37. CHAPTER 37 #2
Greer gave a finite shake of her head and met Enora’s gaze for a brief moment.
“I am afraid that House Ashbourne is aware of the magic Aveline possesses. They have an oracle of their own. Aveline is the tide that will turn this siege. I have seen fate and fire for her. Blood and ash. She will be an important piece in the war to come. You cannot survive without her, and the Myrosian royalty will not give her up easily.”
“I can’t survive without her, or my kingdom can’t?” I asked.
“Both.”
My gaze pinned King Mavros to his seat, and he merely glanced away. I raked a hand through my inky hair in frustration.
I addressed the oracle once more. “And for me? What did you see for me?”
She swallowed hard. “You will make a deal with death.”
I reeled back, unsure I heard her correctly. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me, blood of the dragon. You will make a deal with death in the war to come. You will survive, but you will become someone you do not recognize. There are far more pieces in play than you realize. There is a greater war to come, one you have not planned for. Unforeseen foes wish to tear you down. Myros is not the greatest threat you will face. Sacrifices must be made.”
I ran a hand down my face and met Rensford’s gaze before focusing back on Greer. “What does that mean? What unforeseen foes? Is it this ‘Morrathil’ my father speaks of coveting power in the north? What am I supposed to do?”
“You must take her back. The bond is a blessing from the old gods. You are fated. There is nothing more important than the strength your union will bring to your kingdom and the realm. The gods and the fates always have a reason.”
“But you cannot see it?” I asked through clenched teeth.
Greer shook her head.
“Can you tell us what we will face in the war to come?” I asked.
Greer shook her head once more. “That, I cannot tell you. I only know that Myros is not your greatest enemy, as you once thought. I have told you what I have seen thus far. The decision is now up to you.”
Greer turned to go, Enora following silently. As she turned from the council, her glamour took effect once more, transforming her into the feeble old woman from my memories.
“Wait!” I reached out a hand, as if I could physically stop her, despite her being out of arm's reach across the room. “You can see Aveline now? Tell me where she is.”
Greer nodded once. “I need a scrying glass or a pool of water. Do you have access to either?”
My response was immediate. “Blackwater Lake.”
In mere moments the entire council, along with Greer and Enora, was standing at the lake’s edge.
Midafternoon had descended upon Gothryn, painting the sky in hues of orange and red as the sun began its journey west. The lake was entirely still; my reflection stared back at me as I glared down at the tranquil water.
Greer glanced at me, seeking confirmation. I nodded, urging her to do whatever necessary. She reached into her dress and withdrew a long, thin knife. She sliced her palm open, allowing the blood that poured forth to drip onto the lake’s calm surface before her.
Moments later her eyes turned milky white, her hand outstretched as if she saw a figure standing before her.
The wound on her hand continued to bleed into the lake as her eerie gaze watched the surface—as if it were transforming before her.
Her expression grew taut, the silence hanging heavily in the air as we all exchanged furtive glances.
All this time we had an oracle right beneath our noses.
It was no wonder she hid herself. She knew we would have used her magic to aid the crown. But why was she revealing herself to us now?
I was wary of her, to be certain. Despite her Vireth lineage, her magic closely resembled that of mage magic. I wouldn’t doubt if there was a mage halfling somewhere in her direct bloodline.
She followed the threads of blood and magic through the lake’s surface with a haunting expression while we waited.
The oracle suddenly fell to her knees, her eyes returning to the color they had been moments before she cut herself. Her nails curled into the dirt as she righted herself, standing to brush off her skirts.
“What is it?” I asked, grasping her shoulders. “What did you see?”
“She is in a cage made of iron—” Greer started, her words trailing off as my nails dug into her skin. Her gaze snapped to mine.
“I’m sorry,” I croaked, stepping back from her.
“She is in their dungeons. She is speaking with someone…though I do not know who. It is a woman; that much I can discern from their voice. The divination is not always clear when I am not familiar with the surroundings or its people.”
“But she appears unharmed?” I asked.
Greer nodded. “Despite the shackles on her wrists, she appears unharmed.”
They had thrown her in the dungeon. She was betrothed to their crown prince, and this was the treatment that afforded her? She was shackled. She would be freezing and terrified down in that cell.
Anger rose thick and sharp in my chest, clouding my vision. I would strangle Kallias. I would run him through with my broadsword. I would reduce him to ash.
How could he claim to love her, only to turn around and do this?
I was the blood of the dragon. I would burn him.
I turned from the council, storming back toward the castle.
Emrys, Valerian, Rensford, and the king were close on my heels as I left the remainder of them standing at the water’s edge.
“Sorin, we need to think about this. We can’t act in haste.” It was Rensford’s voice on my heels.
I whirled on him, wings already beating steadily at my back. “Did you hear her? She is locked in a prison cell! War will find us, no matter the path I choose now.”
“We understand your anger. It is entirely justified. But don’t be baited into doing something stupid. In this moment, we need to decipher what to do with the information that has been given to us. It is wise to remember—dead men pay no debts,” Emrys said.
My eyes were wild as my gaze bounced between all of them. “I already know what I am going to do.”
I turned once more, but Emrys gripped my shoulder. “It doesn’t need to be an all-out slaughter, Sorin. This is your magic talking. The bond is clouding your judgment. We don’t know enough about it. This could be a trap!”
“I know plenty,” I seethed through heaving breaths. “Live by the wing, die by the sword. I have made my choice, and I will not be taken down by a measly Ashbourne prince.”
A sharp pain in my side forced my eyes closed, and my hand flew over the wound to grasp it. I knew what I would find there if I rucked my tunic up.
The mage’s curse was back in all its terrible glory.
“We can take her back while leaving the royals alone,” Valerian suggested.
My little brother, so na?ve.
Raw anger pulsed through me, unlike anything I had ever felt before. I was alight with fury, too far gone to bite it back and hear reason. A fresh swell of rage shot through me at the thought of letting her captors live. Of not doling out one final punishment.
My gaze narrowed, fists clenching at my sides.
“Sure, leaving them alone is one option.” I was trembling, my dragon form begging to surface as my nails turned into claws, biting into the flesh of my palms. The tang of fresh blood coated the air. “Do you know what another option is?” I asked.
Only silence answered me.
“Burning it all to the ground.”