Page 28 of A Dagger in the Ivy (Blade Bound #1)
C Hapter
“In the wake of the dragons’ demise,” Ezra says, his voice echoing through the classroom, steady and deliberate as he paces before us, “the leaders of our lands sought to assert their dominance, ushering in an era of bloodshed and strife: the Age of Blood.”
I shiver at the name. Even as a soldier, considering an entire era of bloodshed gives me an uneasy feeling.
“It was a time of relentless conflict, a struggle for dominance between the nations of the realms, with Mersos and Dulcamar at the strongest of odds. Dulcamar, driven by greed and ambition, sought to seize the fertile lands of Mersos, attacking repeatedly in an attempt to control Terre Ferique’s resources and to expand their own borders. The resulting wars left deep scars on both nations, scars that have yet to heal fully.” He pauses, letting the weight of his words sink in.
I listen intently, my mind absorbing the implications of this history. As a soldier, the political aspects of history are more clear in my mind, but I have to admit that I never committed the details to memory. Besides, I think Ezra might have access to more detailed information than the magister in Delasurvia.
Hearing Ezra recount it, there’s no wonder that the people of Mersos, raised on tales of Dulcamar’s aggression, are uneasy about Delasurvia’s openness to take in refugees. The fear of invasion, of losing what has been fiercely protected for generations, lingers just below the surface.
Nadya drops her chin into her palm, concentrating on Ezra’s lesson. “This was before the Shadow Tsar, though, right? What was Dulcamar’s ruler called then?”
“He was known as Tsar Gunnold Pisarus, who often claimed to be the rightful ruler of Terre Ferique. He said he would stop at nothing to conquer the world.”
“But he was usurped by an unknown enemy,” I put in.
Ezra raises his hand. “Yes, but we haven’t come to that part of history yet. Let us first finish the depths of battles within the Age of Blood.”
I shift in my seat, eager to absorb the history but impatient about going through the details.
“Mersos’s unbreakable treaty with Hedera is a result of the Copperhammer kingdom’s ability to stand between the two nations, not just geographically, but through the king’s army in coalition with Delasurvia’s regiment.”
Ezra’s sharp gaze lands on me. “Young King Axel Westergaard, your father, who had only recently taken seat on the throne after the death of your grandfather, stood as a bulwark against these threats. His superior regiment, known for their unmatched discipline and strategy, managed to repel Dulcamar’s forces time and again. Under his leadership, Delasurvia not only defended its lands but also maintained its sovereignty in the face of other potential aggressors, distinguishing itself during this tumultuous time.” His voice is tinged with admiration. “The Royal Regiment, under the banner of your ancestors, proved to be formidable warriors, securing victory in many battles.”
It’s hard for me to imagine that these events occurred mere years before I was born.
Ezra settles behind his desk. “But King Axel was not only concerned with external threats. Two lands were holding their own in the face of adversity: Alphemra, the island of fae, and Messanya, the islands of the sirens. The fae, as they are now, were a peaceful people. And not only did they fall in favor of the king, but he fell in love with a fae and married her.”
I smile at the memory of my mother.
“The sirens were another story. They were reluctant to become allies with anyone, and King Axel found that the glamour of the sirens posed a danger that threatened to undermine his rule from within. Fearing that their seductive powers could erode the loyalty of his people and challenge his authority, he enacted the siren ban. It was a move meant to protect his throne and ensure that no outside influence, magical or otherwise, could diminish his control.”
“As the bloodshed ended, Terre Ferique entered the dawn of the Age of Silence,” Magister Ezra concludes, “a new era of peace upon our world, which we will touch upon in another lesson.”
It feels like we’ve been in the dim classroom for years when we finally emerge. When we get to the grand hall, I exhale a long breath, attempting to expel with it the somberness of Ezra’s lesson. I can’t say I didn’t sleep well, though. Ezra’s powder had certainly helped me relax. As he instructed, I put a pinch into some tea, drinking it right before I slipped into bed. My muscles relaxed in a matter of minutes, and once I was settled, I felt a weight press down on me. I closed my eyes and awoke refreshed, relieved that I hadn’t wandered in my sleep.
“Enough of this gloom,” Nadya says, linking her arm with mine as we walk. “I’m starting to feel like one of those old statues in the courtyard—cold, grey, and stuck in place.”
I can’t help but smile at her dramatics. “I suppose we could use a distraction.”
