Chapter 3
“Is this a trick?”
Xaydin blinked at Masakage’s question as he finished saddling his horse. “No.”
“You’re really going to let her go with you?”
“That’s what I said.”
“Why?”
He had no idea. Not really. It wasn’t in his nature to care for anyone or anything. His soul was blacker than his heart, and he honestly liked it that way and had no desire to change.
No entanglements. Just him and his vengeance quest. He’d never wanted company or even conversation.
All he wanted was to behead the beast for Dash and go back to his solitary ways.
But the one thing he knew about creatures like Gisela, she wouldn’t stop as long as she had a mission.
Because we’re just alike.
Only he wasn’t as passionate. He did what he did and that was it.
She still had feelings and convictions, which made her dangerous and unpredictable. And the last thing he needed was such a person trailing after him, mucking up his mission as she sought to slow him down or stop him.
So, he smirked at his brother. “Better to keep my enemy at my side, in plain sight, than to risk her coming up behind me when I least expect it.”
Masakage winced. “Understood.”
“You still coming with us?”
“Wouldn’t miss it for anything.” He levitated into his saddle. His long black hair fell to his waist as his powers perfectly draped his robes around him.
Xaydin rolled his eyes. “Should I call you princess from now on?”
“Only if you do so in a loving manner.”
Stifling a laugh, Xaydin went to pay for the horse. Hopefully, Gisela would be a bit more appreciative than his brother.
“Can I help you…” The stable master drew up short as he caught sight of Xaydin. His greenish-tinted skin paled noticeably. “Your Highness.” He fell into a proper bow.
“Please, don’t.” Those formalities angered him. “I’m no prince.”
The stable master glanced about nervously before he whispered, “You’ll always be our prince.”
He appreciated the loyalty. But such words were dangerous. His uncle would have both their heads if he ever caught wind of this conversation. Not that Xaydin really cared about himself. He’d welcome the fight.
No, he was wanting that fight. Nothing would please him more than to feel his uncle’s blood on his hands. The only thing that saved that beast’s life was the fact that he didn’t want the crown.
Oh, the irony of that.
His uncle had killed his father for something Xaydin would have handed over to him had he only asked. Power had never appealed to him. Not in any way.
In fact, his last conversation with his father had been over that very truth.
You will be king. It’s your destiny.
It was one he might have embraced had his father not sent him off as a hostage. Meara’s court had soured him forever on power and royalty.
Now…
His father was dead, and he was technically a fugitive. A very public one, but a fugitive, nonetheless. It was why he chose to stay in Vaskalia. Forever a thorn in his uncle’s ass.
Anger boiled inside him, but he forced it down and focused on what he needed to do.
“I’m here to buy your finest horse and a saddle.”
The stable master’s eyes widened. “Of course, High…my lord.” He scurried away.
Xaydin peered outside where Masakage waited.
Gisela still hadn’t returned.
Why are you looking for her?
If he didn’t know better, he’d think he cared. But that was ridiculous. The only thing that mattered to him was avenging his father. One day, he would find the Oath demon who’d killed him, and when he did…
He’d have a new moniker.
Oathbreaker was far too mild for the havoc he intended to unleash. Deathdealer, maybe…
Or monster. He really liked that one.
“Will this work, my lord?”
Xaydin turned back toward the stable master to see the fine black gelding. It was a beautiful beast. “Perfect. How much do I owe you?”
He handed over the reins. “Nothing. Your father was a good troll and a great king. When I was young, I was conscripted into the army even though my father was ill. As soon as your father found out that I was the only son, he sent me home to be with my parents during my father’s last days.
Had I not been here, my mother and younger sister would have been thrown to the streets.
It’s a kindness I’ve never forgotten. Consider this my honor to take care of King Benesh’s son now. ”
Those words touched him and hurt him. Mostly because his father had been much quicker to defend and protect others than he’d been to protect his own child.
I’m sending you because it wouldn’t be right for me to send another’s son to Meara. How could I ask for that sacrifice from another if I’m not willing to make it myself?
That was the good and bad of his father. Had he kept Xaydin at home, his father would still be alive.
But then Xaydin wouldn’t be the ruthless bastard that he was. Or nearly as accomplished a fighter.
To that, he owed both his father and the centaur bitch who’d carved him into the animal he currently was.
