Page 7 of Oaths & Vengeance
“What changed your mind now?” I asked, keeping my tone neutral.
He gestured at Barron Elgord. “By my estimation, you should be strong enough at this point to open more than one portal back-to-back if the distance isn’t too great, so no need for you to remain here any longer. The baron has also assured me he’ll keep a firm hand on you, and your services will still be available whenever Therress needs you.”
Firm hand?What was that supposed to mean other than he might be more abusive than Lord Morgunn? Elves lived long lives, and I was only thirty-two years old. As I recalled, he was twenty years older. That was an awfully long time to tolerate someone in marriage when there was no hope of divorce. The king could grant annulments under a few rare circumstances, but those involved certain health conditions, great acts of betrayal, or the discovery of a true mate. Barron Elgord would take care to avoid such issues. Never mind that my uncle had apparently figured out I was somewhat stronger than I let on, so that was a problem I’d have to worry about as well. At least he didn’t know the full depth of my powers.
My hands began to tremble, and I clasped them behind my back. “I have no say at all?”
“No,” he said firmly, then stood. “I will leave to let you two get to know each other better for a few minutes. Lord Elgord and I must spend the next week traveling on official business, but when we return, we’ll petition the king for his approval. Our plan is to hold the wedding in early summer. Won’t that be lovely?”
That was less than two months away.
I barely managed to nod my head. In reality, I wanted to scream at him that this was wrong, but if I did, the punishment would be severe. I also knew nothing I said or did would change his mind. He’d wed me to this sick man to break what spirit I had left.
Even running away wasn’t an option with the curse mark my uncle had placed on the back of my neck. It was what kept me from escaping this place beyond brief visits elsewhere, such as seeing my sister or exploring a distant village. If I intended to leave Therress permanently, my uncle would know as soon as I acted on it, and I’d fall into an instant deep sleep while he collected my comatose body and placed me in confinement.
I knew since I’d tried once about six years before Rynn came to us. It was all I could do to block the memories of the horrible weeks that followed. How my uncle had used solitary confinement, lack of food, days of darkness, and a whip to punish me.
The iron cuff I’d worn during that time ensured there was no way to fight back or escape. By the end, I was crying and begging for mercy—anything to end the punishment. He gloated about it for months. How pathetic I’d been, but the gods help me if I showed more than a hint of backbone at any other time. He wanted me strong, but never against him.
Every time I left now, sometimes without his permission, I had to keep it in the forefront of my mind that I would return soon so he wouldn’t discover I’d gone. For all that I wanted to avoid a punishment that extreme again, I tried to defy him in small ways.
Visiting distant places for a few hours was my little rebellion. He had no idea of the remote portals I’d accessed or how I’d found a book in the Royal Court of Porrine library that gave me the rune sequences for dozens of locations all over Zadrya and some to the other three realms on Paxia. My uncle would use that knowledge to further his quest for power and dominance over his adversaries. The only portals I opened for him were the ones where he knew the sequence.
My heart rate picked up as Lord Morgunn left, closing his office door firmly behind him. Elgord gave me a salacious smile that made me ill. I forced myself to stand my ground as he moved closer, stopping two feet before me.
“I’ve been watching you for some time now, you know,” he said.
I stayed silent as he picked up my blonde braid and twisted it in his hand. “Such beautiful, golden hair with so many shades. I can imagine what it will look like when it’s loose and spread across my pillows.”
“What if that’s not what I want?” I asked, managing to keep my voice even and steady by some miracle. My stomach threatened to revolt at his close proximity.
Elgord laughed. “My lady, the first lesson I will teach you is that your wants matter little. Those of us in power are the ones who always win.”
I couldn’t help it. The way he spoke infuriated me, and I couldn’t hide my disgust for him. “Maybe my uncle will force me to marry you, but I’ll never submit.”
The baron grabbed me, wrapping his fingers tightly around my upper arms, and pulled me close. He was stronger than expected, considering his lean physique. I tried to wriggle out of his hold, but his grip was too tight. His face was inches from mine so I could smell his sour breath.
“Go ahead and fight me. I’ll enjoy every moment of it, but you will end up in my bed with your naked thighs splayed wide open, and you’ll take me inside you however many times a day I want. Your belly will swell time and time again with my children until you have forgotten what it was ever like to be free of me.” He shook me. “Understand?”
I ground my teeth, fighting tears. “No.”
He leaned down and forced his lips upon mine, attempting to open my mouth. I kept them firmly shut, so I ended up with his slobber on me. No matter how much I tried to pull away, it was impossible, and using my magic to force him away would land me in all kinds of trouble. Only when he got tired of the kiss did he let go.
There was rage in his eyes. “You’ll learn, Aella, soon enough. Enjoy your freedom while you can because there will be no escape once I’ve got you. That curse mark on you…your uncle will transfer that to me as well.”
My eyes rounded in horror that he knew about it.
“No,” I whispered.
He sneered. “Oh, yes.”
Fear like nothing I’d ever known filled my gut. The worst, darkest, bleakest future lay before me, and I could do nothing to stop it. I grewlight-headed. With Elgord’s hawkish face swimming before me, I spun around and ran from the room. He didn’t stop me, but his terrible laugh carried down the hall as I made my escape.
Chapter 4
Aella
The next morning, I stood outside in the front courtyard and saw my uncle and Baron Elgord off for their journey. My future betrothed forced a kiss on my cheek before mounting his horse. I couldn’t wait until he left so I could scrub my face. They would be going on a journey to inspect villages and manors throughout Therress, so they didn’t require a portal. Surveying the roads and bridges along the way was part of their agenda.
