Page 79 of Oath of War
‘No, we need to wait until morning,’ she repeated, pulling her hand from my grasp and backing away. Ro was panting hard, on the edge of panic. Whatever my sister was afraid of, I wouldn’t be able to leave unless I threw her over my shoulder and carried her out.
‘Alright, Ro. It’s okay. You know this place best. We’ll wait—but as soon as the sun rises, we’re going. No fuss or fear. Don’t be a songbird, afraid to leave the cage even when the door is open,’ I said as I looked around. If we were to spend the night here, I needed to secure the room. Otherwise, I risked Cahyon, or even my father, recognising my magical signature.
Rowena watched me with interest as I walked from the door to the window, drawing sigils that would make the room invisible to any magical creature. She didn’t help or offer other solutions,and I felt unease build deep in my core. I dismissed my suspicions. What did I expect from a sister kept captive all these years?
‘There, all done. Now, come and sit with me,’ I said, patting the bed once I’d finished warding the room.
Rowena perched on its edge, but when I pulled her to my side, she leaned her head on my shoulder, and although I didn’t want to disturb the moment, I knew I had to ask some questions.
‘Did you discover the spell to give Cahyon a new body?’ I finally asked.
She stiffened in my arms. ‘I did. I gave it to him. His monsters are now roaming the borderlands, capturing mages to use their blood for the ritual. I don’t have enough aether to do it myself, and father ... Well, he’ll be the host, and he isn’t likely to help,’ she said.
I exhaled with relief. ‘Good, then I’ve arrived in time,’ I said, stroking her golden hair, considering the potential consequences. ‘If only I could tell Ani to pull all mages from the borders, but it’ll have to wait until we’re back in Dagome.’
‘Oh? I can help you talk to her,’ Rowena said eagerly.
I studied her with a frown. ‘How?’
‘Through dreamwalking! With your blood bond, I can create a link for you to talk,’ she said, but I wasn’t convinced. ‘That’s how I reached you the first time.’
‘Will she be in danger?’ I asked. Years of psychological torment had made me very wary of any mental links.
‘No, you mean no harm to her,’ she said. ‘You’ll only be able to speak to her in her dreams, but you have to open yourself to me fully—no mental barriers. The spell is difficult enough alone. Of course, if you don’t trust me, we can wait until we get to Dagome.’ She shrugged, returning her head to my shoulder.
I weighed my options, but since Rowena had already given Cahyon the spell, every day brought him closer to freedom. Besides, I wanted to talk to my domina.
‘It’s been a few days, so they’re probably worried,’ I murmured to myself before exhaling slowly. ‘Show me how to do it.’ I said, and Rowena gifted me a beautiful smile, reminding me of the little girl who’d run to me to show off her latest achievement.
‘Remove your shirt,’ she commanded, pricking her finger with a metal quill from the desk, then mine.
‘Why are you using your blood?’ I asked.
She chuckled, shaking her head. ‘Because I’ll be the bridge between you, silly,’ she said, drawing a sigil.
‘Tell me about Cahyon’s army and anything else that might help,’ I requested, feeling the bite of her spell as it spread over my skin like frost. If I could send a message, I intended to give Orm as much information as possible before joining him in Varta Fortress.
‘There’s not much to tell. The one under the Barrier keystone is still slumbering. Cahyon is too weak to wake it from such a distance. Dagome is safe for now,’ she said as she worked on the spell. ‘There, I’m done. Focus on your domina, brother.’
I looked at the red marks gleaming on my chest. The symbols trailing over my skin were so similar to the curse that I had to fight the urge to scrub them off. Instead, I focused on Annika.
A feeling of weightlessness swept over me, and then I was moving through a cold barrier. It felt like my soul would freeze, until I sensed the familiar warmth of Ani’s spirit wrapping around me.
‘Domina? Annika, open your mind for me, love,’ I whispered, repeating the call in my mind until I felt a prickle of uneasiness through the Anchor bond. It wasn’t what I expected, but the more I called her name, the more I felt awareness flooding our link, and finally, I heard her voice in my mind.
‘Ari? What in Veles’ arse is going on? Is it really you?’
‘Yes, I found Rowena. She’s with me, and I will be back home soon. Tell Orm the Rift is safe for now,’I blurted, feeling the connection fade.
‘Ari, something’s wrong. What is tethering you? It feels wrong ... Ari ...?’ Her voice was barely an echo, but the pulse of love and worry I felt through the connection felt so real that I clutched my chest.
I emerged from the psychic connection to see my sister standing in front of me. Her eyes narrowed as she weaved the sigil’s runes like a yarn’s thread while the symbol hung between her fingers, glowing crimson. I grunted when she finished the spell.
‘It is done. We can rest now,’ I said, trying to ignore the dull ache in my chest, but Rowena stepped back, a strange look of triumph twisting her features.
‘Oh, no, brother,’ she said. ‘It is just beginning. Thank you, Alaric, but as our father said, you have always been a fool.’ An oppressive wave of magic froze me on the spot, imposing her will on mine.
‘What have you done?’ I rasped, seeing her go to the door and open it to whoever stood there.
