Oath of War (The Cursed Bonds #2)

29. Chapter 29

T he ground shook under my feet, and I struggled to keep my balance.

‘Is this your woman’s doing?’ my brother asked. Everyone was acutely aware of Ani’s past, especially as we were standing next to the rubble of its results.

‘Did she look like she was in any state to cause an earthquake right now? Ani is ... Fuck, she’s so weak she can barely stand. I’m sure that stubborn woman will find a way to use her magic, but I wouldn’t count on her in the upcoming battle.’

‘Many battles are won by attacking at the right moment,’ Reynard said. ‘We are exactly where the Lich King wanted us, and the timing couldn’t be better for him.’ He sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. ‘So you think it’s the olgoi worms you told me about?’

‘Probably. We used dragon fire to solidify the ground the camp is on, which will give us some time, but we should mobilise.’

Reynard nodded, turning towards a messenger, and I gently tapped my chest. Annika always filtered excess aether through our bond when casting her spells. I didn’t know if she realised I could feel it even when she did something small and harmless, like creating fairy lights. But at that moment, I couldn’t feel anything untoward.

Another tremor shook the ground. Reynard grabbed my arm to stabilise himself, and this time, it felt like the earth was determined to make us fall on our arses. I could hear the horses neighing and the shouting of the soldiers gathering together as they hastily donned their armour.

I turned to the east, half expecting to see the enemy’s army gathering, and instead saw Valaram marching towards us in full armour.

‘We detected the opening of a portal right before the earthquake,’ he informed us. ‘Talena is certain she can sense Roan’va Shen’ra’s signature on the other side of the mountain.’

‘No one’s magic has such range,’ Reynard contradicted swiftly, but I knew better than to argue with the ambassador.

‘You forget, Your Majesty, that Empress Talena is not a forty-year-old novice sitting on a throne,’ Valaram said coldly. ‘She’s honed her power over centuries, and one of her particular skills is the ability to locate her subject.’

‘Assuming the Lich King is in Roan’s body and personally leading his army, what now?’ my brother asked with irritation, as if blaming the dark fae for bringing the bad news.

‘Now we have to find a way to open the mountain pass and kill the bastard. The sigil is almost ready. We just need Annika’s skills,’ Valaram responded, though worry was painted across his features.

‘The sigil may be ready, but Annika isn’t,’ I answered quickly. ‘You know that better than anyone.’

Reynard grunted, a stormy expression on his face, cursing when another tremor sent us sprawling. ‘Then we will fight using tried and true methods. Get your dragons ready, Orm,’ he said. ‘Valaram, I leave you in charge of the mages. You both need to get over that mountain and kill whoever’s leading that army.’

‘Have you considered withdrawing until she’s ready?’ Valaram asked. ‘The outlook is bleak, especially with the terrain the way it is. The ground here may be firm enough for your heavy cavalry, but further down, the dirt is too soft for a full charge—’

‘Withdraw to where ? To the plains full of non-combative citizens? Don’t worry about my cavalry. They will manage,’ Rey responded.

I wondered what his plan could be.

My brother, in an impressively short period of time, had merged four nations into an imposing army. Dagome’s foot soldiers were supported by dwarven infantry, well-armed with long pikes and heavy axes that gave them a decent advantage. The light cavalry for skirmishing was formed from both fae and human riders. And the main thrust of his attacking force consisted of his terrifying cataphracts, led by Reynard himself.

The cataphracts were, as Valaram so crudely referred to them, our heavy cavalry, with specially bred horses, larger by several hands than any other steeds, covered in overlapping plate mail. Their riders were encased in impenetrable steel and carried twelve-foot lances. When at full tilt, these warriors could smash through any infantry. As a unit, the devastation they could inflict was terrifying.

A unit that was exclusively human, only Dagome could breed horses able to carry such weight, but with the bulk came the caveat that warranted the cataphracts needing solid ground to gain their speed.

‘Whatever you say, Your Majesty,’ Valaram said, rubbing his temples. ‘I’m assuming you gave command of the archers to the light fae prince?’

‘Yes, I needed to keep him from leading the charge,’ Reynard said. ‘We both know that getting him to follow orders is like herding a bag of cats.’

We all knew how big an understatement that was.

Our archers were a mix of farmers, hunters, and scoundrels with a talent for the bow and a desire to bury the enemy beneath a volley of arrows. Mages, however, formed small, specialised forces that needed to be spread out. But where soldiers and riders followed orders, archers and mages listened to no one.

Battle mages stood at the forefront of the infantry and tore through their opposition with blades and elemental spells, while those with paladin traits protected the wounded and light fae healers under shield spells. Light fae healers refused to commit violence but wouldn’t hesitate to dart into the thicket, fighting to pull out injured soldiers.

But what the dark fae did could turn even the strongest warriors’ stomachs. Their necromancers went into battle alone, though it never took long for them to be surrounded by the enslaved undead, forming both shields and blades, while violet aether chained them to their masters.

‘Just concentrate on your own orders,’ Reynard said, heading for his horse. ‘I have a bad feeling about this.’

I mentally called for Vahin. ‘ What can you see? ’

‘ Spectrae are coming, ’ he answered grimly as dragons rose into the air, one after the other. ‘ It’s not just them. Every type of winged monster under the sun is heading in our direction. We need my Little Flame, but she is too weak ... I won’t take her on my back. This would kill her. ’

‘ I’m not asking you to, ’ I muttered, fighting that same fear.

The enemy had come.

I’d lost my necromancer, and my Nivale would be in danger if she joined the fight. I was ready to die in this battle but living without Annika and Alaric—if I lost them both ... my brother would be digging three graves.

‘You know Ani won’t forgive us for leaving her on the ground,’ I said, grasping the pommel of Vahin’s war saddle.

‘I can deal with her anger. This is the right decision, and if needs be, blame it on me,’ Vahin answered, and for a moment, I could hear the spark of humour in his hissing voice. The damned lizard knew Ani would forgive him for anything.

Just as we were about to take off, a powerful spasm shook the ground. Vahin roared, snapping his wings open and raising them in challenge to the sky. In the distance, a fountain of dirt erupted high into the air, and three glistening olgoi worms screeched in reply to my dragon’s defiance before burrowing back into the earth.

The Battle of the Rift had begun, and I prayed to the All-Father, once again, that we would emerge victorious.