Nadya grins, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Exactly! We need something fun, something that reminds us we’re still alive. We could ask Sir Holden to take us into town. Maybe buy some new dresses or jewelry. But first, how about sneaking into the kitchens and stealing some of the desserts they’re preparing for after dinner?”
I laugh, shaking my head. “Are you forgetting the last time you tried that? Or does the mention of Indira chasing you out with a rolling pin not ring any bells?”
She shrugs playfully. “Maybe, but it’s worth the risk. I still can’t understand how that woman can be everywhere at all times. But when was the last time we did something spontaneous?” She lowers her voice. “You’ve got to admit, it’s beginning to feel like we’re living in a golden cage.”
Her words resonate with me more than I’d like to admit. Ever since we arrived at Ivystone, it feels like the weight of duty has been pressing down on us, leaving little room for anything else. And it must be especially hard for her, not having the freedom she was used to back at the Garrison. I squeeze her arm, feeling grateful for her lightheartedness.
“All right,” I concede. “Let’s be reckless, just this once. But if we get caught, I’m blaming you entirely.”
Nadya laughs, a carefree sound that echoes through the hall. “I’m sure Indira will see it that way, anyway.”
As Nadya and I are about to make our way to the kitchen, the air is suddenly filled with triumphant fanfare. Cheery voices and shouts of congratulations echo around us. We turn to see Prince Torbin arrive with a flourish. His presence commands the attention of all who gather in the hall. Behind him, his hunting lads follow, bearing aloft the magnificent stag he has slain, their boisterous cheers reverberating off the walls.
Torbin strides into the center of the room with all the swagger of a conqueror, his chest puffed out with pride. “Behold, my noble companions. The midnight buck! They said it couldn’t be done. They said it was merely a myth. But I have proved them wrong and returned victorious.”
His voice rings out, brimming with arrogance and self-assurance, as he boasts of his skill and prowess in the hunt. His friends clap him on the back, while some lady courtiers look on with admiration.
“A trophy worthy of a prince, brought down by my own hand. This mythical beast has met its match.” He smiles and raises a fist in the air.
“Prince Torbin, master of the hunt!” they call out.
As Torbin basks in the adulation of his followers, his ego no doubt inflated by their fawning praise, he scans the room until his fierce gaze lands on me. When he breaks from the crowd and heads my way, I steel myself to play the part of the dutiful betrothed.
“Congratulations, Torbin.” I incline my head. “Your hunting skills are as impressive as ever.”
Torbin’s eyes alight with satisfaction. His smile widens, and he leans closer to me. “I feel… an energy flowing through me. It’s exhilarating. I can’t explain it.” He settles his hands on my shoulders and slowly moves them up and down my arms. “I feel undefeatable.”
He looks me up and down with hooded eyes, his hands moving to my waist. Before I can react, he pulls me close and takes my lips with his. My whimper of surprise only causes him to pull me closer and deepen the kiss. His mouth is smooth and warm, and his hands move over my back with an uninhibited greed.
Cheers erupt around us, and Torbin breaks the kiss. He smirks, his eyes almost wild as he gazes at me. “Celeste, the world can be ours. I want nothing more than to give you everything your heart desires. And I’d very much like to share this elation with you. Tonight, perhaps.”
I’m caught off guard by his kiss and his words, and I’m not sure how I feel about them. There’s something about the gesture that causes alarms to go off in my head. But despite my reservations about him, I know the importance of maintaining appearances, especially in front of his loyal followers.
One of his friends steps forward and shakes his shoulders. “This calls for celebration! Tonight, we drink!”
I quickly hide my skepticism about him and flash him a coy smile. “I think your friends have other plans for tonight, my prince.”
Torbin laughs, but his smile falters as he studies my face. My heart thrums in my chest, and I can’t help feeling that he senses my apprehension.
There is a silent moment between us before his gaze softens. Then he takes a step closer, his voice lowering to a more intimate tone, his breath brushing my ear. “I’m sorry if I’ve alarmed you. You’ll have to excuse my enthusiasm, but in this moment, I feel like the luckiest man alive.”
The sincerity in his words makes me think of the young Torbin I used to know, and I find myself momentarily swayed by his charm. “Enjoy your triumph. We have plenty of time to celebrate.”
This seems to put him at ease. He lifts my hand and kisses it, giving me a wink before turning to his friends and lifting his fists in the air. “Tonight, we drink!”
