CHAPTER 19 - Beast Warden
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Its form expanded, limbs contorting as furred wings tore free and its tail lashed out — until it took the shape of a massive wolf-bear hybrid towering half the height of the throne room. The creature's reflective eyes locked onto Magistrate Marlowe, and he crumpled to his knees, trembling.
The vylnir lunged, teeth gleaming.
My heart thundered, every beat a call for vengeance.
Let it rip him apart. Let it tear this whole court to shreds.
"S?σρ!" I shouted, my voice cutting through the chaos.
As much as I wanted this, I had to be smart.
The creature halted mid-pounce, its dozens of fangs inches from Marlowe's pale, sweat-slick face. A whimper escaped the man as a puddle formed beneath him.
I stared, my breaths coming hard and fast.
The vylnir... It truly had obeyed.
It listened to me.
A strange exhilaration surged through my veins. It felt like the first time I'd flown with Mistfang over the misty skies of Drakfjord.
I turned my gaze to Sylvos.
He lounged on his jagged throne, utterly unbothered by the panic around him. His smirk widened, taunting me, daring me to unleash my fury.
My hand tightened into a fist.
One word could end him... But no... that would doom my homeland. I had to be smarter.
To kill Sylvos, I had to dismantle his empire first.
"M? ??ι???, ??α?? ?σ??," I said through clenched teeth. "W? ?ι?? ?σ? ???? ??σσ? ?σ?α?."
The vylnir's growl reverberated through the hall. Yet, it obeyed. With a flick of its long tail, it backed down. At the same time, I stepped forward, taking it's place. I stared down at the magistrate, still crumpled on the floor. Then slid my eyes to Isolde, cowering behind the throne.
She trembled with rage.
But stayed quiet.
A slow clap broke the tension.
My head snapped toward the throne.
"Well done, Princess," Sylvos chuckled. "Now, could you compel the beast to assume a... less threatening shape?"
I stared, unblinking.
His confidence was maddening.
As though the vylnir hadn't nearly ripped his court apart.
"I... I can try," I said reluctantly, turning back to the massive beast. "Cσυ?? ?συ ?υ?? ι??σ ?συ? ??α???? ?????" I asked through barely contained frustration.
The vylnir's growl deepened, its shadowy fur rippling.
Yes, well, I'm not enjoying this either, I thought.
With a reluctant huff, the creature began to shift. Its hulking form folded inward, shadowy wings retracting as it shrank until it returned to its previous size.
I turned back to Sylvos.
"Amazing," he said. "It is just as I had hoped."
An awful weight settled into my stomach.
"I have wanted that creature tamed for years now, but it seemed impossible." He rose to his full height, his steely armor glinting in the cold light. "I, Sylvos Thorne, Emperor of Thornmont, Sovereign of Fayndor, and wielder of Briarvex dismiss this trial in honor of the Princess' achievements."
The crowd murmured in shock and even I was taken aback. I blinked as Sylvos raised Briarvex my way. He pointed it at me with a cunning smirk.
"For taming the untamable creature, I appoint you as my Beast Warden. You shall oversee training the vylnir for my conquest of Fayndor."
Protests sounded from the court while my mouth hung open.
"Silence," Sylvos ordered the crowd. "Along with her achievements, I wish to express my gratitude toward the princess for saving my life during the Royal Hunt. For this, I promote her to Daisy rank."
My arms hung limp at my sides.
Did I hear him right?
"With all this, I officially pardon Raine Stjorme, Daisy Concubine, Princess of Drakfjord, and Beast Warden, from any accused crimes brought today."
A thick silence settled over the throne room
Even Isolde stood frozen in disbelief.
And then...
One by one, courtiers started clapping until the throne room roared with applause. My heart raced with the noise.
Was this true?
But how was I to feel?
Although I have kept my life, I intended to free the vylnir from all this... Not stand with it at the forefront of Sylvos' war.
I met the emperor's smug gaze again and realized...
All this... was pure calculation...