“Thank you.” Xaydin took the reins and headed back toward Masakage who sat on the horse with his hands tucked into his sleeves. It was a strange, arrogant stance, but then his brother was a strange, arrogant being.
“Is that mine?”
He paused to see Gisela behind him.
How had she done that? No one ever snuck up on him. And he definitely didn’t like it.
It was enough to make him want to lash out at her. But he wasn’t that big an ass. He’d just make sure that he watched her in the future. Make sure she didn’t ever do that again.
“It is. Need a hand up?”
She approached the horse slowly. “I’ll be fine, thank you.” Gisela said that, but the horse nickered and stepped away as if it feared her.
“Sh…” She held her hand out to gently stroke its nose. Still, the horse was unsettled.
Xaydin snorted. “Must smell the centaur on you.”
A peculiar light darkened her eyes before she offered him an amused, timid smile. “Horses have never particularly liked me. It’s why I prefer walking.”
Xaydin held his hand out to hover over the horse’s eyes. Using his powers, he soothed the beast. Even so, the horse wasn’t happy. There was something about Gisela that bothered it.
How strange. Stranger still was the fact that his powers picked up nothing from her. She seemed human.
But looks could be deceiving. No one could look at him or Masakage and guess their heritage. Other than his size, no one would ever know that he was part troll or sidhe.
With that thought in mind, he helped her mount, then turned toward his brother. Can you tell what blood flows in her veins?
He shook his head. Why do you ask?
A hunch.
There was more to her than what he saw. He just didn’t know what, and he didn’t like unsolved puzzles.
Trying not to think about it, he went to his horse and swung himself up into the saddle. He took a minute to scowl at them. “Ready?”
Gisela nodded, even though she wasn’t sure about this. If she didn’t know better, she’d swear the two men were talking to each other with their thoughts.
Did Xaydin have telepathy? Meara didn’t and neither did she. But she had no idea what powers trolls possessed. Other than physical strength and height.
And apparently sarcasm that wouldn’t stop.
Xaydin swept his gaze over them, then kicked his horse forward.
Gisela followed with Masakage riding by her side.
“Have you ever been to Oath Island?” she asked Masakage.
“No. Not exactly the kind of place I venture to.”
There was a peculiar note in his voice. “What kind of places do you frequent?”
“Ones with real monsters.”
Xaydin scoffed. “You don’t think real monsters are those I fight?”
“Didn’t say that. The ataswere are their own special hell. I don’t envy you those fights. Or your mission.”
“His mission?” Gisela asked.
Masakage looked away.
After a brief hesitation, Xaydin answered. “My father was killed by an ataswere. One day, I’m going to find him and make sure he never takes another life.”
“How long have you been searching?” The question was no sooner out of her mouth than she regretted it.
Thrice more given the amount of anger in his eyes. It was such that they flashed red.
“Since your father died,” she answered for him. “Sorry for the thoughtless, stupid question.”
Given her own feelings for her father, she had a hard time remembering that other people didn’t feel the same way about theirs.
Paternal love. The most alien of concepts for her. Well, aside from maternal love. She didn’t understand that one either.
Or any other kind of love, really. Her world had been too harsh for that.
How any kind of love could survive this hell of a world, she had no idea. People betrayed and they lied.
Never trust anyone.
Yet here she was, trusting two creatures who were her enemies. Well, maybe not trust. It was impossible to trust those she knew had opposing goals.
More than that, she knew the troll prince would kill her if he ever discovered the truth about her.
Get in line.
He wouldn’t be the only one who’d cause her harm. That was a long and mighty list of foes who would relish her death. Starting with her mother if that secret was ever revealed.
How she hated this world. This mission.
She should probably hate her companions as well. Yet they were oddly amusing.
And as they rode, she could imagine meeting them in other circumstances. More normal ones such as a ball.
What an utterly ridiculous thought… She’d never been the ball type.
Meara loved such things. Mostly because they allowed her to flaunt her money and wardrobe.
The queen never passed up a chance to show off to others.
It was also a well-known secret that no one could outshine her, as those who did were often fed to ravenous beasts Meara kept in her stables.
Or she ordered them strangled.
Another reason Gisela always kept to the shadows. She had no intention of being a rival for the queen.
“You’ve grown silent.” Masakage moved his horse closer to hers. “Are you lost in your thoughts?”
She was, but she’d never admit it. “Trying to imagine the Oath Lands.”