Page 96 of Oaths & Vengeance
Loden sighed. “You weren’t wearing any when we arrived.”
In fact, all he wore was a loose, gray tunic that reached his knees, failing to cover his hairy legs.
“Oh, well, I must find my slippers.” He turned and headed toward the rear opening. “It gets cold at night.”
As soon as he disappeared, Faina began banging her forehead on the table.
I leaned forward and rubbed her back. “I’ll try to get the information we need quickly when he returns.”
“You better.” She lifted her head with exhaustion lining her face. “Because I don’t know if I can keep from killing him otherwise.”
Something told me the journey through the desert was the easy part of this quest.
Chapter 41
Aella
The summer heat was finally becoming more bearable as we edged toward autumn. Unfortunately, my uncle’s recent behavior kept us all on edge more than usual. He’d grown moody, erratic, and short-tempered. I’d tried listening outside his office door this morning while he and Ulmar spoke alone, but he’d used a silencing spell. None of the stones I had left from my mother could counter the magic.
Whatever was said in there, though, left my uncle in an especially foul temper. He exited the office with a parting comment for his eldest son, spoken in a low tone I could barely catch. “Make them see reason, or this is all going to fall apart. I need you married to her as soon as possible to solidify this alliance.”
My jaw dropped as I listened from the alcove where I hid.
“I’ll suggest a quiet ceremony for sometime soon,” Ulmar replied in a mollifying tone I strained to hear. “The king won’t know.”
Lord Morgunn grunted. “See that you do.”
As they passed by my hiding spot, unaware of my presence, I stood perfectly still and mulled over their conversation. Ulmar had said he planned to get married, but there had been no further mention of it since. From the sounds of their discussion, his intended wife wouldn’t be someone the king approved, yet he’d told me he already had permission. High fae couldn’t wed without a monarch’s permission, but in certain circumstances, it didn’t have to be Zadrya’s. What if it were Karganoth’s instead?
I peeked around the corner. Rynn happened to be walking in the opposite direction as our uncle stormed down the corridor and crashed rightinto her. She barely managed not to fall. Then, he slapped and berated her for being in his way.
As she sobbed and cupped her cheek, my uncle marched past her. I ran to comfort her once he was gone. It took several minutes for Rynn to calm down, so I decided it was best if we went for a ride to escape the madness. What was my uncle planning, and why was it upsetting him? I hated that I’d lived my life naively for so many years without noticing his scheming and treachery.
How I wished to the nameless ones that I could leave this place for good and take my sweet cousin with me. If only I could get rid of my curse. Short of killing my uncle, there was nothing I could do.
The thought had crossed my mind, but I couldn’t kill family—not even the awful ones. Not to mention, if I succeeded, I’d have to face my cousin, Ulmar, who would most certainly kill me without hesitation, and my uncle’s loyalists would help him. I couldn’t fight them all, nor spend the rest of my life hiding from them.
Rynn and I quickly secured our mounts and rode out to the forest. I wished Sariyah could have joined us. Things had seemed a little less daunting with my best friend here, but she had to return to work at Tradain a few days ago.
Interestingly, she seemed rather excited about spying for Orran and not the least bothered about helping him against my uncle. Her father was the commanding officer for Therress’ army, but Norvin had never behaved suspiciously. I’d always seen him as quite honorable, most especially with his treatment of his family. Sariyah and I had discussed it briefly and decided he couldn’t be helping Lord Morgunn in whatever scheme he’d hatched, particularly as King Worden’s nephew. He’d always been loyal to the crown above all else, especially after his father’s disappearance just over three decades ago. A mystery that had never been solved.
Something scratched at my senses as we followed a well-worn trail. I took a slow look around us, unable to pinpoint what bothered me. As our horses continued at a sedate pace, the feeling grew a little stronger, though I still couldn’t identify the source.
Rynn stiffened. “I think something is hiding in the woods.”
“Yes,” I agreed, glad she was paying attention. “I’m not sure what, though.”
Both of our horses’ ears twitched, and their steps slowed. They didn’t want to go any farther forward. I gestured at Rynn, and we brought our mounts to a stop. It was always dimmer in the woods because of the overhead canopy of foliage, but it seemed to be getting darker by the moment. I handed my reins to my cousin so I could dismount.
All the insect noises and birds chirping stopped as I took a few steps. If something attacked, I wanted to appear the most vulnerable to give Rynn a chance to run with the horses.
A loud, baying noise rippled through the woods, bringing a chill to my bones. My heart shot up to my throat as I looked for the source, but saw nothing. The sound felt like it came from everywhere and nowhere at the same time.
“Don’t move,” I said.
It tore through the air again, longer this time. I’d heard stories about this beast, but I’d never come across one. Few who heard it lived to tell the tale. Though it usually gave itself away with three haunting barks, one couldn’t run fast enough to get away. It would kill us and the horses if I didn't take it down first.
“What is that?” Rynn whispered, eyes rounded as she sat still on her mount.
