48. Chapter Forty-Eight
Chapter Forty-Eight
Ryker
T heron Traveled us just outside of Narh, the capital of Torx. The last time I was here, Kya and I had our first encounter in an alleyway that didn’t exactly go as planned. I tried not to think back on that memory and kept my mind focused on the task at hand—going to the palace and meeting with Dainos to convince him to work with me to defend Atara.
Theron disappeared, returning to his search, as Nikan and I made our way into the city. The streets were eerily quiet. While Narh was typically bustling with people during the day, it seemed more barren than I had seen in the past. And there was an unusual amount of people from other Nations.
Torx people were generally distinguished by their dreadlock hair and muscular bodies, but I noted several people from Gaol and Ulrik—with their pierced faces and half-shaven heads. I eyed them warily and kept my hood up as we wound our way through the city.
“So,” Nikan drawled. “When the war starts, Mavris will be joining us in Atara, right? He’ll be there?”
“Why?”
“I just figured you’d want your brother there. I’m sure he’s a powerful wielder. What was his element again?” he asked .
I refrained from audibly groaning, but I couldn’t stop my eyes from rolling. “Nope. We’re not doing this.”
“Doing what?” he feigned ignorance.
“I’m not getting into your relationship with my brother.” I shook my head.
I didn’t care who Mavris slept with but I really didn’t want to get involved in their drama. I had enough shit on my mind I didn’t need to add whatever it was they had going on to my mental load.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He shrugged.
“Uh huh. I swear, the two of you…” I shook my head. Mavris kept doing the same thing—subtly asking about Nikan whenever he could. “Look, whatever issues you two are having, I don’t want to be in the middle of it. If you want to know about Mavris, you’ll need to talk to him.” I hoped that would be enough to make this stop.
“I was just asking if he’s going to be fighting with us or not,” he clipped.
“Well, that depends. Are you two going to be able to be in the same place without sneaking off behind tents? Or do I need to keep you separated?”
His jaw fell as he gawked at me.
“For someone who doesn’t want people to know your business—and a Roav at that—I’d think you’d attempt to be a little more discreet.” I smirked.
I didn’t have to look at him to feel his glare boring into me.
“Yeah, well, at least I didn’t follow my mate around the continent because I was too scared to talk to her,” he snipped and shrugged his shoulders.
I chuckled. “I guess we both have communication issues.”
Nikan huffed, but he didn’t argue. We remained quiet until we made it to the palace.
The Narh palace was smaller in size but grandeur in design. The exterior stone was carved in an artistry of elaborate detail of landscapes and people, creating a masterpiece of Torx history through time. It was a monument I had a great appreciation for, but now wasn’t the time to marvel.
The last time I had come to the palace to meet with Dainos, his Watch guarded the entire perimeter. This time, there were only four of them stationed at the doors. We approached slowly, walking up the steps to the entrance. The Watch barely glanced at me and let me pass through the doors without so much as a word. It seemed they were expecting us.
Upon entering the palace, Coen—Dainos’ advisor—was waiting for us just inside. Dainos had been the Lord of Torx since the last Trial over one hundred years ago, and I had met Coen on multiple occasions. His dark, dreadlocked hair was longer than the last time I had seen him, and he somehow looked more broad than before.
“Lord Ryker,” Coen greeted, bowing his head.
“Coen,” I said, keeping my head held high. “This is Nikan.”
Coen nodded to Nikan.
“Why do I get the feeling you knew we were coming?” I asked.
“I don’t know what you mean, Lord Ryker,” he said.
I narrowed my eyes. “Don’t feed me that shit. You know damn well what I mean. Why are the streets practically empty, and why were you waiting for us?”
His shoulders slumped and he sighed. “Lord Dainos had a feeling you would be coming. A lot has happened recently, and he didn’t want mayhem to ensue if the people saw you storming through the city. Not to mention, he heard you.”
Ah.
Dainos was gifted the ability to manipulate sound by Cethar, the God of Nature. He could hear from great distances, amplifying the smallest emissions for only himself or for anyone he chose. And I heard he could even silence an entire city no matter how loud it was. It was a unique gift, and one that had proven to be useful, both on and off the battlefield.
During the last battle he’d had with Gaol, he would silence his forces movements or enhance sounds in the ears of the enemy to distract them and blow their eardrums. He would listen to the opposition’s strategies to learn where they would strike next and plan accordingly. Dainos made sure his gift was used to his advantage, but he still couldn’t hear thoughts.
I raised a brow. “I’m here peacefully. I just need to speak with Dainos.”
“He’s in his study,” he said, gesturing for us to follow.
Coen led us to the northern wing of the palace and stopped outside a set of double doors, pushing them open to Dainos’ study.
The Lord of Torx was sitting at his desk with his hands clasped in front of him.
