5. Chapter 5
A bone-deep chill woke me, followed by a shiver that shook my entire body, chasing sleep from my mind. I didn’t know how long I’d been lying there after the Lich King’s assault, but the next item on my newly formed escape plan was a weapon.
I spent what felt like hours crawling in the dark, running my hands over the filthy floor. But besides the skeletal remains of my predecessor, its hollow sockets glaring at me in silent accusation, the place was empty.
Determined to avoid more magical surprises and paranoid Cahyon might return, I had checked every inch of the cell for hidden sigils. It took far too long, but when I finally came up empty, a sliver of relief steadied my nerves. As for a weapon, the best I could do was the femur of my unfortunate cellmate.
Whispering an apology to their restless soul, I got to work, grinding the bone against the rough stone wall until it formed a crude spike. When it was done, I raised it to the faint, grimy light filtering through the window. Primitive, yes, but I prayed it would be enough to find its way to Ihrain’s black heart.
I allowed myself a brief, savage grin, shaking the weapon in defiance, feeling like a barbarian ready to destroy my enemies. The moment shattered as the sound of shuffling feet echoed from the hallway. My muscles tensed as I spun to face the latest threat, the bone spike steady in my grip.
‘Annika Diavellar?’ a voice asked quietly. The hooded and masked speaker stepped into view, their features obscured and their tone neutral.
‘Who’s asking?’ I countered, not confirming my identity. ‘If Ihrain sent you, why ask? Afraid you chose the wrong cell?’
‘Oh, ye’r be ’er. Th’ dark fae said that ye’r be shrewish when angry.’
After deciphering the mangled words, I lowered the bone slightly and asked, ‘Alaric is here?’
The figure shook their head. ‘No, but ’e sent me to lead y’er out of th’ palace when th’ fighting’ starts.’
‘Fight? What? Now? Open the cell—I need to join them.’
‘Th’ only key is with tha’ mage twat who waves ’is nose in th’ air n’ walks like ’e shits gold,’ they replied, peeling off their mask. The rodent-like face beneath matched the sneering voice, complete with scraggly beard and beady, amused eyes.
I wondered whether he was testing my patience or just had a death wish, but I was on the wrong side of a locked door, and he was the one sent to free me.
‘What kind of rogue doesn’t have a lockpick? Never mind—how long will it take you to steal the key from Ihrain?’ I asked calmly.
He grinned, chuckling in response. ‘Did I say I didn’ ha’ one? Ye’r talking to th’ best thief in th’ Lowland Kingdoms, lady. But I was warned ye’r might be ... unpredictable. So what’ll it be? Ye’r be calm and follow my orders?’
I nodded, trying to place his accent. It sounded southern with how he maimed his aitches, probably from the coastal area near the light fae kingdom, a no-man’s-land filled with ghosts and shipwrecks.
‘I’m the epitome of calm. Now, would you kindly open this fucking door because I don’t have all day to waste—’
‘Alright, alright. I’ll just tell ’em I tried to keep ye’r safe,’ he muttered, pulling out his tools. The lock groaned in protest before giving way with a loud click , the door creaking open.
Stretching, I stepped into the hallway and fixed him with a sharp look. ‘Which way to Alaric?’
‘No, I told ya, ye’r t’ come with me t’ th’ kitchen gardens. Yer man said th’ dragon will take ya.’
I raised an eyebrow in disbelief. ‘Alaric told you to do that?’
‘Aye, kind of. He’ll only pay if ye’r alive ...’
‘Splendid, then let’s make sure I stay alive. Do you have any extra weapons, or will I have to swing this bone around like a lunatic?’
‘I don’t ’ave weapons, and we ’ave no time for this. Come, I know all th’ secret passages in this castle. Ye’ll be free in no time.’
‘Right, let’s make this clear, my friend. I’m going where my men are, and you’re showing me the way,’ I said firmly, daring him to argue.
He sighed heavily. ‘Fine, at least change ye’r clothes. Th’ guards are swarming like fuckin’ ants, and if ye’r gonna start a fight, I’m out. I’m only paid for freeing ya, not to die for ya.’
He threw a servant’s dress at my feet. Without hesitation or a shred of modesty, I swapped out my old battle mage robe, still singed from the fortress fire, for the simple attire. Then, we moved.
