Page 22 of The Shadow Fae Rhapsody (Elven Fantasy Romance #3)

Chapter 21 Rhianelle

E ncased in an obsidian armor from head to toe, Svenn is beautiful. He managed to turn the rusting relic we found in the forest into something glorious. It is like the stars and the moon will bow at his feet.I run a thumb over my lip, remembering how good it felt when he kissed me last night.

That man is perfect, and he is mine.

My mate.

I continue to watch his back until he disappears in the trees with the rest of the troops from the support line.

A strange gut feeling rises to my throat. I try not to think of the way he recoiled from my touch earlier.

Something is wrong.

I can’t quite figure out what it is, but I sensed a change in the air this morning, the moment I realized Svenn was not there when I woke up.

Is it nerves before a battle? Mother always gets a little temperamental right before a fight. She would rage and throw stuff at her squires, Aerin, and me. One time she accidentally flung her boot at my head.

Aerin quickly healed the cut and told me to keep it quiet. “She had just lost a battalion northeast of Aldurin. The angst helps her to focus.”

I was young so I merely nodded.

Perhaps it’s the same with Svenn. But this feels different from the conventional anxiety… There was malice in his eyes earlier, something I haven’t seen in a long while. He sounded detached and cold. The terse atmosphere between us is no different from the morning I became the Rhunhraefn’s vessel.

Wait—did I scare him by confessing that he’s my mate?

The rhythm of my heartbeat stutters at the thought. I shouldn’t have spilled something so important so carelessly.

“Don’t forget to recheck your weapons.” Darstan’s rough voice breaks my thoughts. He slips into his heavy armor with a practiced efficiency. I move closer to the tall knight, shifting on my feet.

“How did you feel when you found out that Siofra is your mate?” I suddenly ask him.

He falters for a moment at the sudden question.

“I will never forget it.” Darstan finally heaves, warmth flooding into his eyes. “We were on a long journey from Myrkheim. I barely knew the feral girl your uncle wanted me to rescue from the orcs’ captivity.”

“Lady Siofra is not feral,” I interrupt him.

He merely raises his brows and continues. “It was a struggle to get her to come with me. She didn’t want to return to Aelfheim.”

My heart shrinks at that. I remember the truth she revealed to me a while ago. The cruelty she had to endure at the hands of her ex-husband makes me shudder. When Mavren found her in her bedroom chained to the wall, he did not offer the lord of Celestria amnesty. The orc king cleaved him into halves with his heavy falchion right where he stood.

“Siofra argued for most of the journey home. She kept telling me she wanted to stay in Myrkheim.” Darstan drags a hand through his hair, recalling his efforts. “I had better luck bringing back a live Auroch.”

I smile a little at that. The lady had grown fond of the people who healed the injuries she sustained from decades of torture. I feel a light guilt for separating them and demanding her return. I didn’t know she was happy there.

“When she escaped my custody for the sixteenth time, I decided she should know about the new queen, about you. I told her of your sincerity, of the letter, of how the Elders disgraced you for it,” he says, his features hardening at the mere mention of the Aeonians. “After hearing that, it was Siofra who led our way back to Aelfheim. She couldn’t wait to meet you.”

My heart goes warm and tight.

“It was then I started sensing something, a strange stirring in my chest. Perhaps it was earlier than that, but either way it started as a small seed. I loved her strength, her smile, her voice, her resilience,” he recounts, closing his eyes.

Her voice? Lady Siofra can’t speak… but I don’t focus on that because I am blushing over his tale.

“I love her fierceness, her fight, her silly jokes. I even love her stubbornness. One by one, the seeds add up. I tried to resist that feeling. I knew I have a duty to the Kingdom, to you. One day, my feelings for her swelled until I felt they might burst out from me. I had to confess then, or else I’d have died from the explosion,” he finishes.

“That’s beautiful, Darstan,” I marvel in awe.

The knight gives me a striking smile that rarely graces his stern face. “Aelfric and Garrett will be fine. Your husband as well.”

His assurance is so earnest, I believe him.

It doesn’t erase the sting of the burning on my skin when Svenn slapped my hand earlier. It makes me feel like trash, a disgusting waste, repugnant and hideous.

I shake my head.

Waste or not, I have this army to lead. They need me. My battle plan has to work.

It has to…

I slip away from Darstan to inspect my weapons and open the ornamented dwarven chest.

Shadows descend upon me in heavy waves. It’s different from my playful Ken. This is the kind of darkness possessed by dark beings of filth and decay, of malice and hatred.

My eyes fall on the dagger inside the box. It is unusually heavy for something of its size. The hilt is carved with some strange symbol. I smooth my fingers on the rune. A protection spell?

No.

This thing is laced with a curse… a vile one at that, waiting to strike on anyone who chances upon the chest.

The curse morphs into its true form, a white serpent. This weapon was made with so much hatred that it has spawn this wicked creature.

