Page 25 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

Aella

I t was four in the morning when I returned to my room after the Jolloure trip. I had hoped to sleep in late since I didn’t always eat breakfast with the family anyway, but a mere four hours later, my uncle sent a servant to tell me I needed to be downstairs in ten minutes. He had news.

I forced myself to dress in a simple lavender gown with short sleeves and braid my hair.

Fatigue weighed my body down. Anytime I had to open multiple long-distance portals, it took a lot out of me.

My muscles were even sore, but one look in the mirror confirmed that the signs of my fight the night before had healed as expected.

I merely had to wash away the final remnants.

Hurrying downstairs, I found my uncle and cousins at the table. They were already midway through their meal. Rynn gave me a discreet smile, Tadeus nodded his head, and Ulmar smiled cryptically at me. Lord Morgunn had a distinct look of impatience.

“It’s about time.” He set his teacup down with a click . “By the nameless ones, Aella, you look dreadful.”

“I had trouble sleeping last night,” I said, already prepared with an excuse.

I took a seat next to Rynn, and a servant delivered food to me a moment later.

My breakfast preferences rarely changed, so they knew what I wanted.

The plate had a biscuit with jam, two eggs, and a bowl of fruit.

I was starving and planned to eat every bite of it now that my face didn’t hurt anymore.

He lifted a brow. “What could have possibly kept you up?”

Um, that was a good question I hadn’t expected. He usually didn’t care .

I supposed I should go with something that made sense in his diabolical mind and wouldn’t trigger Ulmar’s gift of detecting lies. “I was concerned about my marriage prospects, my lord, as I know it has been troubling you.”

Thankfully, I had been thinking about that last night.

“It’s good to hear you take such matters seriously.” A slow smile formed. “I happened to receive a message before breakfast from one possibility, and I think you might appreciate it.”

Not likely if it made him happy. “Who?”

“The Prime Chief of the Andalagar tribe. They tend to be reclusive, but they have some of the fiercest warriors in the realm. The leader is searching for a suitable wife,” he said, a pleased expression on his face.

My mind raced. I was familiar with the tribe since their main branch resided within Therress, but they mostly acted autonomously within Zadrya.

My uncle left them alone on the condition that they paid quarterly tithes and promised to join our forces should a war break out.

He often lamented that it would be better if he could use their warriors beyond that agreement, such as for raids on Veronna.

The Andalagar tribe had been here long before the fae arrived, and like the druids with their dragons, they had something precious that we didn’t—Pegasi.

According to our early years on the planet, the Seelie attempted to take some of the winged horses for themselves, but they would not tolerate fae on their backs.

Nothing our ancestors tried made them more amenable.

As a result, many of the beautiful Pegasi were killed during the Seelie’s attempts to tame them, and they eventually had to concede that only the native tribes could use them.

Their most significant advantage was the ease with which they flew over the Sobaryan Mountains and bypassed any wards without triggering them.

Of course, any fae lord would love access to them and their riders.

“They always marry within their tribal system,” I said, genuinely surprised. “Why would the leader consider me?”

Lord Morgunn sat back in his chair, finished with his meal.

“It astonished me as well, but the message inquired about your portal channeling abilities. Chief Orran recently lost the only person he had who could open distant ones. Also, because you are half-druid, it makes you more palatable, I suppose.”

While druids were also native, I hadn’t thought that mattered to them.

“When will we meet him?” I asked, bracing myself.

If I wasn’t already married and knew this deal could never go through, I might have been a little excited at the prospect.

There was a chance the leader would be better than anyone else my uncle might choose.

On the other hand, the tribes had an entirely different culture that I didn’t understand.

I’d never had the opportunity to visit them, so for all I knew, life there could be worse.

Who knew how they treated their women? My lessons growing up only taught the bare minimum, as if the tribe held little importance.

My uncle’s expression became stern. “His message said he wishes to meet and evaluate potential marriage prospects this summer. They will expect you to demonstrate your battle prowess—with magic and weapons. In the meantime, I’m sending you to Tradain to improve your skills before you visit.

No need for you to embarrass me because you fail to practice enough. ”

I held back a wince.

While he could have been kinder with his words, he wasn’t entirely wrong.

I tried to train occasionally but hadn’t dedicated myself to it for several years.

With everything happening in my life, it was a good idea to hone my weapons capabilities and try to improve my light magic.

We didn’t have the necessary setup on the castle grounds for me to work on that particular power, but they did at Tradain.

“I will work hard on it, Uncle,” I said, adding a little enthusiasm to my voice.

The training part was a good idea, anyway. I also hoped to see a Pegasus up close, but I didn’t look forward to proving myself before the Andalagar or finding a way to discourage their leader from marriage.

He nodded approvingly. “Very well. Spend the rest of the morning organizing for an extended stay at Tradain. I have already sent word to expect you there early this afternoon. ”

That soon? I was barely going to have time to pack my things and prepare my garden for my absence, never mind my lack of sleep. It took all my control to rein in my panic. “Thank you, uncle.”

I finished my breakfast quickly and hurried back to my room. First, I needed to preserve the flowers I’d managed to save the night before so they didn’t wilt further before I saw my sister.

Next, I’d have to rush to the garden. The regular spring rains would be enough to keep everything sufficiently watered, so I just needed to feed my carnivorous plants from my insect traps to hold them for a while.

I could return periodically for a few hours to tend them while at Tradain.

I’d also ensure safe passage for Rynn so she could check on them in between.

Most of my plants had shown affection for my younger cousin anyway and wouldn’t hurt her.

I’d barely left the dining room before Ulmar caught up to me. “You better train well, Aella.”

I didn’t like the sound of his menacing voice. “I am planning on it, but why do you care?”

“We need strong alliances.” He gave me a look that made my skin crawl. “It’s up to that pretty face of yours to help us build them, so do whatever it takes to win over that chief.”

It wasn’t easy, but I managed to resist punching him. “Why aren’t you marrying anyone then? You’re over twenty years older than me and a firstborn son, so it makes even more sense for you.”

“Oh, you’re not the only one, but unlike you, the king approved my betrothal. We are merely waiting until later this summer to announce it as a few matters are sorted out,” he said, giving me a smug grin.

I felt sorry for whoever he’d marry. “Good. I’ll look forward to meeting her.”

With that, I hurried away from him.