The narrow stairway reeked of mud and decay, the air damp as we wound through the maze of musty corridors. Light filtered weakly through cracks in the stone, barely cutting the gloom.
‘Gods, was the bottom of the prison recently flooded?’ I mused, wiping slime off my hand after touching the wet wall.
The palace was built on a steep incline with many beautiful terraces, but the old castle was cut from the granite bedrock of the hill rising from the river that meandered past its walls. I’d bet the lowest part of the dungeon was frequently flooded during the spring.
‘River takes care o’ th’ bodies. Just open th’ door, and off floats th’ poor sod,’ the thief said, and I realised that could have been my fate.
Lovely .
We were nearing the end of the corridor when he suddenly stopped, grabbing my arm. ‘Someone’s comin’. Hide!’ He dragged me into a curtained alcove just as heavy footsteps approached.
‘Check if she’s still there,’ snapped Ihrain’s unmistakable voice. ‘If the portal sigil failed, take her to the trapdoor—there’s a boat waiting below to take you to the island. The boatman will take care of the rest. The poison should last, but just to be sure, make her swallow this.’
Rage flared in my chest, and I reached for the aether. But all I managed was a faint glow at the tip of my bone weapon.
‘Fuck, no. No fightin’,’ the thief hissed, pressing us against the wall and covering me with his body.
Ihrain’s voice receded as he gave more orders.
‘If she is not there, report to the throne room. I need to set up an ambush by the servant’s entrance, then I’ll meet you there. Reynard thinks he can sneak his soldiers in under my nose, damn fool . . .’
When the corridor fell silent, I shoved the thief away.
‘Let’s go. I need to warn Reynard.’
He shook his head. ‘I told ya I won’t fight for ya. Ye’ can go wherever you want, lady. I’m outta ’ere. If that mage prick knows of th’ attack, I ain’t gonna get paid. I don’ wanna become one of th’ bodies left t’ rot.’
‘Coward,’ I muttered.
‘Better than a dead fool,’ he retorted, disappearing into the shadows.
I let him go without protest as he slipped away towards the kitchens. Partially because he was right, but also because I realised who he was. The tattoo on his temple, faintly visible beneath his hairline when he pinned me to the wall, marked him as a member of the Dark Brotherhood. Their loyalty extended only as far as the gold in one’s pockets. Even if I could use his skills, I had no means to compel him to fight for me.
I came to the gallery bridge connecting the old castle with the luxurious palace and crossed it quickly, trying to look like I belonged. As soon as I reached the nobles’ quarters, I slowed and lowered my head, hiding the bone spike in the folds of my skirt. With a tray I’d picked up and the servant’s dress I’d donned, I blended in seamlessly. An overwhelming nervousness permeated the palace, and several nobles hurriedly packed as I walked past their rooms.
Despite my earlier bravado and the rush of energy that came with escaping my cell, I was muddled from hunger, and when I found myself in an unfamiliar corridor, I realised I was lost. As I looked around to find the exit, I caught part of a conversation as two guards passed me by.
‘You know what’s going on?’ one asked, his voice low. ‘I heard the lord marshal’s taken his men to the throne room, and now we’re being called to protect the king.’
‘Bad luck for us,’ the other muttered. ‘And here comes more of it.’ He straightened abruptly, saluting as an officer approached.
I held my breath, trying to disappear into the shadows, straining to hear more about Ihrain’s plans.
‘You two—go by the servants’ entrance and grab any guards you meet on the way. Hold up the duke’s men as long as you can. I don’t want any of them in the throne room. We need to contain the marshal and his brother before reinforcements arrive.’
The officer’s words were a splash of ice-cold water down my spine. I observed as they gathered a few extra men and headed downstairs. Only then did I dare to move.
Slipping through a discreet servant’s door, I found myself in a narrow passage leading to the throne room. My pulse quickened as I recognised it—every crown mage had been brought here once, shown the alcove where they could eavesdrop on foreign dignitaries and political dealings. The hidden vantage point offered me a view of the throne room’s unfolding chaos.
The grand chamber was just as I remembered it, with its high, frescoed ceiling and gleaming marble floors. Carvings of legendary heroes and beautifully woven tapestries covered the walls. But today, blood marred the polished surface, and soldiers herded nobles into a corner like cattle. Opposite them stood the king’s guards, swords drawn, ready to fight.
