Page 132 of Oaths & Vengeance
The channeler we brought with us didn’t compare to Aella, but he was the strongest in our land. He could penetrate the Ivory Castle ring’s wards now that he was less than two hundred miles from the location and didn’t have to push through mountains. I ordered him to begin right away.
My stallion could sense my impatience to reach my wife. I was furious with her family for abusing her and couldn’t wait any longer to get her out of there. She was mine. I wanted her close, in my bed, and living in my home.
With her being my true mate, those thoughts had grown especially strong since we’d slept together. I idly wondered how I’d feel if we managedto break my curse. Would my lust and need to protect her grow even stronger, and would I feel love for her right away based on the relationship we’d already developed? We were still too far from recovering the fountain to ponder those thoughts too deeply, but they still crossed my mind.
The portal opened, and I led the way through the soft blue light. My brother would take the rear to organize the forces once they reached the other side. I had Loden with me, along with five other soldiers who would stay with me as we fought our way to the castle dungeons. Jax and another soldier would meet us at some point. They were already there since they’d had the task of taking down Lord Morgunn’s strongest guard with the shields.
Hagon had the mission to neutralize any other threats as well as apprehend the lord and his sons. Since his other gift was being able to blind up to a dozen enemies at once, the assignment was an ideal one for him. Lord Morgunn couldn’t hit him with ice if he couldn’t see him. We would meet in the great hall once I had Aella. My brother also had a team designated to search for the healers since my wife would need them immediately after I freed her.
The portal sent me and Loden out the other side, followed quickly by the others riding with us. I immediately broke the necks of the two guards at the ring before they could sound an alarm. We raced across the formation area toward the barracks. While I’d never been here in person, I’d seen every nook and cranny through a sebeska’s eyes.
All the other incoming troops held positions near the ring to wait for my brother. Only my group followed me, with our first goal being to douse the sleeping soldiers with spells to keep them out of the fight. It was shortly past midnight, so most everyone was already in their bunks. While I would have loved to reduce their forces by attacking and killing them, it would have meant more injuries and losses on our side. We’d had more than enough death lately. Our goal was to move swiftly with as little bloodshed as possible.
One of my men dismounted at the first barracks building and ran inside. He had several potion bottles to throw quickly. It only took him a moment before he was outside again, giving me a nod. The rest of our mountedsoldiers hurried to take care of the other barracks buildings. We hurried past the armory, riding parallel to the training field.
Ahead of us, two elves had entered the officer quarters building. They came running outside with several Therressians chasing them. I used my powers to crush all who exited and weren’t my people. We needed to keep this quiet for as long as possible to catch Lord Morgunn unaware. I was the only one who could legally kill him in his home because of what he’d done to my wife. Some laws were more than a little frustrating, but we’d make that one work to our advantage.
Just as we reached the unobtrusive dungeon door on the southwest corner of the castle, Jax revealed himself, along with the soldier who’d accompanied him. “I overheard a few guards talking and confirmed she’s still down there,” my friend said, expression grave. “But they said she’s in bad shape, so you need to prepare yourself.”
My chest tightened, though I’d expected as much. I’d told Jax not to try getting Aella out before I arrived. Too many things could go wrong with only him and the other soldier attempting to rescue her in an enemy stronghold. I wouldn’t risk my wife’s life that way.
“How many guards are in there?” I asked.
He glanced at the door with a heavy lock on it. “I estimate three based on who came out during the shift change, but a separate entrance leads inside the castle. If any went that route, I wouldn’t have seen them.”
“That’s fine,” I said, dismounting. “I’ll take care of them, regardless.”
Checking my surroundings, I found our forces already moving toward the front of the castle. The soldier with Jax took control of my mount for me. I stood impatiently before the dungeon door, waiting to break it. It would be loud, so I needed to be sure the others were already sweeping the inside before I did something that would alert the lord and inhabitants. I had to be patient if I wanted the mission to succeed. It wasn’t easy.
Finally, I heard shouts and clashing swords at the castle’s entrance and drew my powers. Focusing on the black door, I yanked it off its hinges, laying it flat. Then, I raced down the dark, narrow stairs. One guard was already climbing them in a rush. He lifted his sword as soon as he saw me,but that was his last move before I crushed his head and sent him flying back down.
As I reached the bottom, two more came running from the corridor on my right. I lifted my hand, wrapping my magic around their throats, and snapped their necks before they came close. No one down here would feel my mercy.
The lighting was dim, with only one fae lantern illuminating the dank stone floors and walls. It reeked of mold and mildew. I counted six doors, three on each side, but only one was firmly barred. It only took seconds to get through the barrier with my magic, but it was pitch black inside, and impossible to see anything.
Before I stepped forward, I activated two glow stones. I found a crumpled woman on her side in the far corner with her back to me. She still wore the same gray tunic and trousers as the night of the battle, except they were badly torn and soiled with blood and body fluids.
I turned toward Jax, who’d followed close behind me. “Find a blanket.” After he took off in a dash, I looked at Loden. “Locate the way to the castle interior and ensure the path is clear.”
“Of course,” he said, rushing away.
The rest of the soldiers took up guard positions in case anyone else showed up.
Reassured that they had everything else in hand, I moved toward Aella’s shivering form. Autumn had just begun, but the air was especially cool down here. She didn’t move or acknowledge me in any way. A hot spike of fury coursed through my body at what they’d done to her, and I hated myself for not managing to kill her uncle that night. Aella’s torture was the price she’d paid for her selflessness and saving innocent people.
My gaze raked over her, trying to discern where she was hurt. I gently checked over her body, finding a partially healed wound on her lower back that had begun to fester, and the same with her shoulder where the sword had sliced her the night of the battle. She moaned as I turned her onto her back so I could see her front.
Aella’s eyes were nearly swollen shut, and there were numerous contusions across her face. Blood caked the back of her head, though no woundappeared there. I found one of her arms bent at multiple wrong angles and countless bruises when I lifted her tunic, indicating broken ribs. Her ankles were also double their normal size.
They’d hardly left a single place on her untouched by violence. My rage knew no bounds, but I forced myself to contain it for her sake. She needed me to stay calm. I also had to get her out of here and straight to a healer.
She partially opened her eyes, pain and anguish within them. “Darrow?”
“I’m here, dear Aella. You are safe now.”
“He said you’d come,” she rasped.
Had her uncle expected me? They hadn’t seemed prepared for my arrival.
