46. Esther
ESTHER
“We will fight with you until the end, as was and still remains our matriarch’s wish.”
Those were the words of the twenty men and spirit greers who remain and follow me toward death’s doors. We’d wiped out two-thirds of an army, but heavy are our casualties, and my magic has reached an exhaustion it’s never known before.
Gone are the days when my focus is on training. My body buzzes with energy, my magic wanting to draw more blood now that it’s tasted it on such a grand scale. It’s the reminder of Grimace at my throat and the swirling markings beneath that call me forward to Regent.
No one approaches us as we walk down the hill, two rows of soldiers and beasts waiting for our arrival.
Skeletons long deceased and half buried litter around the threshold of the ruins of Felia’s temple on the dark water’s edge.
It oozes with menacing energy, and our men purposefully walk around it, conscious of every movement, or lack thereof, from the water.
Old magic is embedded into the ground, the sense of rotting dark magic and curses buried deep and likely waiting to resurface. Of all the reckless places to wage a war, on a battle ground that willingly and hopefully wants to take in the dead.
This very place goes against everything living, and it pains me to hear the low hum of magic on the grounds. Lost souls plead for their lives, and now beg to be set free.
This place is cursed.
Only those who believe themselves to be greater than death would be so arrogant as to set a camp on it.
“This is a bad place,” Blaze says. Although he doesn’t have magic burning through his veins, I wonder if it’s instincts alone that prick his senses, or if he, too, can feel the damnation in the air.
I walk between the two rows of men, letting Regent’s magic guide me.
“Well, well, well,” a voice says that appears to be intertwine with both feminine and masculine tones. It’s dark and sensual, unforgiving and light all in the same.
A wind greer steps out into the open, blocking my view of where I can sense Regent.
My invisible chains rattle against the enchantment around him.
This was a trap intended for a god. My mind and magic immediately start shifting through enchantments I can understand, trying to find one that will unbind him.
Two large black wings attached to the wind greer shimmer against the night sky. My gaze narrows on the magic that’s been sown into his back.
What kind of magic is this abomination?
It’s uncommon and extreme for some greers to willingly force modifications onto themselves, but they’re more for aesthetic than function. However, this is so specifically crafted that my magic quickly surmises the wings are much a part of his magic, as it flows through each one.
The greer is beautiful with smooth gray skin, transfixing purple eyes, and delicately polished, sharp nails.
“Having to wait for so long to meet you has driven me almost mad. I did not expect my property from the Volmere auctions to run and hide for so long. No matter. Here we are, where you should be, dropping to your knees before me. Let me personally introduce myself. I am Lainteen Grimuoire, your new master.”
His fine black suit glistens with a faint purple hue, much like his wings. Everything about this greer defies natural order. And then it dawns on me as my magic curiously assesses his magic. What if he’s a cursed demigod as well? Is that possible?
With wings such as his, he, too, might’ve once been a beast.
My blood runs cold the moment Dahlia’s magic becomes present, and she steps out from behind the tent central to the temple’s ruins.
She holds a cruel smile on her face as she drags Regent by a collar around his throat.
Her valther swoops, coming to perch on top of the highest pillar of the ruins, watching all.
Blaze grabs my arms as I lunge forward, holding me back as I kick and jar, trying desperately to get to Regent. My magic is held together by a thread as it swirls around me, promising vengeance.
Regent tries to look up, the chains depleting his energy as Dahlia shoves him forward into a circle drawn in blood. “I must confess, it was a lot easier to trap him than I thought.”
Lainteen tsks. “Don’t pretend as if this was all your genius plan.”
“Well, it was certainly my contingency plan that worked in our favor. Did he not end up using the Ariagem as I predicted? Or did it suddenly slip your mind as to how easily you let both of them escape at the Volmere auctions?”
“Careful, fire greer, before I cut out your tongue and kill that beast of yours so you go blind. I don’t follow your orders.”
“Nor I yours,” she seethes, looking back to me and Blaze, a cruel snarl to her lips.
“But mark my words, girl, you have been more trouble than you are worth. And look who escaped his enchantment. Perhaps I should’ve infested you with a Killa as well.