Two imposing figures commanded attention at the centre of the room. My heart leapt at the sight of Orm, and for a moment, I forgot everything else. Beside him stood a man so strikingly similar in stature and bearing that I knew it must be his brother, Reynard. Together, they looked like mythical warriors come to life—a stark contrast to the frail, cringing form of the king, who shrank back from the tension radiating through the hall.
I scanned the scene, my stomach knotting with anxiety as I searched for Alaric. He was nowhere in sight, and I didn’t dare reveal myself—not yet. Instead, I focused on assessing the situation, determined to find a way to help.
Orm’s voice cut through the air like a blade, deep and commanding. ‘Sire, why have you done this? We came to beg for your aid in defending the kingdom from the army gathered under the Lost Ridge. Yet you align yourself with those who would see this kingdom fall and allow a conduit mage—our only conduit mage—to be taken under your orders.’
The king blinked, his weak gaze shifting to the chancellor, who stepped forward with a sneer. ‘You keep insisting on saying that, Commander, but what proof do you have? You revolt against the king, kill his guards to force yourselves in here, and for what? For the return of a woman? A mage who, by law, belongs to the Crown.’
‘Lady Annika belongs to no one, and I address the king, not you, vermin!’ Orm’s fury was palpable until Reynard placed a calming hand on his shoulder. ‘Even as a crown mage, you have no right to hold her imprisoned.’
Ihrain emerged from behind the throne, his expression smug as ever. ‘A bold claim, Commander. But if reports are accurate, you yourself forced Lady Annika into a bondage contract.’
Orm’s glare could have burned through stone, his hand tightening on the hilt of his sword. But it was Reynard who stepped forward, his voice measured but no less dangerous. ‘Those same reports say she entered the fortress voluntarily. Now, everyone knows you should not separate a conduit mage from their Anchors. Therefore, we insist you bring Lady Annika here. Then we can put this matter to rest once and for all.’
‘Lady Annika is enjoying the king’s hospitality and is currently unavailable. I’m sure she’d condemn the violence you’ve wrought in her name,’ Ihrain said with such superiority that I thought Orm would lose control of his temper. ‘If you refuse to kneel to your king and beg forgiveness, she would be the first to call for you to be punished. Now, if you ever want to see the lady again, surrender to His Majesty.’
Ihrain was working on getting himself killed, but what worried me more was the increasing yellow glow of Ormond’s eyes. They were using me to destroy his image, and I couldn’t let Ihrain’s lies stand. I need to act, and fast.
‘Stop with this nonsense now!’ Reynard’s voice caused everyone to freeze. ‘What law justifies the imprisonment of a lady of the Erenhart family?’
‘Law? She is a crown mage. You, Lord Marshal, and your brother are traitors. I hereby remove you both from your posts and will strike your family name from the kingdom’s heraldry. Stop this madness and lay down your weapons now ,’ the chancellor said, and the eyes of everyone present turned to the man on the throne.
‘Do you consider yourself king, Chancellor? The ruler I pledged my sword to is the man sitting beside you, not you. Why are you dismantling this country brick by brick?’ Reynard queried calmly, and I caught the subtle gesture he made as he spoke, after which several nobles left the room. ‘Or is this by the order of your true master? The monster who wants us helpless and on our knees, ready to be taken like low-hanging fruit?’
The two men stared each other down, taking the measure of their opponent before a slow, cruel smile spread across the chancellor’s lips.
‘What ridiculous conjecture, Reynard.’
I stepped forward from my hiding spot, intending to wipe the smirk from the chancellor’s face, only for someone to grab my arm with such strength that it made me stagger. The tray I was carrying fell to the floor, startling everyone into silence as they turned to look.
‘I’ve got her, sir!’ the guard holding me announced. I recognised the voice of the person who went to check the cell. Before I could react, all hell broke loose.
‘Get your hands off my woman!’ Ormond roared, rushing in my direction. Two guards stepped in front of him, but he was unstoppable, punching one man in the chest and simultaneously sinking his dagger in the other’s throat. I felt my jaw drop at the speed with which he killed them, but more stepped in front of him after Ihrain shouted.