Goosebumps spread across my arms as I slowly understood his plot.
He had kept me caged with the vylnir not for Isolde's sake, but to increase my connection with the creature.
Not only that, but he gave Virella that message.
.. And he freed the vylnir of its bond just now in hopes it would attack.
And that I would be able to stop it again.
Not only did this prove my value for his war.
.. But it had also served as a test of my loyalty.
Was he that confident in himself?
What if I had betrayed him and let the vylnir loose?
An uneasy feeling skittered down my back.
Slowly, I looked up at the source of that unease.
It was so faint, I almost thought I imagined it... But the thorned vines coiling around the throne room's pillars... They moved.
My heart dropped to the deepest pits of dread.
Even if I ordered the vylnir to continue, Sylvos probably could've stopped it. This was the heart of his fortress, after all... Every inch of it had traces of his magic.
I stared at Sylvos with wide eyes.
This was the man who had conquered half the continent. And unless I stop him... He most certainly would conquer the other half.
I swallowed hard, fists clenching as I summoned my voice.
"Your Majesty," I said over the applause.
Sylvos raised his hand, silencing the room.
"Yes, Princess?"
"I requested justice for my friend — Lady Talia Fernvale."
He nodded, gesturing toward the court.
"Nightshade Concubine Bronwyn Blacksteel, step forward."
From within the crowd, Bronwyn hesitated but complied.
"Lady Talia's body was uncovered. Unfortunately, the flames had ruined any potential evidence," Sylvos explained.
"I have conducted a thorough investigation during our return to Dornhold and questioned many witnesses.
Although I cannot convict and execute anyone for murder, in light of Lady Bronwyn's cruelty, I demote her to that of Orchid rank. "
Bronwyn's eyes widened.
"Your Majesty!" She dropped to her knees, her voice desperate. "I only defended you! Lady Talia was accused of treason!"
"But not guilty," Sylvos interrupted calmly. "I can understand a lashing, but one hundred strikes? That's too excessive. And since the princess showed no signs of being poisoned... It seems the girl was innocent."
He glanced back at me as he said that last part, grinning like he knew a joke.
"That is all," he said. "This matter is dismissed."
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I couldn't tell what expression I wore as I crossed the bridge toward Daisy Castle. My thoughts had been shrouded in a hazy blankness ever since leaving the throne room. Even as I gathered my belongings, changed gowns, and departed from Clover, the echo of Sylvos' decree hung over me.
"Hurry up," Virella snapped. Her navy-blue gown blew in the mountain breeze as we passed a small waterfall nearby. "I'd like a bath after all this walking. Why must Daisy castle be on the other side of the mountain?"
Behind us, servants trailed at a cautious distance, lugging our trunks and belongings. Their eyes stayed fixed on the vylnir. Its hulking, wolfish form trotted confidently, claws clicking on the cobblestones. I couldn't tell if it sought to explore the castle... or someone to devour.
I glanced at the cowering servants and guards we passed. They all knew this was madness. Though I could maybe understand appointing me as his Beast Warden, I couldn't figure out why the emperor allowed the vylnir to roam freely as though it were my pet.
He'd only given me a warning to keep it in check. And that he'd know if it ran away again.
Was he doing this as a test? Challenging me to commit treason? If the vylnir killed anyone, I knew I'd be the one to take responsibility.
I sighed and kept walking.
The only other person seemingly unphased by this arrangement, was Virella.
"What are you staring at?" she sneered when the vylnir growled low in her direction.
The creature's fur bristled, and its reflective gaze pinned her like prey.
"I'd make a coat out of you if you keep this up," she threatened.
The vylnir bared its teeth, a forest of jagged, white knives that glinted in the fading light. But when Virella didn't so much as flinch, it snorted, as though dismissing her as beneath its notice. It slunk toward me instead, falling in line next to me.
"S??'? α ??ι???," I reminded it.
It huffed, the sound skeptical.
