Page 54 of Oaths & Vengeance (Realm of Zadrya #1)

The air was chill at this elevation so far north.

I hugged myself, trying to preserve my body heat since I had grown accustomed to summer's scorching temperatures.

The animal skins kept my legs warm, but the halter top did little for my upper body.

Not far from us were patches of snow that never melted, telling me it must not ever get hot here.

“You truly are impressive, Lady Aella,” Orran said with unrestrained astonishment. “I hadn’t expected you to succeed despite what I’d heard about your power.”

What had my uncle told him? Lord Morgunn shouldn’t have known the depth of my abilities, yet the tribal chief acted as though he’d expected me to be far above average, though not quite talented enough to reach this secret place.

Did I need to worry about Orran’s enthusiasm?

Darrow and his mother had mentioned I should keep the breadth of my skills quiet, but I couldn’t imagine the Andalagar being a problem since they’d never align for the dark elves or Unseelie.

I drew my gaze to him. “What do you mean? I told you I can reach any portal in Paxia.”

He shook his head. “This one is heavily warded since it is where the Naforya Fountain stood before it was stolen. A channeler used to train for years before assuming the responsibility of transporting guards and special visitors here. As far as I know, no one has managed to open it on a first attempt, much less while starting with a temporary ring.”

“What?” My eyes rounded as I took in my surroundings with a more critical eye, spotting a raised rock platform on the next rise over from us. “I had no idea.”

He’d set me up to fail because, apparently, reaching this place should have been impossible. I would have been furious had it not been for the importance of our location. I’d memorize the rune sequence on the paper and then destroy it.

“This area has always been a secret to all except its oath-sworn guardians, even after the fountain went missing.” Orran’s mouth formed a grim line.

“But I needed to see if you could reach it because no other channeler has succeeded for centuries, and without someone like you, we can’t acquire and reestablish the fountain even if we locate it. ”

It confused me that, of all the tests he could administer to a marriage prospect, he would choose this one. “What does this have to do with the bride trial?”

The Andalagar leader strode toward me, took my face in his hands, and kissed me. For a second, I was so shocked at his lips pressing into mine that I did nothing. Then, some instinct had me pressing my hands against his chest.

I felt nothing for this man. Instead, it was Darrow’s face that came to my mind. For reasons I couldn’t explain, he was the only one I wanted anymore. When had that happened? I couldn’t resist my husband, but apparently, I could resist anyone else—even handsome tribal leaders.

With a hard shove, I pushed Orran away. “No. I can’t do this.”

My uncle was going to be furious with me, but I didn’t care.

“Good.” He smiled. “That was another test.”

“Test for what?” I asked incredulously. This man had a profound love of putting unsuspecting women through ridiculous trials.

“To see how loyal you are to your husband, Darrow.”

My jaw dropped. “How do you know?”

“He requested a meeting months ago and told me of your secret marriage and the dilemma it presented. At first, I wanted nothing to do with the matter until he told me of your channeling abilities and that you might be the answer to retrieving the fountain. It is why I contacted your uncle and expressed interest in you.”

Darrow had said he’d get involved in the matter.

When he never mentioned anything about it again, I’d assumed he’d left it alone.

Instead, he’d found a way to buy us months without my uncle being able to marry me to anyone else.

I’d even had plenty of time to train and improve my magic, which I suspected I would need in the future.

He’d been looking out for me without me realizing it.

As much as I hated to admit it, that touched me .

Then again, he was also keeping a lot of secrets if he’d set this up so early in our marriage, likely in the first week. Not once had Darrow mentioned it despite my having a right to know, and he’d had plenty of opportunities.

I struggled to formulate a response for the Prime Chief. “What do I have to do with the fountain?”

That was also news to me.

“This world is slowly dying because the fountain was hidden on another planet.” His golden eyes bored into mine. “You may very well have the power to open an intergalactic portal to the location where it currently resides.”

My husband had suggested the traveling part when we visited his mother, but I remained unconvinced.

Channeling here took a lot out of me. How could I possibly open a portal to a distant world, and how did they know it was on another planet?

My mother had never mentioned that, but I had been young at the time. She didn’t share everything with me.

“Do we even know where it might be?” I asked.

“Not yet.” Orran sighed and ran his hands through his shoulder-length hair. “I know your mother was trying to find out, especially after she realized her daughter might be the one to finally reach it.”

“I hadn’t even come into my full channeling abilities when she died,” I said, shaking my head in denial.

The Prime Chief was quiet a moment, as if mulling over some matter.

“When Nerine first brought you to Alavaar after your birth so her parents could meet you, a druid seer visited. She predicted you’d have portal magic, and it would surpass any others of our time.

Even so, most of us didn’t think it would grow to your current level.

Your mother was the only one who believed your gift could rival all who came before you. ”

When I was born, Orran was only seven years old and certainly didn’t live in Alavaar. “How do you know that?”

“My father was the leader of the tribe then, and he told me many things before he passed.” Orran gave me a kind smile.

“The Andalagar and druids have been close allies for a very long time, and this was certainly something that concerned us both. I have sections of land beginning to wither and die. It appears to progress faster with each passing year, and I fear it will worsen significantly soon. Retrieving the fountain has become one of our most vital objectives.”

“So you’ve been testing me as a potential portal channeler rather than a marriage prospect?

” I asked, lifting a brow. That was both vexing and a relief.

I didn’t have to pretend to be interested in him as a husband anymore, but it annoyed me that he couldn’t have been more forthright from the beginning.

He shrugged. “I needed to make it look official, so I put you through trials for both. Darrow is right that we must conceal your abilities and divert attention away from you for as long as possible. There are forces at work who will target you if they know you exist.”

My chest tightened, as this was the second time I had heard this. “What forces?”

“I’ll leave it for your husband to explain.”

I clenched my fists in frustration. “You realize Darrow tells me very little despite the important role I apparently have to play in all this?”

I was tired of everyone being vague and unwilling to share important information.

“He is wise to do so.” Orran gave me an apologetic look. “As long as you’re in your uncle’s care, it is best you know as little as possible, especially with a cousin who can detect lies.”

A sigh escaped me. I couldn’t entirely argue that point, but the chief didn’t know how much pain I had already endured to keep secrets. When it came to the fountain and preservation of this world, I’d do anything to protect that knowledge. It was too bad no one could have more faith in me.

“But surely Lord Morgunn would want the fountain returned as well,” I said, gesturing toward the empty platform in the distance. “His lands are affected, too.”

“He is a man with questionable allegiances, Aella. Never trust him.”

I didn’t, not really, but it felt wrong to believe others whom I hardly knew. “So, what now?”

“We wait for your powers to regenerate enough for us to return to my lands.” He nodded at the nice, sturdy portal behind me. “Then we continue with this farce of courting each other a while longer so your uncle doesn’t move on to a less desirable prospect.”

“You’re truly willing to help us?” I asked, surprised.

He gave me a grim smile. “Now that I am certain of you and what you can do, yes. Continue to train as much as possible because I suspect many battles lie ahead, and you’ll need to be strong and prepared for them. You have proven reasonably adept, but there is always room for improvement.”

He wasn’t wrong. I’d been lucky in my battles today because they were singular creatures in the woods, most of which I already knew how to face through experience and studies. On a larger, more complicated scale against other fae, I’d have more trouble.

“Okay,” I agreed, no longer feeling the cold as I tried to absorb everything he’d told me. “Is there any chance you’d allow me to ride one of the Pegasi?”

He let out a deep laugh. “If you return the fountain to us, I’ll let you try.”