Chapter 29 #3
“Blessed Mother,” I muttered, my voice whisper-soft.
“Now that is trust.” Arielle nodded.
We both chuckled.
The bird chirped in response, then bowed its little head before taking flight again.
I watched it soar away, my heart rising with it.
“This is what it's like to be a mage here,” Arielle said, her words taunting me. The last word lingered in my mind—here.
It was only here in the magical realm that I could truly embrace my powers as a mage. When I returned to Stormfell, this exhilarating experience would end. “Feels like freedom.”
“It is.”
We continued watching the sparrow as it climbed higher and higher, but then another sound came.
Heavier and slower. A shadow swept over us, blotting out the sun for an instant.
The sparrow fled as a massive raven circled above, its feathers slick as oil, its eyes catching the light like molten gold.
At first I thought it was a creature answering my call, then it descended and stared straight at me with a look that sent a shiver throughout my body.
Arielle's smile vanished.
“Don't move,” she said under her breath.
The raven cocked its head in an almost human motion. The shiver I'd felt previously settled like a boulder in the pit of my stomach.
“What is it?” I kept my voice low, afraid to speak. “Is just a raven.”
“No.” Arielle's gaze stayed locked on the bird. “And that's not a raven. It's one of Dreynthor's spies.”
Who in the hells was Dreynthor? I was about to ask when the raven let out a single harsh caw, the gritty sound tightening my lungs.
It launched skyward. Arielle raised her hand and muttered an incantation.
Not a second passed before a black and red hole opened in the space before the raven. By the time the raven saw it, it was too late to retreat. The hole swallowed it and disappeared into thin air.
My mouth fell open and I clutched my chest. “Arielle—”
“I sent him to the dead planes.”
“Where is that?”
“Where tortured souls linger.”
Ice crawled over my skin. “Like the Underworld?”
“Yes, but worse. The stories make it sound romantic with gods and goddesses, but it's full of demons. That bastard is going to be there a very long time.”
I couldn't have been more stunned. “Okay, you have to tell me what's going on. And who is Dreynthor?”
She looked reluctant, then something shifted in her expression and she nodded.
“Dreynthor is Wolfe's uncle. Until Wolfe reclaims the ring, Dreynthor rules Galaythia as steward, though he wields power like he’s the true king. He watches us constantly, searching for anything he can use against Wolfe.” Her jaw tightened.
“The country has been fractured since Wolfe’s father died.
Rebels are uprising because they want a king, and Wolfe's been fighting to contain them.
That spy was undoubtedly here to check whether Wolfe is fulfilling his duties and report back to Dreynthor with a full assessment of what we're all up to.”
My mind stalled. “My gosh. I didn't know about any of that.” I guessed Wolfe just told me what I needed to know.
“Sadly, that's the situation. And now that you're here, it's imperative we remain vigilant. I'm sure Wolfe already cautioned you about keeping our plans secret.”
“He did.”
“I assure you that was for your benefit as much as his. Of all the Nightblades, Dreynthor is the one person you have to be wary of.”
The weight of her words sank in, heavy as lead in my gut. “What if he sends more spies?”
Arielle laughed. “They're here almost every day, and sometimes they take the shape of different animals or inanimate objects.
They're Shadeforms—Fae who have mastered the art of shapeshifting.
If you ever get a bad, bone-chilling feeling, it's more than likely that one is nearby. If that happens, call for me.”
“I will.” I thought for a moment, trying to piece everything together. “Is Dreynthor the reason Wolfe didn't hand me over to the citadel?”
“Yes.”
“What would Dreynthor do to me?”
Sadness crept into her eyes. “He'd kill you, Elariya. Or if you're lucky, he might keep you alive in some way and use the most torturous methods to find the ring. But knowing him, he'd kill you. I probably shouldn't say this, but he doesn't want Wolfe to find the ring.”
My lungs squeezed with understanding. “Because he'd stop being ruler.”
“You're catching on fast.” Arielle's expression grew troubled as she nodded. “I still don't like that Wolfe took you captive. But given the alternatives, this is probably the most merciful outcome you could have hoped for.”
I couldn't argue. She was right. “I just wish my father...” My words trailed off and I gazed upward.
Arielle reached over and touched my arm gently. When I looked back at her, her eyes were kind but firm. “I know. You wish your father had made different choices. But what's done is done, and we have to move forward from here.”
“Yeah.”
Arielle exhaled, her shoulders releasing some tension. “Come on. Let's not let this overshadow what you accomplished today. You did really well.”
“Thanks.”
“Let's get back on track. I have more exciting things to teach you.”
It was nice of her to try to make me feel better, but she couldn't gloss over the situation with magic tricks. I'd thought I'd left all my troubles back in the mortal realm, but it seemed I'd landed in a different sort. And Wolfe Nightblade wasn't the only person I had to worry about.