As we approached Daisy Castle, its four guards froze at the sight of the beast. Their eyes darted to one another in silent panic, but none dared to stop us. When the vylnir padded past, I could've sworn it offered a fanged smirk.
Inside the castle, the difference from Clover was immediately apparent. The halls were cleaner, not pristine but free of the grime and neglect of our previous station. Even so, a servant who spotted us turned on her heel and fled as though she'd seen death itself.
At this rate, the vylnir would terrify the handful of staff here into desertion.
"Cσυ?? ?συ ??α??? ??α?????" I asked softly.
The creature grumbled, its gaze narrowing at me as though weighing its options. When I crossed my arms and met its glare with one of my own, it finally relented. Its form rippled, folding in on itself, shadows compressing until it stood no taller than a cat.
The result was unsettling. Though small, its proportions were grotesque — ears too large, tail too long, and eyes far too knowing. It perched awkwardly on the floor, its rows of teeth barely hidden by thin, curling lips.
Virella raised a brow.
"Perfect scarf material, don't you think?"
The vylnir hissed at her, then leapt onto me in a sinuous motion. It settled on my shoulders, glaring at her with a malice far too human.
I couldn't help but laugh.
"Virella, you do realize this thing can grow larger than the castle towers, right? I'd love to see you try challenging it then."
It huffed in agreement, its tail flicking dismissively.
"It's much less hideous than those vile women from Nightshade," Virella scoffed, her tone dripping with disdain. "Lady Bronwyn got off far too easily. If it were up to me, she'd have been beheaded. And Isolde... Cerys... Oh, I haven't forgotten them either."
Her eyes lit at a scene conjured in her mind.
"We have a saying where I'm from," she said. "Mark thy wrong upon the tide, for while waves may forget, the sea remembers every storm."
Her words chilled the air between us.
"Where are you from?" I asked, my voice low as we ascended the winding stairs.
I'd known Virella only briefly in my first life, before the vylnir had devoured her along with half of the Clover concubines. Her sharp tongue had marked her as memorable, but she had perished like the rest.
She shrugged off the question with the same casual indifference she gave most things.
"Pineholt," she said at last. "I entered the harem just before our kingdom fell to the emperor."
My brows lifted.
Pineholt was Sylvos' most recent conquest and bordered Driftwoode. It explained her golden skin and unruly curls.
Without further conversation, we settled into our rooms in one of Daisy Castle's shabbier towers. The accommodations, while still rough, were leagues above the squalor of Clover. At least here, the windows were intact and the dust minimal.
A solitary cook alongside four overworked servants prepared dinner — a thin, bland soup Virella and I ate in the dim dining hall. The other concubines retreated to their rooms as soon as we showed up.
"Gods, Raine, I think I prefer your cooking to this slop," Virella sneered, poking at her bowl.
I laughed despite myself.
"Daisy's supplies aren't much better. Perhaps we'll set traps tomorrow if you want fresh meat for supper."
"Better than another slog through this gruel," she muttered, scowling as if the soup itself had offended her.
I remembered the paths near Daisy Castle well enough, though this side of the mountain was wolf territory. Traps might bring more trouble than they were worth...
By the time we finished dinner, exhaustion hung over both of us. The vylnir curled itself into a tight coil on my bed, its breathing deep and slow as it drifted into a wary sleep. I left it behind and joined Virella in the bathing chamber.
The chamber itself was far larger than Clover's and the windows were intact. Though the corners of the room lay steeped in shadow, the flickering candlelight too faint to reach the entirety of the steaming pool.
"So," Virella began as she slid into the water, her golden curls glistening with droplets, "the Harvest Festival is in two months. Any plans for promotion?"
Her question soured my mood instantly. I couldn't afford to linger at Daisy for long — not with winter bringing those dreaded letters about the sea serpent.
"The Harvest Festival is about giving back to the land," I said. "Luckily, my kingdom's traditions are... uniquely suited to that."
Virella flashed her teeth.
"Now I'm curious."
