Page 20 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

Aella

I ’d been married for a week, but life didn’t feel any different.

My uncle had returned to cast his usual gloom over the castle, and my aunt hid in her rooms again.

Ulmar was out in the training field, challenging and defeating our soldiers for fun.

My younger cousin, Tadeus, had escaped to Maradeyn—the largest city in Therress, about an hour’s ride away.

He would likely stay there a couple more days before his father forced him to return.

As for me, I’d chosen my own kind of escape by taking Rynn out for a ride on our horses.

She was looking better and stronger than ever.

Still, she needed to be closely watched during the coming months as she learned how to handle her new magic.

While we already knew she’d develop a healing talent, there were other minor skills most fae could do once they gained their powers.

She needed to develop her senses for them.

I planned to help her with that while Briauna taught her about her primary gift.

In the distance, through the trees, I spied a hint of movement.

“Let’s stop here,” I said, reining in Astra.

Rynn did the same. “What are we doing?”

“This forest is full of creatures.” I gestured around us. “Most are harmless, but there are vicious ones that you must anticipate coming well before they reach you.”

She frowned, pointed ears twitching. “How?”

“Usually, riding this trail isn’t a problem during the day. It’s extremely rare that anything dangerous is out when the sun is high, but there is an exception in the spring. Do you know what that is?” I asked .

She shook her head and gazed around her, looking in the wrong direction. “No.”

Clearly, she wasn’t sensing anything, but that ability would take time to develop and only through practice. I’d felt the presence before pinpointing where to look. “Do you know what a napaea is?”

“A type of nymph,” she said with confidence.

I nodded. “Yes. They’re usually among the friendliest of the forest fae, but that isn’t always the case in the spring. If one has recently given birth, they can become very territorial and protective.”

She clutched her reins tightly. “I’m guessing you brought this up because there’s one nearby.”

“I sensed her several minutes ago and have been tracking her movements as she’s crept closer to us.

Even with your powers being new, you should be able to feel her now that she’s nearby,” I said, purposely avoiding looking toward the napaea.

“Close your eyes and focus on what feels different…magical.”

She did as I requested, brows scrunching.

All the while, I kept track of the nymph.

Like all her kind, she was very thin and wore just enough cloth to cover her private parts.

This one’s hair was a rich blue that fell halfway down her back.

I hadn’t caught her eye color, but it likely matched her hair.

As for her skin, it was smooth, ebony, and flawless.

The closer she came, the slower she moved. I only tracked her from the corner of my eye while I waited for Rynn. So far, my cousin didn’t appear to be picking up anything. I carefully dismounted Astra and moved to place myself nearest the impending danger.

“Got it!” Rynn shouted. “The napaea is that way.”

She pointed in the correct direction, but her loud voice triggered the fae into leaping toward us sooner than she would have otherwise. I didn’t have time to push the napaea back with my wind magic, and instead, I had to grab her lithe body as she attempted to skirt past me to my cousin.

All breeds of nymphs were strong but not as much as elves.

She struggled in my arms, and I called upon my druid half to help calm her.

I sang a sweet song in the old language, using my melodic voice.

It was so rare I had a reason to use it these days.

It spoke of life, beautiful meadows, and sunrises .

Rynn watched me with wide eyes but, thankfully, had the sense not to speak.

I continued my song until the powerful conclusion. By then, the napaea had calmed and rested her head against my shoulder. “You are okay. We wouldn’t dream of hurting you, but it is time for you to get back to your baby now.”

As further confirmation of my suspicion, the cloth covering her breasts was damp, and the scent of milk wafted from her.

Her kind were great hunters who could understand language well enough but did not speak themselves.

They preferred to hum, which is why I had chosen to sing.

She looked up at me with her beautiful green eyes, and no malice was in them anymore.

I pressed my lips to hers in a brief kiss intended to show respect and friendship. The napaea smiled and drew away. Then, she turned and began gliding back through the forest in the same way she came, humming a sweet melody that copied the one I’d sung.

