Page 62 of Oath of War
The question, tinged with excitement, unsettled my stomach. Cahyon’s skeletal fingers brushed my sister’s tear-streaked face with grotesque tenderness.
‘The notes I found in her study suggest so,’ my father admitted. ‘What I found interesting is that she was trying to hide it. There were only a few details, but from her scattered notes, it’s clear she’s discovered a way to transfer your spirit into a living body. I even found references to preserving your original body. I gather it means you could live forever if it is kept safe, but her notes were incomplete.’
My blood ran cold. I knew Cahyon wanted to be free of his torturous existence as a lich, but if he could leave Katrass without relying on the constant influx of its magic, Dagome was in more danger than anyone thought possible.
‘Do you know how to perform the spell?’ The Lich King’s voice betrayed his eagerness.
‘No, not yet at least. Only my daughter knows, but it’s just a matter of time before she tells me.’
‘You are a fool, Roan, and you always will be. You lost Alaric to your petty jealousy, and now you are making the same mistake with your daughter. I need Rowena to work with us, not plot against us. How can I trust her with my spirit if she hates being here?’
‘And you think she loves being here ... my lord?’ my father sneered, correcting his tone only as he added the honorific.
‘Love? No, but she has a comfortable life under my protection. As long as she produces results, I will keep her safe. Now wake her up!’
A splash of cold water hit Rowena’s face, followed by a wave of healing magic, pulling her psyche out of its hiding place. I felt her shock when she noticed my presence.
‘There you are, my dear Ro. Your father seems to have purposefully misunderstood my orders ... again. I only sent him to ask how far you were with your research, not hurt you. But that is done with now. I will look after you.’ He turned to my father, a sneer twisting his lips. ‘You will never touch her again.’
A dry finger trailed over my sister’s cheek, wiping away her tears as he held her to his chest. I knew he was good at manipulating people—that’s how he’d taken over the Kingdom of Ozar. I didn’t suspect his manipulation would work on my sister. She must have known him well enough to see through his pretence, yet I saw her wrap her arms around his neck.
‘I’ve let him hurt you for too long, but no more. It will just be us, my queen, and if you can give me back my body, the years of misery in this desolate place will soon be a distant memory.’
‘I haven’t finished ... I’ve only outlined the basics. Even if I perfect the spell, there’s no fae powerful enough to hold your spirit without losing most of your power. The host would also need to be of a similar age to you, or your mind might reject it. It’s so complex that I don’t think it will ever be possible.’
Her voice faltered, giving way to quiet sobs as her frail body shook in his arms. Cahyon sighed softly, a mask of benevolence settling over his decayed features. Yet, as soon as her gaze dropped, his lips curled into a cruel smile, sharp and predatory.
‘A powerful fae of similar age to my old self?’ he mused, looking at my father. Roan instinctively took a step back, as if sensing danger.
‘Guards,’ the Lich King commanded, his voice cold and final. ‘Take this old fool to the dungeons.’
Two massive clay golems stomped into the chamber, their eyeless faces betraying no emotion. Soulless constructs—perfecttools for subduing a necromancer. My father’s eyes widened in disbelief as the realisation hit him.
‘You can’t! You wouldn’t dare!’ he sputtered, retreating until his back pressed against the cold stone wall. ‘Use Alaric! He’s stronger, more suited for this!’
‘True,’ Cahyon replied, his tone eerily calm. ‘But he’s too young. Besides, I have other plans for him. He’ll make an excellent advisor once he’s tethered to me.’
Roan snarled, summoning a glowing shield glyph that flickered before him as he attempted to hold off the advancing constructs. Magic crackled in the air, but clay was resistant to spells, a lesson the Moroi had learned when the Lich King conquered their kingdom. Now it was my father’s turn.
I had to give it to him. He fought well, but death spells couldn’t harm something that had never lived, and eventually his energy dwindled. At last, he collapsed, his magic spent. The golems seized him, their grip unyielding as they hoisted him off the ground while he spat curses at the lich.
‘You swore to serve me,’ Cahyon said, his false smile unwavering. ‘Your final act will be a noble sacrifice, my friend. I’ll make sure to raise a statue in your honour.’
‘Fuck your statue!’ Roan shouted, foaming at the mouth. ‘You will never win. They have a conduit, and you have nothing. You think my useless daughter ishelpingyou? She has her own agenda!’
The Lich King merely shrugged, his indifference cutting deeper than words. ‘I have the chancellor and the Moroi. I have an army centuries in the making. I’ll offer Dagome a chance to surrender, but even with a conduit mage, they won’t be able to stop me in my new body. What can one woman do against thousands of deathless soldiers?’
My father’s laughter was bitter defiance. ‘You arrogant prick. I built that army! She’ll grind you to dust. I hope Reynardcomes to Katrass and scatters your bones so your soul will never know peace. You’ll die a pathetic, meaningless death, Cahyon Abrasan.’
The Lich King waved dismissively, and the golems carried him from the chamber, his curses echoing in the hall.
Turning back to Rowena, Cahyon’s expression softened as he crouched beside her battered form. ‘Now we can begin anew,’ he murmured, his tone dripping with mock tenderness. ‘Your tormentor is gone. He’ll never hurt you again. Will you help me now?’
‘You want me to use my father?’ she asked, sagging into his arms when he scooped her up. ‘I’ll help you ... but on one condition.’
‘Name it.’
‘You leave Alaric alone,’ she said, her words barely more than a plea. ‘I want my brother to live free.’