"And you?" I smirked back. "It would be pathetic if you let me outshine you."
"Ha! Not as pathetic as your embroidery."
I laughed at that, shaking my head.
"Perhaps if you could play an instrument, we'd have a chance to team up for the festival."
Her brows arched.
"Any noblewoman worth her salt can play the vielle. And like everything I touch, I'm naturally flawless at it."
A lyre would have been better, but the vielle would do.
"Then it's settled. We're a team—"
"I can sing," a voice purred from the shadows.
Water sloshed as Virella and I both jumped, our gazes snapping to the far end of the bath. Steam swirled there, curling around a figure that seemed to emerge from the very darkness itself.
The woman leaned forward, revealing herself from the shadows. Her short hair grew out a light brown the same shade as her skin but shifted into white halfway through. Her eyes gleamed darkly, and her smile sat on her face almost unnaturally sharp.
"Would you need a singer?" she asked in a chilling voice that echoed off the stone walls.
Goosebumps prickled my skin, and I glanced at Virella.
"You nearly scared me to death!" she barked, pointing a shaking finger at the intruder. "Who in all damnation are you?"
The woman only smiled wider, her lips pulling back to reveal teeth that were just slightly too big.
"I'm Lady Sireen Poole," she said as she slid into the water with unsettling grace, submerging until only her dark eyes gleamed above the surface.
Virella and I stared in silence as bubbles escaped from Sireen's lips, rising lazily to the surface.
"I... don't know if we need a singer," I said awkwardly.
"You're very disturbing, Lady Sireen," Virella blurted out, earning a sharp look from me.
Sireen only blinked, unbothered.
"But thank you for the offer," I said carefully.
She said nothing and continued to blow lazy bubbles.
"Anyway..." Virella said, breaking the tension as she turned back to me, though her eyes remained wary. "What's this talent of yours? Do you play an instrument?"
Still keeping an eye on Sireen, I answered, "Actually, my kingdom is known for its traditional dagger dance. And as luck would have it, I have a storm-forged blade."
"Oh? This one?" Virella said, plucking Raincatcher from her bundle of garments.
The dagger's steel caught the flickering firelight, and my heart jumped at the reflection. There, lounging in the bath with us, was Ryn with a blissful smile curling his grayish lips.
"Gah! Hide it!" I hissed, snatching the blade and stuffing it back beneath the heap.
Virella raised a brow.
"What? I brought it for protection," she said innocently. "You never know what intentions the ladies of Daisy Castle might have."
Her gaze flicked to Sireen, who was now idly poking a candle's flame with her finger.
"Just... I'd rather not have it out while we're bathing," I mumbled, my cheeks flushing.
"Alright," she said, watching me as though I were stranger than Sireen. "But tell me — how exactly is a dagger dance supposed to win over the village folk?"
I let out a long sigh, sinking into the water.
"It's more than just a dance," I began, my voice softening as memories surfaced.
"In my kingdom, it's an ancient tradition.
Talented women typically perform with two daggers, and the real artistry comes when the blades are storm-forged.
They earn their names for good reason, as I'm sure Raincatcher has. "
A small, wistful smile crept onto my lips.
"My sisters and I used to compete all the time, perfecting the movements. When you master the dance with two storm-forged blades..." I trailed off, my voice dipping into reverence. "Something beautiful happens."
Virella huffed, her usual derision breaking the moment.
"Well, I hope your dancing is better than your embroidery."
I splashed water at her with a grin.
"I'll make even you stare in awe."
"If I'm playing for you, you better," she retorted.
An eerie hum broke the banter, low and haunting. Both of us turned to see Sireen, her dark eyes half-lidded as she swayed slightly in the shadows of the bath.
Virella and I exchanged uneasy glances before looking back at the strange woman.
"Well," Virella said. "I hope to leave this castle soon."
I nodded. But my mind had already drifted back to my sisters. I couldn't help but worry.
Had Skye met her betrothed yet?
Would she hate me?
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