‘Guards! Now! Take His Majesty to safety. Attack the rebels!’
This is an ambush , I thought, as I grabbed a metal pitcher and smashed it over the head of my captor. Despite the blood that gushed from the cut on his forehead, his grasp on my shoulder didn’t falter.
Suddenly, every door to the throne room burst open. Countless armed men poured into the room and sprang into action while Reynard’s soldiers created a wall of steel around him. Most of the attackers headed for Orm, thinking an unprotected man an easy target, but, like a bear, he ripped through the crowd, fighting them off as if they were a pack of dogs.
‘Fuck it,’ I said, throwing my head backwards with all the force I could muster. The sickening crunch of my skull connecting with my attacker’s face was eclipsed by his bellow as he grasped his broken nose. I reached to grab his dagger but stopped when the sharp touch of cold metal cut into my neck.
‘You’re coming with me, Annika,’ Ihrain said, so close to my ear that his breath gave me goosebumps. ‘It’s time for a little visit to Katrass.’
‘Veles’ pit will freeze over before I give in to you,’ I answered, ignoring the blade that cut my skin as I turned around. Bloody droplets ran down my neck, but it didn’t stop me from reaching for my makeshift weapon and thrusting it at his face. Before the splintered end could spike him, devastating pressure crushed my mind, and I staggered, dropping the bone.
Tears poured from my eyes as the world swam in and out of focus, but I managed to catch a glimpse of someone grinning and swaying to some unknown tune.
Fuck, it’s a broken mage , I thought. It was worse than I expected. Broken mages were magical executioners whose minds had been destroyed when having their geasa extracted. Their psychic power then served to distort the aether, causing immeasurable pain.
Ihrain smiled, wiping his knife as I clutched my ears, trying to drown out the terrifying sound.
‘Hurry, secure her before that beast gets here. I don’t think the guards can hold him for long,’ Ihrain directed as I stepped back, barely able to stand.
‘Either he will rip your head off, or I will. If you take me, I will turn you, and anyone around you, into a pile of ash before we ever reach the Rift,’ I growled.
‘Why do you have to be so fucking stubborn?’ Ihrain replied, reaching into his pocket, and I muttered a curse. The pain was blinding me, but even so, I knew he intended to use lanara poison on me again.
‘Hold her. I need to inject the poison while they are busy with the guards. Then we can get out of here,’ Ihrain muttered.
I ducked his outstretched hands, barrelling into the broken mage’s side and ripping the dagger from his belt, thrusting it into his unprotected flank. Warm blood splashed over my hands right before another psionic wave hit me square between the eyes, and I fell to my knees, retching on the floor.
So far, the broken mage had been gentle with me. Now, his expression filled with strain and hatred as he continued his assault. The whites of his eyes were filled with darkness, and I understood one simple truth: I had to kill him before they could take me away.
I felt another pair of hands pulling at the collar of my dress, likely to inject me with another dose of poison—or worse, Ihrain getting ready to use his magic on me. He mumbled some incoherent words, ripping my dress in his fervour, but as my body flailed, my hand landed on the rough surface of the bone spike.
‘Annika!’ Orm yelled.
Something hit Ihrain, and the impact jerked my body out of his grasp. I dodged to the side, only to catch a glimpse of his horrified grimace as he held Ormond’s dagger embedded in his stomach.
I had one chance. In my weakened state, starved, and fighting a psychic assault, I did the only thing I could. As the broken mage drew their sword to finish me, I lunged at the hand holding it. I was unable to lessen the impact, but I diverted it to the side. The pain when it sliced through my flank fused with Ormond’s roar, but I had my enemy where I wanted him because as I pulled him closer, the bone of a long-dead man impaled his stomach, the sharp tip forced upwards until it pierced his heart.
The song stopped, and the agony with it. The world swam back into focus, and I looked around, worried that there might be more attackers.
With the last of my strength, I struggled free of the dead weight and searched for Ihrain, but he was nowhere to be seen. Only a trail of blood leading away from where I last saw him remained. I pressed my hand to my bleeding side, gasping when a loud voice thundered across the room.
‘Lay down your weapons, or your master dies!’
Reynard was standing by the throne, holding a blade to the chancellor’s neck.