Nonnegotiable #2
Arlon leans over me, and that barely contained fury makes me quake. His big hands grab my collar and haul me to my feet before his thumb gently feels over the skin where Nik’s blade had been. In a grudging testament to the guard’s control, he didn’t even nick me.
Seeing that seems to take the edge off of Arlon’s anger. He draws in a breath, but his voice is rough as gravel as he demands, “Who told you?”
I kick off the weighted bolas Nik wrapped around my ankles only to pause at Arlon’s question. Of all the things I expected him to ask, that was not it. I frown, not bothering to hide my confusion. “Told me what?”
Arlon’s anger falters. “Where were you heading?”
“Just a day tri -“
Arlon stops me with a stern shake before I can finish the sentence. “The truth, Olbric,” he says, and his eyes flick briefly towards Captain Thora.
Whatever has brought the Captain here has him on a blade’s edge. And as badly as I want Dom to succeed in this, I can’t dig Arlon into a deeper hole.
I swallow. “Dom is going home.”
Arlon’s grip on my collar loosens, shock momentarily eclipsing his anger. “Is he quitting magic?”
“No - no. He just wants to find his mother. See if she can answer some questions he has,” I say, keeping it as vague as I can. The ruckus we’ve caused has gathered a small crowd, and I don’t want to spill any more about it than I have to. “We planned on returning right after.”
Arlon swears before he releases his grip on me. I follow his gaze through the gate, but Dom’s already disappeared into the woods. And it’s a sinking feeling to realize that he’s gone too far for either of us to reach now.
“Why didn’t either of you come to me?” Arlon demands.
I cross my arms over my chest. “Would you have let us go?”
“No.” I scoff, but Arlon isn’t finished. “And not for the reasons you think. It’s because I need you elsewhere, Olbric.”
There it is. I knew that one of those Godforsaken assignments was meant for me.
“I hoped that Dom would come with you, but that ship has apparently already sailed,” Arlon says.
No doubt Dom’s already grabbing our stashed gear. I can only hope that Valar caught up to her herd mate so he has two horses to carry him and our supplies. An ache settles in my chest, so intense that it feels like my heart is being pulled in two.
Dom’s leaving. And I’m not. Again.
I grit my teeth, fighting back tears. “Where?”
Arlon swallows, something like grief settling across his face. Somehow, I know what he’s going to say. I understand why Thora is here. Galiva had told me that the new assignments were a tough ask.
“Where?”
“It’s for the peace talks, Olbric,” Arlon says. “Between Straetham and Immenbach. They’re being hosted in Marikadar.”
Hearing the name of my hometown feels like an openhanded slap to the face. I look at him in disbelief. But Arlon isn’t finished.
“As part of the conditions of Cairish hosting the talks, your presence is required by the Shykhdar.”
It feels like the sand has suddenly given way under my feet. Like I’m falling, tumbling down into a pit of panic. “You’re taking me back to him.”
Arlon looks pained. “That’s not true. You will be coming home with us.”
“Like hell!” I snap. He doesn’t know that. This reeks of my father’s meddling. “Taking me back to Marikadar - you’ll have done his work for him!”
“Olbric -“
“FUCK you!” I shout, cutting him off as I back away from him. Arlon looks like he’s been struck, but I don’t want to hear what placations he’ll make, his excuses. Did he know he’d have to give me back to my father when he broke things off with me?
“Olbric...” Arlon’s voice is quiet and pleading.
My only thought is to flee. The gate is still open. If I can get out, get an abjuration up, I might still have a chance.
None of them, not the Royal Guard, not Galiva, not Arlon are any match for me in a firefight.
“I’m not going back.” I raise my hands to wrap around my spells. Arlon’s face falls even as he reflexively reaches for his own. “I won’t.”
The muscle in his jaw ticks. “I don’t want to fight you, little one.”
Hearing him call me that here, now, makes me bare my teeth in a snarl.
Nikolai is at my back. All I have to do is make it past him. The citran will stop Arlon. A low level evocation will be more than enough for Nik.
I whirl, feet braced to run, but if I thought Nik would be caught off guard, I’m mistaken. It’s like he’s waiting for me, arms already reaching to grab me.
The evocation goes off, but he sidesteps, ducking low to avoid the blast. And when he rises back up, he steps in towards me before his fist connects with my stomach.
It’s only then I truly realize the extent of the Royal Guard’s training.
The strike is hard and well placed, knocking the wind out of me.
I stagger back, searching for another spell, but a boot to my legs sweeps them out from under me.
I barely hit the ground before that same boot is on my chest, pinning me.
My spells are lifted from my neck as Captain Thora’s face fills my field of vision. She hands my strands over to Arlon as she says coolly, “I would suggest you don’t attempt that again, Master Olbric. This is nonnegotiable.”
I cough as Nikolai’s boot lifts, letting me drag in a ragged breath. I’m hauled back to my feet, but I yank my arm out of the guard’s grip with a glare hot enough to burn. Nikolai looks at me impassively, as if ruining a wizard’s day is only to be expected.
Arlon sighs before he pockets my spells. “Galiva, would you escort Olbric to his room?”
“You think I don’t know where it is?” I snap.
Arlon ignores me, his eyes turning to Galiva. His voice is hard as stone. “Make sure to lock his door.”