“Dainos,” I greeted with a nod.
“Ryker.” He nodded in return, ignoring Nikan entirely. “You are excused, Coen.”
Coen bowed at the waist then left, closing the doors behind him.
“It’s a bit unorthodox to show up unannounced in another Worthy’s Nation, you know,” Dainos said, leaning back in his chair, the wood creaking with the shifting weight.
I sat across from him as Nikan remained standing near the door behind me. Torx and Oryn hadn’t been in a major skirmish in decades, and we had remained somewhat civil with one another in past years.
“I’m aware. But from the looks of things, you don’t seem all that concerned. ”
He remained quiet for a moment. “I know why you’re here, Ryker, and I can’t do it,” he said, almost apologetically.
“I don’t need you to fight for me. I just need you to stay out of it,” I implored.
He pursed his lips. “I’m afraid it’s too late for that. I’ve accepted Jymar and Voron’s offer. Torx has joined forces with Gaol and Ulrik.”
My blood instantly ran hot.
“Why would you do that? You can’t stand Jymar,” I said in a low, lethal voice. My shadows snaked across the floor as my temper rose, and I stood with my fists clenched.
Dainos leaned his head back to look up at me with an unconcerned expression. Nascha, Dainos’ Fylgjur, appeared on the desk between us.
The Spirit owl’s wings were splayed in threat. Even with the curled horns coming from the top of her head and the deep ebony eyes that looked like they drank souls, the Spirit owl had a gentle, almost kind look about her. From the top of her head down to her tail feathers and wings, she was the color of sand on a beach, and her underside was pure white. While she didn’t seem threatening at this size, I knew better than to mess with her. One wrong move and she could shift until she encompassed the size of a building and spear those that threatened her Worthy with her talons.
A second later, the building rumbled with the weight of a dragon landing on top of it.
“Just in case?” I asked Theron.
“Nascha is more unpredictable than Daciana,” he said.
I leaned to the side, looking past her and glared at Dainos with a snarl.
“I didn’t have much of a choice,” he said.
“You had the choice to not cooperate with them and agree to launch an attack on Atara. It’s on the other side of the continent for God’s sake. What could you possibly want from it you’re willing to lose wielders for?” my voice raised.
Dainos slapped his hands on the desk and stood leaning over it and glaring at me. “I didn’t have a choice! It was either I risk losing a couple of trained wielders in a war against an empty Nation or guarantee wielders and citizens would die at the hands of Gaol and Ulrik forces when they turned their attention to Torx after Atara. I had to think of what was best for my people. That’s my duty.” He sighed, then continued, “If I piss off both Gaol and Ulrik, Torx would have enemies on both ends of the Nation’s border. In case you haven’t noticed, we’re surrounded by them. They’ve already formed an alliance, and if I went up against them, they’d see Torx as another obstacle. I can’t risk fighting alone against two Nations rather than marching on a defenseless one.”
“It’s not defenseless. And it’s not empty. It’s not even without a Worthy,” Nikan interjected coldly.
“And there is no evidence of that.” Dainos’ eyes flicked to him. “Even if there were, it doesn’t change the fact it would be neglectful on my part as Lord to oppose two powerful, bordering Nations and endanger my citizens.”
Gods, I wanted to rip his head from his shoulders. Him and Jymar and Voron. These arrogant, greedy—
“But there is another option. One I think could prevent any loss of life,” Dainos said, sitting and waving for his Spirit to leave, but she only flapped her wings and glided to perch on the window sill.
“I doubt I’d be interested,” I seethed.
“Look, Jymar wants Atara for its land. He wants to capitalize on the resources and have the space to expand his people. I tried to talk him out of it, but he’s extremely adamant. Voron is just following him and trying to make his mark as a new Worthy to prove himself. However, I’m willing to talk to them again on your behalf. I’m betting something could be worked out, and Jymar would be open to negotiations on splitting the land with Oryn to avoid a full-out war,” Dainos appealed.
He didn’t want this fight, but he knew it was coming.
I backed away and recalled my shadows before walking toward the doors with my answer.
“Ryker,” Dainos called out just before I yanked the doors open.
I gleaned at him over my shoulder.
“As a courtesy, expect to see all three Nations in a fortnight. You don’t have much time.”
My blood boiled. Courtesy or not, he was planning to join the attack on my mate’s land, forcing my hand to defend it. My eyes flashed with the promise of death.
“The next time you see me, I’ll be painting the ground with your blood.”
Once we left the palace, I swiftly made my way through the city, Nikan remaining silent as I simmered in my rage, until we came to the open plain outside Narh. Theron appeared a moment later.
“Agitating multiple Spirits in one day. That is impressive even for you, Worthy,” he said flatly.
I smacked my hand against his shoulder. “Just take me back to Oryn,” I growled. “I have a war to win.”