“Why did you kiss her?” Rynn asked.

“Growing up, I spent time with my mother’s parents in Alavaar.

Druids seek to be one with nature and animals as much as possible.

They prefer peace. It’s why they eventually withdrew to that land when the fae arrived long ago.

They understood that we—the Seelie—had nowhere else to go after being expelled from our home world, so they sacrificed for us.

Not all the inhabitants of Paxia were so gracious, but my mother’s people didn’t resist for very long. ”

“Oh, they sound nice,” she said, curiosity in her gaze.

I nodded. “Yes, most of the druids are. My grandparents taught me how to interact with the forest races because our kind often resorts to violence when it’s not necessary.

Kissing the napaea sealed a friendship between us, so as long as I respect her, she will always trust me when I travel through this forest.”

My cousin’s expression showed awe. “Will you teach me things like that?”

“What do you think we’re doing out here?” I asked, amusement in my voice .

“I thought we were going for a ride.”

I gave her a patient look. “Haven’t you ever wondered why you aren’t allowed to go out alone and are only allowed to travel in groups?”

She shrugged. “I assumed people were just being overprotective.”

“There are many dangers when you leave the safety of the castles and villages.” I mounted my horse. “Some, you can handle like I did today. Others, you need to be prepared to fight for your life.”

Rynn straightened her shoulders. “Then I will look forward to learning everything and training to fight.”

Nearly dying had changed her perspective, for sure.

“Good. Because now that you have magic, that is going to be part of your daily lessons from now on, in addition to your regular studies with your tutor,” I said.

Distant hoofbeats drew my attention. Someone was riding this way and quickly.

Rynn heard it as well, and we fell silent. Finally, far up the path, I glimpsed a large black warhorse and a menacing rider with short, red hair. I sighed. “That’s Ulmar.”

“I wish I had magic that could hurt him,” Rynn said in a low voice.

Technically, a healer could cause harm using their powers in reverse, but she was nowhere near ready to learn that skill. I wouldn’t be the one to tell her about it, either. Briauna would manage it when she was ready years from now.

“I could hurt him, but the price would be too high,” I replied, guiding Astra to face my malicious older cousin.

She moved her mare closer to mine. “How do you resist?”

Rynn had mostly managed to stay off our uncle’s radar, especially with me guarding and running interference for her. The few times she did draw his ire, he’d yelled at her but not harmed her. She didn’t know the price I paid every time I stepped out of line, and if I could help it, she never would.

“Because I must,” I whispered.

Ulmar pulled up his horse with an irritated expression on his face. “Did you two have to ride so far out? ”

“Yes,” I replied, grateful the napaea was long gone before he arrived. He would have killed her and left her baby motherless without a drop of remorse.

“My father wants you in his office now,” he said, a malicious glint in his eyes. “He’s enraged, and you’re the cause of it.”

“How is that?” I asked.

Ulmar smiled. “He prefers to tell you himself.”

Lovely. It could be any number of things since, half the time, I was in trouble for activities I didn’t even know were wrong.

Sometimes, I assumed Lord Morgunn just decided they were offensive if he needed a target to vent his frustrations.

I was his favorite person to berate whenever his youngest son wasn’t around to draw his wrath.

The only thing that made me feel marginally better about my punishments was that Tadeus had it even worse, and a few times, he’d even taken mine to save me. If he hadn’t had some of Lord Morgunn’s features, I would have sworn he wasn’t related to his father.

“Okay, let’s go.”

Ulmar led the way back to the castle, sending his horse into a gallop.

We were only a few miles away, but he seemed determined to bring me before his father as quickly as possible.

Rynn kept casting me worried glances along the route.

I held my head high and refused to appear nervous.

She looked up to me, and I wanted to set a good example rather than cower in fear.

Eventually, the high walls of Ivory Castle came into view, with their smooth white stones glinting brightly in the afternoon sunlight.

