Page 39 of Lured By the Dus
28Tanith
To my chagrin, the next time we left the castle—riding on that terrible horse—a pack of skull-faced dogs followed behind us, their pants loud even above the thunder of hooves. The city appeared like a wilted leaf and the damage done by the hail was plain to see. Shops had holes in their roofs, crops had been flattened, some homes were only half standing. The pristine cobblestone road was missing stones, pockets of dirt cropping up. A staleness hung over the city. I glimpsed shadows in windows and imagined glares full of hate. A surge of mixed feelings rushed through me, for our coming was an omen of doom. I hoped those who were wise enough would pack up their goods and leave, for even when the scourge of Oren’s revenge finished sweeping the city, I wasn’t sure how much would be left.
We galloped into the courtyard, and Oren waved his hands to the hell dogs as we dismounted, a gesture I assumed meant for them to wait. They backed away, but not far enough, for I still shivered as Oren escorted me into the hall.
Lord Faren stood waiting with his sorcerers, as though they had known we were coming. For once, I did not slip away to spy, and I wondered what my aunt would think of my silence and the two weeks that had passed since we’d come.
We stepped across the threshold and paused. Oren, with his hand on the small of my back, drew himself up to his full height and addressed Lord Faren. “I’ve returned to hear your verdict. Will you let the magic-thralls go free?”
Lord Faren’s deep voice boomed across the hall. “We’ve given your request consideration and have a compromise.”
“Speak.”
“We will give you the mine and you will leave us alone. Once you have proven you can do so, we will consider letting the thralls go free.”
Oren spat at Lord Faren’s feet. The vehemence in his action stabbing through me like a knife. I felt his anger boiling in my blood.
“You think something like a mine will appease me? It is the magic-thralls’ freedom, or I shall rain down devastation on this land like you’ve never seen before. I will take everything precious you hold dear, and you will rue the day you did not give in to my demands. You’ve had decades to plot and plan your rise to glory, but you have abused the gifts given to you and used stolen magic for foul deeds. You’ve gotten away with it, but now the time has come for retribution and you will not survive long past this day. I shall return in three days, and I hope you’ll have changed your mind.”
We rode back in silence, although the barking and braying of those fearsome dogs echoed through the city. At one point, I heard terrified screams, and I wondered if someone was being bitten, limbs torn apart, even though Oren had promised the dogs would not touch or harm anyone. They were there to inspire fear, and I agreed that looking at them was enough. They barked, chased, and growled. Even astride Oren’s horse—his hand pressed firmly to my belly—I could sense the fear of Dowler filling the air with its bitter octane.
We reached a hillock overlooking the city, and Oren stopped the horse before leaping down. I made a move to join him, but he held me still by placing his hand on my thigh. The heat of his touch was a reminder of the one day and two nights we’d spent in a frenzy of passion. Whatever had arisen between us was still there, leaving me wanting to run my fingers through his silken hair and wipe that murderous look off his face. Maybe it was the gift of his blood that had blurred the lines, for I couldn’t tell where my plans and goals began and his ended. My thoughts revolved around him and his desires.
“Stay, I need to think,” he said gently.
“About?” I prodded.
“How to enact my plan without hurting innocents, as you wish.”
I bit my lower lip, surprised he’d listened to me in my boldness and anger, telling him his plagues affected more than the palace. “Do you want to talk through your plan?”
His eyes smiled at me, grateful, but his face remained hard. “No. Go back to the castle. I’ll come shortly.”
I’d heard those words before and the hope bubbling in my heart died. “Is that wise, considering what happened the last time?”
A muscle in his cheek jumped, and he tightened his jaw. “Or go to the barn. The hounds will not return today. Take solace in the comfort of animals and lock yourself in my workshop if you must.”
I nodded, still staring at him, a whisper of unease beading under my skin. “You trust me not to run away?”
He studied me for a beat, drawing out the silence between us, and then lifted my hand and kissed my wrist. “Do you love me?”
My heart kicked under the spell of those words, a question I could not answer. Yet the way he looked at me, his soul rising in his amber eyes, told me more than words or actions ever could. Questions shattered like glass dashed upon rocks, but one thought stood out clearly. This was my chance to run even though I felt torn. But without money, I wouldn’t get far and part of me wanted to find out what would happen to Dowler and Oren. I sensed he was close to achieving what he wanted, which would mean the end of him and me. I’d been little help to him, and even when I’d found something, I’d failed to deliver it because of that witch. Now, he sent me away because all along he’d had the strength to ruin Dowler.
“I …” My breath whispered and froze on the words, unable to go any further.
“I must earn your trust, I know that, but first, I must follow this through to whatever end. I cannot dwell here while the magic-thralls live in an endless cycle of torture, being drained of their magic, revived, and then put through the cycles again. This has to end, and I will send a sign that will let Lord Faren know that this time, I mean it. I will stop at nothing. So go, Tanith, don’t watch me do this.”
He slapped the horse’s rump, and I pressed my lips together to keep my teeth from jarring. Curling my fingers into the horse’s mane, I glanced back over my shoulder, but Oren wasn’t watching me. He stared off at Dowler, looking over the city sloping beneath the hill and rising to the apex of the mountain where the palace loomed. A coldness passed over me as though I were watching the end, and a sense of finality hung in the air.
Upon reaching the castle, the horse snorted and stamped in front of the stables. I dismounted with some difficulty, rolling my ankle as I landed. With a hiss of pain, I crumpled to my knees, then stood tall, testing my weight. My ankle ached but held, and so I limped inside the barn. Peace enveloped me as I entered, welcomed by the scent of musk and hay. To my surprise, Pip waited at the door, and something about the stone creature made my heart turn. “You’ll keep me company while we wait, won’t you?” I asked.
He wagged his tail and followed me down the halls while various animals looked up at me. I caught my breath as a deer poked its head over the stall, unafraid as it munched on hay. The donkey was still there as well, staring at me out of condemning eyes, and above its head, white owls slept. A flash of red made me stop short, and when I peered over the stall, a red fox stared back at me, eyes like marbles. It twitched its pointed ears, and instead of fear, I only felt a sense of awe and wonder. Oren had once been a healer. Had all these creatures come seeking his help? Drawn to the haven he had created for them before sending them out to do his dark bidding?
Pain shot up my foot, reminding me of my ankle, and I hobbled to the workshop amid birdsong and the chatter of squirrels. I breathed in the scent of leather and wool, taking in the materials carefully stacked, as though the changes in the weather could not touch this. If this had been a true tailor’s shop, they never would have kept the clothes where moths and rats could get at them. But I was grateful I’d come, for sitting in the workshop was more interesting than pacing in our room, waiting for him to return. At least I could amuse myself with a project, although something told me I’d have to wait a long time for Oren’s return. He’d been honest, keeping me by his side, but now, once again, he’d pushed me away to disappear into a world I could not reach.
Wrapping my ankle to keep the pain at bay, I pulled out materials to make something, anything to keep myself occupied. And I was right. I cut and stitched and waited, but Oren did not return for days.
29Oren
