. Even the dress I wore came from those newly discovered vaults.
‘Yes, you are needed,’ Alaric replied, his voice low with admiration, ‘and Annika, you are a vision in liquid fire.’
He slid his hand along my back, the touch sending a shiver down my spine. I had to admit, the old Moroi dress looked good on me, and the sensation of his fingers on my bare skin made my heart race.
‘How about we stay here, and you can play with that fire?’ I teased, noticing with pleasure the swirling crimson that crept into his eyes.
‘If you genuinely don’t want to go, I won’t make you,’ he murmured, his fingers tightening on my hips, his breath warm against my neck. ‘But Orm is waiting with Reynard, along with a hall full of Ozar citizens.’
I shuddered as Ari’s breath caressed the sensitive skin of my neck.
‘I can’t refuse you anything, but we should at least tell them not to wait for us.’ Ari’s voice sounded like a purr, but we both knew we wouldn’t give in to temptation.
‘Let’s go. The sooner we deal with this, the sooner it’s over,’ I said. ‘Though I’m not naming any kings this time,’ I added. The throne of Ozar had been the subject of constant discussion, and I didn’t care to indulge further. Alaric looked at me, and we both sighed in unison before bursting into laughter.
As we walked down the long hall, the throne room doors swung open. Inside, the space was majestic—galleries of carved columns lining either side, polished white stone floors leading to floral tiles with a golden rose at the centre. Fae lights and candelabras illuminated the room, reflecting off crystal flowers etched into the walls. Semiopaque curtains covered the windows, allowing the Moroi to join in the gathering without discomfort.
A wide array of people filled the room—humans, dark and light fae, uncorrupted Moroi, survivors from the Barren Lands, and even orcs and dwarves who had once lived or intended to settle here. The diversity of the crowd made the chamber feel like the beating heart of a reborn kingdom.
‘All hail Annika, Harbinger of Light, the last conduit mage of Dagome, and her consort,’ the herald’s voice rang out. My steps faltered at the announcement, and I immediately felt the urge to choke the life out of the man as every eye in the room turned towards me.
‘Are they fucking serious?Harbinger of Light?’ I muttered under my breath to Alaric.
His lips twitched, struggling to suppress a laugh. ‘You’re talking toher consort. At least you were mentioned by name,’ he teased.
We continued walking, and I nodded my head, occasionally greeting those who called my name as I passed. I knew Reynardwas about to name the new king, but this all felt like too much, even for such an occasion, and the uncertain expression on Orm’s face made me feel uneasy about the entire situation.
He stood in the centre of the royal dais, Reynard by his side, as well as representatives from the dark and light fae courts. A sense of grandeur hung in the air, and my frown deepened as Ari and I drew closer.
Reynard stepped forward as we neared, gesturing for us to take our places on either side of Ormond. Only then did I notice the large throne behind my rider and, on either side of it, two equally impressive seats. As soon as I was close enough, I tilted my head to my Ursus.
‘Please tell me this is not what it looks like,’ I hissed, anger simmering in my veins.
‘I’m sorry, Ani, I’ll explain later.’
‘The hell you will,’ I said, turning to look at Ari. ‘Did you know?’
To my horror, he looked at me sheepishly and said, ‘I may have heard a thing or two.’
‘You are both insomuch trouble,’ I muttered, forcing a smile when Reynard began his speech.
He talked a lot about the trials the once-prosperous Kingdom of Ozar had endured under the Lich King’s rule before speaking about the events of the last few months. I fought to stifle a yawn as he eventually moved on to speak of Orm’s unyielding bravery and leadership, and of my power that had helped free the country from Cahyon’s tyranny.
‘This land has suffered enough, but after losing so much whilst fighting for its freedom, we can’t allow it to fall into the hands of another madman. This kingdom needs a king who respects the people and will return Ozar to its former glory,’ Reynard said.
‘Therefore,’ he continued, ‘after consulting with our allies and representatives of the fae and humans that still live in thiskingdom, I name this man as the first of his name, King Ormond Erenhart of Ozar. Those who wish to object may step forward now.’
He fucking did it,I thought, though the tiny voice in my head whispered that Orm was the only logical choice. Regardless, the question remained: was I ready to live here?
The answer came with surprising clarity. Alaric may be free to return to the Care’etavos Empire, but his family estate was lost, Zalesie was ash, and Varta Fortress would forever hold memories of Katja and all those we lost in the war.
Maybe Ozar is the perfect place to start anew, I thought.Vahin does like the sea...