Kill everyone in sight , it commands me.

The cursed dagger appears to have a will of its own. Unleash me upon your enemy.

I lose a long, weary breath. “No.”

The pale snake blushes sheepishly at my answer. But—but I’ve waited so long to come out and play.

“Naughty little thing. I’ll purify you after the battle,” I tell the dagger, tucking it to my belt.

If you survive it, the serpent hisses.

I look at the empty spot in the chest. Rainer said there are supposed to be two of them. I try not to think where the other dagger one went.

The horses are saddled and ready by the time General Raleich finishes his inspiring speech. Unlike the Noctrals, these warhorses have been trained to ignore noises and balance the constantly shifting weight of their armored riders.

Darstan steadies my Volundr bred stallion for me to climb on. “Ready?”

I nod.

I brush my hand on Briallen’s shiny black coat. “We’re a long way from home my primrose,” I whisper to her.

The horse neighs in agreement.

A pit of dread, full of vipers, forms in my gut as we march to Tavan fortress. I can’t shake this sense of impending doom, like something awful is about to happen.

“Your Highness!” I turn my head to the familiar voice.

Shade returns from his scout on his silver horse. The cavalry makes way for him to come to me.

“Eastward, over on Tributo’s highest peak. A single rider and a wyvern,” he says in a single breath.

The news unsettles the generals and commanders. All heads turn in the direction of the mountain the assassin is pointing.

I don’t need a spyglass to guess who that fae is. Clad in a brutal black armor and a wyvern-carved helm.

Landon, Herald of the Wild Hunt.

The baying of the feral beast beneath him startles even the most battle-tested steed.

“It’s the Shadow Fae,” I tell the commanders calmly. “I believe he is here to witness.”

“Witness?” General Raleigh asks, his dark eyebrows pinching beneath his golden helm.

I nod, casting another look at the armored fae. “But prepare the anti-wyvern bolt anyway.”

“If he’s here to witness, then let’s give him a show, shall we?” Lord Nemarion says with a light-hearted chuckle.

Our infantry moves forward towards Tavan without delay. The first thing I glimpse as we near the fortress are the bodies of dwarves, elves, fae, and orcs hanging over the battlement. Svenn had warned me of this, and yet my heart seizes from the horrific sight.

I take a deep, steadying breath. There’s no time for fear. Not until this battle is over.

“The leader of the orc rebels is a cousin of Akaloth,” Lord Wesley informs with a frozen calmness. “He refuses to meet us for any armistice. This is it, Your Highness.”

I glance at the aforementioned orc. Once, the male with the short-cropped black hair might have been handsome, but the Asterdust has turned him into something else entirely. He hardly resembles an orc with that bulk of muscles and bulging eyes. An army of a thousand strong stands beside him. More behind the gray walls of the fortress.

The leader stays at the head of their line, a mocking smile on his face.

“We have you surrounded,” I shout, mustering whatever grace that I can. “Surrender the fortress and we will leave you to your king’s judgement. Not a single person has to die today.”

I know he can hear me with his advanced hearing. There is a desperate, fledging hope in my chest that the orc rebels will accept this parlay.

He gives me a laughter that rakes talons and claws on my skin. “The first to take the elven bitch’s head wins a place at my table.”

“It’s no use talking to them,” Lord Wesley says, his face drawn and steady. “Take formation!”

I retreat with Shade to take my place beside the Mhlaryan elves in the middle flank. I make sure the enemies can see me parading around on my handsome steed in the wide, open field. They need to know they can have me if they want to because that’s what I am.

A bait.

Bone drums pound as the enemies advance towards us, more and more of them are revealed as they depart from the sturdy walls of Tawan. The beat goes faster the moment they sprint towards us at an insane speed. They’re drug crazed from the Asterdust.

The horde of orcs descends upon us like wolves. My heart is pounding in my chest as I wait for their arrival with bated breath. I take one glance at the Silver Stag of the East to draw courage. My uncle’s face is unmoving as he stands on the front lines. His Grimsbanes are primed to attack, eager to spill blood.

I draw out my sword from its sheath. I need to be ready too. General Raleich’s army suddenly charges towards the behemoth fortress without warning.

What are they doing? That’s not part of the plan.

“Come back!” Wesley screams to him, but the general keeps advancing forward with his mounted knights behind him. My heart crumbles. I know not everyone will believe in my battle plan. This is why I wanted Rainer to be the one who suggested it.

Some of the orkan warriors flee at the formidable sight of the brave elven cavalry. General Raleich’s cuirassiers break through the enemy line easily with their fast steeds. They reach the thick wall in no time. I recall the general’s words during our covenant yesterday. ‘The rebel orcs are disorganized without a proper army. If a lone vampire can breach the fortress, imagine what an advance army of three hundred can do.’