It might’ve killed you in the process, but at least you would work under my absolute control. ”
Run, Denva. Regent’s voice trembles in my mind, barely audible. Barely alive.
What have they done to you? I push back. “Regent?” I call out for him, terrified by the lack of response, even more scared to not get one back at all.
“My poor little omni greer. He’s under a nasty enchantment.
God chains, although rare, still remain, but only for a certain few,” Lainteen educates, taking much glee in the fact.
“It’s rather cruel, really. I would know.
I lived in the same living trap, for, well, I can’t remember how many decades until King Saldom freed me, but that’s irrelevant.
I am, however, disappointed that I have to take all your lives here on an already-died-out battlefield; it lacks creativity.
However, I’m sure Felia will be pleased as you all fall to your death on one of her many ruins.
Perhaps she might be so impressed she won’t forsake me any longer. ”
Blaze pulls me closer, his grasp firming around my stomach as if to remind me to stay still. But what else is there to say when our only option is to fight? To get Regent back and free him from those chains.
“We’ll find a way to free him, Esther, but you have to be smart about this,” Blaze whispers as he directs his attention to Dahlia. “I thought your intention was to take over Hemmont Kingdom next, or was that a trick?” he says loud enough for her to hear.
Dahlia’s brows raise. “A trick, no. In fact, the kingdom is probably falling now as King Saldom invades it.”
“You’re a traitor!” I scream, tears welling in my eyes. “Kain was your cousin, and he trusted you!”
“Stupid girl!” she snarls. “He was growing weak, and I had an opportunity to increase support. I was certainly not going to waste it for the likes of a little omni greer. Do you think I don’t feel your magic swelling inside of you?
It calls to me as much as I am bound to you, and I will take it for myself now.
If it hadn’t been for Kain’s interference, I would’ve taken you that very evening, turning you into my own randor blade.
Now I have to give you to King Saldom alongside this fallen god. ” She yanks at Regent’s chain.
“Traitor,” I say again, barely able to contain my furious tears.
“Do you know how infuriating it has been trying to catch you? If anything, I’m only embarrassed for you both because of how easily you now fell for this trap.
Do you really think I didn’t know where you went into hiding after the Volmere auctions?
I see everything, girl.” I look up to the valther whose red beady eyes watch us carefully.
“When I realized having my men follow you on foot was a nuisance I decided to be practical. I knew he would fall for the bait with information regarding the Ariagem. Who do you think crafted it? Why do you think I waited until after his magic was restored, barely enough to use it, knowing he would arrive to save the day when I sent my soldiers toward your little group? He jumped straight into my trap.”
“You...”
She cuts me off. “You have never once been in control of your path, ever since King Saldom took it, slaughtering your people and trapping this fool of a beast to ensure you never found one another. Yet here we are. And I, the messenger who will be deeply rewarded in the process.”
“Yes, here we are, perhaps explaining too much?” Lainteen pointedly glares in her direction. “You’ve barely spoken to me the entire time being here, yet suddenly your lips are loose.”
“You have no idea how long I’ve waited for this,” she says through a sneer, her voice laced with hatred.
Lainteen rolls his eyes and makes a condescending face at me.
“I’m only glad to have someone more respectful to deal with.
Now, I will make this very easy for you, little omni.
You and your demigod come with me, quite literally to your demise.
Rest assured, you’ll be together. We’ll even stake you at the same post, or something dramatic and poetic.
” He flippantly flicks his wrist. “Or everyone here dies, and we follow the boats you sent and wipe out the last of the Tahil clan. If I’m being honest, I’m personally leaning toward the second option.
Their ancestors were, after all, the ones who trapped me in the god chains, so it’s somewhat well deserved.
But I’m willing to let it slide for now if you come obediently. ”
“She’s not going with you,” Regent rasps, barely able to push himself up to sit on his heels. His eyes close and reopen, struggling to remain conscious.
“I disagree,” Lainteen says, looking at Regent as if he is nothing but an inconvenience. “When I want something that has significant value or beauty, I’ll scratch my hands bloody to obtain it. And it means nothing to me to dispose of you in the process, Neina blessed.”