Page 32 of Oaths & Vengeance
She moved her mare closer to mine. “How do you resist?”
Rynn had mostly managed to stay off our uncle’s radar, especially with me guarding and running interference for her. The few times she did draw his ire, he’d yelled at her but not harmed her. She didn’t know the price I paid every time I stepped out of line, and if I could help it, she never would.
“Because I must,” I whispered.
Ulmar pulled up his horse with an irritated expression on his face. “Did you two have to ride so far out?”
“Yes,” I replied, grateful the napaea was long gone before he arrived. He would have killed her and left her baby motherless without a drop of remorse.
“My father wants you in his office now,” he said, a malicious glint in his eyes. “He’s enraged, and you’re the cause of it.”
“How is that?” I asked.
Ulmar smiled. “He prefers to tell you himself.”
Lovely. It could be any number of things since, half the time, I was in trouble for activities I didn’t even know were wrong. Sometimes, I assumed Lord Morgunn just decided they were offensive if he needed a target to vent his frustrations. I was his favorite person to berate whenever his youngest son wasn’t around to draw his wrath.
The only thing that made me feel marginally better about my punishments was that Tadeus had it even worse, and a few times, he’d even taken mine to save me. If he hadn’t had some of Lord Morgunn’s features, I would have sworn he wasn’t related to his father.
“Okay, let’s go.”
Ulmar led the way back to the castle, sending his horse into a gallop. We were only a few miles away, but he seemed determined to bring me before his father as quickly as possible. Rynn kept casting me worried glances along the route. I held my head high and refused to appear nervous. She looked up to me, and I wanted to set a good example rather than cower in fear.
Eventually, the high walls of Ivory Castle came into view, with their smooth white stones glinting brightly in the afternoon sunlight. A quarry was located about ten miles east of here, where my ancestors sourced the building materials. The keep was entirely self-contained, so there was no outer village. We even had cattle, grew sizeable crops to feed the inhabitants, and had a pond within the walls. If an army ever attempted to lay siege to us, they’d be waiting a while before we ran out of resources.
The heavy metal gates were wide open when we crossed inside. That was normal during the daytime as long as we didn’t anticipate trouble. We followed the main road past the northern village on the left and numerousshops on the right. Beyond them were the front gardens with numerous vibrant spring blooms coloring the space.
Just before reaching the castle courtyard, we turned right to follow a path to the lord’s stables. It only housed the highborn mounts and carriage horses. We kept all the ones for pulling wagons, working crops, or for soldiers southeast of the castle beyond the training area.
We handed our mounts off to the stable hands and hurried toward the castle. Rynn and I parted ways at the entrance as I turned toward my uncle’s office near the front. Ulmar stayed behind me like a dark presence to ensure I didn’t try to escape my fate. I couldn’t figure out what would upset my uncle when I was positive he couldn’t possibly know about my marriage to Darrow. Even if he’d found out, he would have come to the woods directly to punish me—far from witnesses. This was something else.
My cousin nudged me through the partially open door, finger poking into my back, and I stepped inside. Lord Morgunn was pacing behind his desk. He looked up upon my arrival, and his expression turned thunderous.
“The king refused your betrothal,” he said, ice-blue eyes trained on me. “Do you have any idea why he would do that because I cannot think of a single one? Did you write him? Make a plea to him?”
Ulmar worked his way across the room to the window, but he listened closely. I had no doubt my uncle allowed him to stay because one of my cousin’s strong magical abilities was detecting lies. It was another reason being near him always kept me on edge. One wrong slip of my words could result in me getting caught.
“I wouldn’t dare write the king about that.” I shook my head, choosing my reply carefully. “Didn’t he give you an explanation?”
It was such a relief to know this was what had him upset, even if I couldn’t show my true feelings on the matter. I’d assumed it would take at least a few more days before my uncle received the news. King Worden hadn’t wasted any time.
He worked his jaw. “He only said that Baron Elgord wasn’t suitable for a lady with your gifts.”
“Oh,” I said, unsure how to respond without angering him further.
Lord Morgunn began pacing again. “I had assumed this would go smoothly, and now I must think about what to do next. It is far past time you married. I must ensure the match will benefit me, and your future husband will keep a firm hand on you.”
My hands clenched into fists, and I had to hide them behind my back.
Ulmar stood with his arms crossed, an amused smile on his lips. He loved nothing more than seeing me in trouble, though I’d never understood why. Lord Morgunn rarely became angry with him because he was just as sadistic.
“She needs someone strong enough to handle her waywardness,” my cousin said, glancing at me with judgment in his eyes. He’d say anything to make his father happy.
Little did they know I was already married to someone who challenged me. Sure, I could hurt Darrow easily enough, but he had the capacity to kill me if he chose, at least before we spoke our vows. He couldn’t harm me now, no matter how much he wished. The magic that bound us together ensured that, which ironically made me safer with him than with anyone else.
My uncle spun around to look at me. “I will search for another suitable match. In the meantime, I expect you on your best behavior so you don’t make this any more difficult.”
As if I ever did anything that would harm my marriage prospects—that my uncle knew about, anyway. “Yes, Lord Morgunn.”