A quarry was located about ten miles east of here, where my ancestors sourced the building materials.

The keep was entirely self-contained, so there was no outer village.

We even had cattle, grew sizeable crops to feed the inhabitants, and had a pond within the walls.

If an army ever attempted to lay siege to us, they’d be waiting a while before we ran out of resources.

The heavy metal gates were wide open when we crossed inside.

That was normal during the daytime as long as we didn’t anticipate trouble.

We followed the main road past the northern village on the left and numerous shops on the right.

Beyond them were the front gardens with numerous vibrant spring blooms coloring the space.

Just before reaching the castle courtyard, we turned right to follow a path to the lord’s stables. It only housed the highborn mounts and carriage horses. We kept all the ones for pulling wagons, working crops, or for soldiers southeast of the castle beyond the training area.

We handed our mounts off to the stable hands and hurried toward the castle.

Rynn and I parted ways at the entrance as I turned toward my uncle’s office near the front.

Ulmar stayed behind me like a dark presence to ensure I didn’t try to escape my fate.

I couldn’t figure out what would upset my uncle when I was positive he couldn’t possibly know about my marriage to Darrow.

Even if he’d found out, he would have come to the woods directly to punish me—far from witnesses. This was something else.

My cousin nudged me through the partially open door, finger poking into my back, and I stepped inside. Lord Morgunn was pacing behind his desk. He looked up upon my arrival, and his expression turned thunderous.

“The king refused your betrothal,” he said, ice-blue eyes trained on me. “Do you have any idea why he would do that because I cannot think of a single one? Did you write him? Make a plea to him?”

Ulmar worked his way across the room to the window, but he listened closely.

I had no doubt my uncle allowed him to stay because one of my cousin’s strong magical abilities was detecting lies.

It was another reason being near him always kept me on edge.

One wrong slip of my words could result in me getting caught.

“I wouldn’t dare write the king about that.” I shook my head, choosing my reply carefully. “Didn’t he give you an explanation?”

It was such a relief to know this was what had him upset, even if I couldn’t show my true feelings on the matter. I’d assumed it would take at least a few more days before my uncle received the news. King Worden hadn’t wasted any time.

He worked his jaw. “He only said that Baron Elgord wasn’t suitable for a lady with your gifts.”

“Oh,” I said, unsure how to respond without angering him further .

Lord Morgunn began pacing again. “I had assumed this would go smoothly, and now I must think about what to do next. It is far past time you married. I must ensure the match will benefit me, and your future husband will keep a firm hand on you.”

My hands clenched into fists, and I had to hide them behind my back.

Ulmar stood with his arms crossed, an amused smile on his lips. He loved nothing more than seeing me in trouble, though I’d never understood why. Lord Morgunn rarely became angry with him because he was just as sadistic.

“She needs someone strong enough to handle her waywardness,” my cousin said, glancing at me with judgment in his eyes. He’d say anything to make his father happy.

Little did they know I was already married to someone who challenged me.

Sure, I could hurt Darrow easily enough, but he had the capacity to kill me if he chose, at least before we spoke our vows.

He couldn’t harm me now, no matter how much he wished.

The magic that bound us together ensured that, which ironically made me safer with him than with anyone else.

My uncle spun around to look at me. “I will search for another suitable match. In the meantime, I expect you on your best behavior so you don’t make this any more difficult.”

As if I ever did anything that would harm my marriage prospects—that my uncle knew about, anyway. “Yes, Lord Morgunn.”

“Now, get out. I’ll see you at dinner, and I expect Rynn to attend from now on since she has come into her magic,” he said as I headed for the door.

We’d had to tell him she recovered from the fever, but I’d been delaying her presence at meals.

Sometimes, they were tolerable, but other times, they could be volatile.

I wished I could protect her from all of it for longer.

Once she came out in the open, she’d be another target for our uncle to berate and cousin to torture.

“We’ll both be there,” I promised, forcing myself to leave gracefully from the office.