Their Tluryan elves have created a lightweight drilling ram. Raleich’s knight sets the equipment quickly over the steel gates of Tavan. But try as they might could not break the gargantuan door and thick walls.

Heavens help us. I told them what Svenn had revealed to me. The walls are dwarven made. They will never fall.

“Help!”

Raleich and his soldiers are surrounded by the enemy now. Shade canters his horse next to mine, grappling my reins. “Don’t go. It’s too late for them. They made their choices.”

My heart tugs as I look at the knights and horses perishing at the skillful hands of the drug-crazed orcs.

“I have a person waiting for me to come home to in Tiamat.” The assassin grips my hand, drawing my attention to his eyes once again. “You have someone like that too, right?”

My breath catches at the question.

I’m going to come home to Svenn. I promised him earlier.

This morning will not be the last time I saw my husband. I give the assassin a small nod.

“Then stick to your plan, Queen of Aelfheim,” Shade mutters sharply. “See this through until the end.”

Concencrated and blessed arrows shoot from the Mhlaryan elves’ bow. Some bounce off the orkan’s heavy shield, some find their mark, sundering flesh and bone. The horde of orcs continue marching towards us, the ones on horseback leading the charge. I brace myself for the impact.

Most of the drug crazed orcs are carrying bones as necklaces. Elven bones. Bile burns the back of my throat at the sight of them. If I die today, my body will not be ritually buried in peace in the crypts below Aelfheim. It will be devoured by these beasts or used as a trophy.

These are no longer the proud orcs of Myrkheim. I draw my sword and rid my heart of any doubt.

Steel clashes against steel as the front lines collide.Our army pushes them back, battering the ranks of theincoming orcs.

“Be prepared,” Darstan whispers.

The enemy reaches us swiftly and before I know it, I am faced with my own opponent. I make each of my blow count as they surrounds my warhorse. Briallen’s constant movement and skillful maneuver assist me greatly in countering their attacks. Darstan abandons his steed to challenge a vicious orkan commander. The orc has leisurely downed dozens of our soldiers with his war hammer, laughing gleefully as he does it.

Darstan points his great sword to the beastly warrior, drawing his attention. He is standing tall at the same height with the enhanced orc, going toe to toe with him. I’ve always wondered if the knight share some kind of lineage with the long disappeared giants.

He is a formidable foe on hand-to-hand combat, but his back is wide open. There is no such a thing as a fair duel in the midst of a battlefield. The other orcs are taking the opportunity to attack him from behind.

“Go to safety, Primrose!” I pat the stallion’s back. I ditch my warhorse to climb behind my knight’s broad back. My steps are nimble and light as I cover him from the incoming assaults.

Darstan’s strikes become more aggressive with my help. I try not to wince when he swings his great sword with ease, slashing his opponent from shoulder to abdomen. The other orcs balk momentarily at the death of their commander. But the Asterdust’s influence soon overcomes their fear and they storm to raid us once again. I stay on my position behind Darstan.

Our coordination is perfect. Aelfric became my knight after Aerin’s death twenty years ago. But Darstan has been with me since the early days of my reign. The only person to answer Rainer’s summons to be my knight. We’ve perfected this defense and attack technique.

Right beside us, Shade is picking up the monsters that I maimed. Of all the Grimsbanes that were assigned to protect me, only he remains by my side. The rest of them have scoured the battlefield like a pride of hungry lions. They have been starved of blood and violence for far too long.

“It’s time!” I shout, sparing a glance at Lord Wesley.

He nods and begins signaling to the rest of the war generals.

“Retreat!” the lord utters the simple command with a hoarse voice. It soon bellows all across the battlefield.

“Retreat!”

My heart is pounding so hard, I swear I can hear it thudding against my breastplate. The drug crazed orcs chase after us, snapping their teeth at our heels. “They’re running away. After them! After them!”

“I’ve got you now, elven bitch!” A corpulent orc pulls me from Darstan’s back. Pain ricochets up my spine at the fall. I scramble up quickly and strike my blade through his abdomen without hesitation.

He bawls out in pain, flashing his yellowish rotten teeth. I did it.

I hit a critical spot just below the liver. But my blade refuses to come out no matter how hard I pull it back.

Gods help me.

It’s stuck inside his thick muscle. I had not anticipated that.

The orc staggers, pushing me away from him. “You little shit…”

He wrenches my long sword from his body. The Asterdust in his system heals his injury fast. Flesh stitches together and covers the open wound almost instantly. I stare at him like a startled deer as he licks the stream of blood off the sword.

If he’s trying to intimidate me, then he’s successful.

Shade and Darstan are overwhelmed by their multiple opponents. No one can come to my aid.

I should have listened to Svenn. If only I took better care of my sword, oiled them like I was supposed to…

The orc’s eyes glow with a sickening gleam. “I’ll add your ear to my collection.”

I have no weapon now. Is this to be my end?

A war cry resonates through the air, shattering through the chaos of the realm.