The hall bursts into cheers, and Torbin’s friends carry him out on their shoulders.
I glance at Nadya, whose brows are raised as if she’s waiting for me to comment on the kiss. I simply shrug my shoulders, forcing myself not to wring my hands.
“What did I tell you?” She smirks. “A swoon-worthy love.”
I give her a playful shove. “Come on. Let’s go steal some desserts.”
As nervous as I’ve been to run into Dante after my act of revenge on my balcony, he’s nowhere to be seen for weeks. Though the word around the castle is that he comes and goes as he pleases, I have to wonder if I have anything to do with his absence.
I’m sitting at the breakfast table, pushing my food around with my fork, my eyes having a mind of their own by constantly staring at Dante’s empty chair. The king and queen go through the motions of their meal in silence after yet another failed attempt of me trying to get information about the deal with Mersos. Nadya, who is busy sampling everything in sight, is oblivious to my agitation.
“I’ve started making arrangements for the wedding, Celeste.” The queen lifts her chin, and it’s the first time in a while I’ve seen the hint of a smile emerge on her lips. “I have so many ideas about the flowers and the music. Oh! And we simply must have the finest materials imported from Mersos for your wedding gown.”
I offer her a small smile. “That sounds lovely, Your Majesty.”
When Torbin enters the dining hall in his hunting attire, I blanch. It hasn’t been a month since his last excursion. His presence is commanding, almost overwhelming, and for a moment, I find myself studying him—his broad shoulders seem even broader, his strides longer, more purposeful. It’s as if every time I see him lately, he’s grown stronger, more… formidable. But this is not the time for admiration.
“Torbin?” I ignore the agitation in my chest. “I thought you weren’t headed out for another week?”
“I’m leaving earlier,” he announces, his voice deep and resolute as he addresses the room. “I’m on a winning streak, and the game won’t wait.”
“Ah, yes.” King Silas chuckles. “The winning streak of a true Copperhammer. A thrill worth chasing, indeed.”
I can feel my stomach twist with unease as I turn to Torbin. “So soon, though? Again?”
Torbin meets my gaze, his expression neutral, but there’s something in his eyes that I can’t quite place. “Yes, again.”
Suspicion gnaws at me, sharp and relentless. Since when did Torbin become so consumed by his hunts? I feel as if he’s gone more often than he is here. I’ve tried to ignore it, to brush off my concerns, but the way he moves now—so sure of himself, so certain—makes it impossible. I know there’s more to this than just hunting. I push my plate away, suddenly not hungry, and stand.
“I need some air,” I mutter, not bothering to wait for a response. I glance at Nadya, who is midbite, before I turn and leave the dining hall.
There are footsteps behind me almost immediately, quick and determined. By the time I reach the corridor, Torbin has caught up, grabbing my arm gently but firmly.
“Celeste, what is this?” His tone is sharp, irritation clear in every word. “We had an agreement.”
I pull my arm from his grasp, whirling around to face him. “And I’m holding up my end, Torbin! But this—this constant hunting, disappearing at every chance—something isn’t right, and you know it. ”
His eyes darken, and his expression hardens. “I don’t approve of you gallivanting off with your army, but I’ve respected our deal. You do what you must, and I do what I must. But under no circumstances are you to become an unreasonable bitch.”
His words cut through me, and I’m momentarily taken aback by the force of them. This isn’t the Torbin I’m used to, the one who always spoke with such care and understanding. There’s a new edge to him, one that’s as unsettling as it is unexpected.
“I’m not…” I start, but the conviction in my voice falters under the weight of his intensity. I close my mouth, stunned into silence by his harshness.
For a moment, the corridor is filled with nothing but the echo of our heavy breaths. It feels like an eternity of heavy stares. But then Torbin seems to realize the impact of his words, and his features soften, if only slightly.
“I shouldn’t have snapped at you,” he says, the apology in his voice only half-hearted. “I’m just… frustrated. But I’ll see you soon, all right?”
I swallow hard and give him a subtle nod.
He leans in, meaning to kiss me, but I turn my head so that his lips land on my cheek. His brow furrows as he pulls away, and I avert my gaze.
“See you soon, Torbin,” I whisper toward the floor.
Before I can look up to see his expression, he turns and strides away, leaving me standing there, confused and troubled. I watch him go, my thoughts a whirlwind of suspicion and concern. This isn’t like him at all, and the more I think about it, the less I can shake the feeling that something is very, very wrong.