Page 46 of Oaths & Vengeance
“He’s killing people,” I said, furious.
Tadeus ran a hand through his hair. “I told you he’d do anything to get those gemstones.”
I glared at him. “You knew about this and didn’t tell me?”
“You wouldn’t have opened the portal if I did, and Father would have punished you.”
I dashed toward my horse, fury filling me. “He doesn’t need to kill innocent people to get the stones. We both know he does it to be cruel.”
Just before I mounted, one of the guards grabbed me. “I can’t let you do that.”
“Let me go.” I struggled against him. “I have to stop this!”
I slammed my head into his jaw and elbowed him in the stomach. He let go, but the other soldier grabbed me before I could reach my horse. They roughly pulled me to the ground, with one elf pinning my arms and the other my legs. Then Tadeus came over and placed an iron bracelet on my wrist, shutting down my magic before I could use it against the guards.
“Sorry, Aella, but my father made it clear we couldn’t let you interfere.” He shook his head. “If you go there trying to stop him, he’ll punish us as well.”
I glared at him. “You traitor. Innocent people are dying while you do nothing.”
“No, I’m protecting you. We both know what he’ll do if you get in the way, and I don’t want to see you hurt like that again,” he said, trying to speak to me calmly.
I didn’t care. He had let the guards hold me down, and he’d cut me off from my magic. Tadeus was supposed to be the good cousin who always stood by me. I struggled some more, but it was no use. Both guards were too strong. For a while, I just lay there breathing heavily, enraged and unable to do anything, as more screams and shouts filtered toward me. In my mind, I could envision what was happening with each pained cry revealing another victim of my uncle’s ruthlessness.
Then, a slightpopof air drew my attention.
We looked over and saw the portal glowing with its soft blue light. I couldn’t see much through the brush from my position, but a moment later, I froze as I heard my husband’s furious voice shouting commands. He was instructing his troops as they arrived on where to go and what to do. Based on the amount of noise, he must have brought hundreds. As soon as the portal closed, they rode hard for Parvayn. I wanted to shout at him but knew that would only get me in worse trouble with both sides.
My uncle wouldn’t expect Darrow to arrive with soldiers this soon. Therressian forces had only arrived at the village forty-five minutes ago, and it wouldn’t take more than ten minutes before Darrow reached them. With him in the lead, both sides could suffer heavy losses.
“You’ve got to let me up,” I said, looking at my cousin.
He shook his head. “Not until they’re returning.”
“The iron is suppressing my magic. If you don’t take the cuff off now, there is no way I will regenerate enough power to hold the portal open,” I argued, giving him a pleading look.
It was true, and he knew it. Our only hope was that the energy I built before he cut me off, along with what I gained starting now, would beenough to get our troops through the ring when they returned—if they moved quickly. It would be a struggle, though at least I didn’t have to push through any wards on the way back.
Tadeus cursed. “Very well, but don’t try anything.”
“With the Veronnians here, it’s too late for that,” I said, relieved when the guards let me go and I could sit up.
“Go watch for Lord Morgunn’s forces returning,” my cousin ordered one of the elves. “Let us know immediately when you see them so Aella can begin channeling.”
He hurried away, hugging the trees and brush as he maneuvered parallel to the road.
Tadeus knelt beside me and removed the iron bracelet, dropping it into a special cloth bag. “Do you think you’ll be able to get us out of here?”
“It will be cutting it close if they come back soon,” I said, rubbing my wrist—iron made my skin burn.
“Just do the best you can.”
I swallowed. We would lose enough people from Darrow’s wrath tonight, but I hoped more wouldn’t die if I couldn’t hold the portal open long enough for our forces to flee. For now, I could only wait and pray to the nameless ones that I’d regain enough magic to save everyone.
Chapter 21
Darrow
The bastards were everywhere. Therressian forces had lit half of Parvayn’s homes and shops on fire with torches, and they continued to spread the flames to every structure they could reach. My blood boiled in rage. As soon as I’d arrived, I’d begun killing anyone with the yellow hippogriff on their breastplate. Some I slaughtered with my blade and others with my powers, whichever got the job done most efficiently. My soldiers were everywhere, battling just as hard as me to save our people.
