WRATH (Rise Book 2)

by J. M. Kearl

  Daelyn swallows down the lump in her throat, her mind racing at the mountain of possibilities he might say.

  49. Boaden

  Boaden never planned to tell Daelyn that Kyria wanted to use him to have children. He doesn’t believe that it will ever happen and so he didn’t want to trouble her with it. There’s already so much to worry about with the war, and their task of bringing Asger to the fight, but he tells her anyway. He made a promise that he wouldn’t keep secrets, and he feels this is something she should know in case it should get brought up in the future. “And I think she sent Verra, and planted the cursed book in your parents’ house. She didn’t admit it, but I got that impression.”

  Ehvas’s black boots tap against the floor as she paces back and forth. “This is absolutely ridiculous. I knew Kyria was vindictive but I never thought she’d stoop to this level.”

  “The book did call out my name specifically. Did she believe you when you said the curse was on you?” Daelyn asks.

  “She sort of mocked it. So no, I don’t think so.”

  Daelyn bites on her lower lip. “Do you think she’ll actually follow through with her threats about forcing you to bed her?”

  Ehvas twirls a piece of her dark hair around her finger. “I doubt it. A lot can change by the time she wants a child. She won’t want a baby during the war, at least I wouldn’t think so. Hopefully she’ll be over her idiocy by then.”

  Boaden is betting on that. Kyria shouldn’t want a child for many years. She’s too young to really even consider it as ruler. Part of him wonders if she’s only doing this to strike fear and uncertainty in his heart for making her look foolish. “You should keep your voice down about calling the queen names.”

  “If Colden heard that then he heard the rest of it, and he’ll lose even more respect for the queen, not reprimand me.” Ehvas folds her arms. “Besides, I’ve been under Colden’s command for years now. He wouldn’t. He likes me too much.”

  Enden narrows his eyes. That statement made him wonder about the nature of the Warlord and his sister’s relationship but he doesn’t ask. Instead the mission weighs heavy on his mind. “We should get going. You’re coming, aren’t you?”

  “If you need me. I’ll speak with Colden.”

  “Yes, we do need you.” Boaden puts his arm around Daelyn’s shoulder. “Since Daelyn’s magic doesn’t seem to expire I’m thinking she can use the appearus spell to take us to Arohem.”

  Ehvas seems to debate this for a moment, and Daelyn shoots him a glare. “You never said that to me.”

  “I have faith in you, my love.”

  Ehvas holds up a finger. “If she is capable of that, which would be astounding, then wouldn’t it be easier for her to just open a portal?”

  Boaden hadn’t thought of that. Opening a portal has only ever been accomplished using the power of the magic stones. The stones seem to draw their magical energy from the earth and so it’s limitless in its capacity for spells. “Indeed it would. We just need the spell to do that.”

  “Let’s find Colden. He’ll probably know where to find it.” Ehvas strides out of the room without waiting for a reply.

  Boaden grunts and pushes himself up off the couch. He doubts Colden will have a book on it. The only portals in Delhoon are in the library and castle in Delmar. Boaden refuses to even consider asking Kyria. Perhaps Lenix, the scribe from the library, will have the answer should Ehvas prove wrong about the warlord.

  They find Colden in his office writing on a piece of parchment. Colden lifts his head and then sets the quill down. “What can I do for the three of you?”

  Ehvas steps forward. “We suspect that Daelyn will be able to open a portal without the use of a stone. Do you have the spell?”

  Colden’s eyes fall on Daelyn and sit there for a few moments. His long fingers tap on his desk in a rhythmic manner. “You really believe so?”

  “Yes,” Daelyn says without hesitation. Boaden thinks her confidence comes more from the fact that she has no idea how impossible that would be for someone else. She knows it would be difficult given what they’ve said but that hasn’t stopped her before.

  Colden rises to his feet and leans his upper weight on the desk. “I don’t have the spell for opening portals.”

  Ehvas glances at Boaden. “Do you know where we can find it?”

  Colden stands tall and folds his arms over his chest. “The queen, Lord Everon, likely a few individuals at the Delmar library. No one in Filda. I can write the queen for you if you’d like.”

  Boaden quickly shakes his head. He doesn’t want to involve her in this and they’re not supposed to be in Filda. He’d rather ride on horseback and risk being late than ask her for help. “I know of someone at the Delmar library who may help us. I’ll send him a note.”

  Colden dips his head. “Very well.” His eyes scan between Daelyn and Ehvas. “How about you ladies come with me while Boaden does that. There are a few soldiers who could use your healing capabilities. I assume, Daelyn that you have some skill in that area since your mother is very good at it.”

  “I do.”

  Colden’s red cape floats behind him as he exits the room with Daelyn and Ehvas in tow. He’d given permission for Boaden to use his desk and materials to send correspondence with his contact. Boaden sits in the Warlord’s big black chair waiting for a reply, and wonders if he’d rather be a warlord over his own area than the general of all Delhoon. Being highest general would mean he’d be in direct contact with Kyria nearly every day. He wouldn’t be just over the army but her general advisor and head of the academy. It’s a lot of responsibility, and at this point he doesn’t want to be that close with the queen. He doesn’t think Daelyn will like that either.

  He looks around the room surveying the portraits of previous Warlords of Filda, and his eyes fall on a large map of the continent which has been placed above the fireplace. Delhoon is to the west, Hesstia to the east, Nordia the wild country in the south, but it’s the north that catches his eye. A large depiction of a dragon is poised over the place that is Collweya. His mind drifts to the premonition Madison had. What if Collweya joined the war? He can’t think of a possible reason why, but seeing the dragon on the map makes the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.

  Lost in thought, a note emerges from the candle on the desk and glides into his palm. He tears it open and reads:

  Boaden, I am thrilled you contacted me. As per your request for discretion, I’ll have to search for the spell rather than contact higher authorities for a quick answer. I should have something by the end of the day.

  ~Lenix

  Boaden burns the note and pushes away from the desk. Not long later he finds Daelyn, Ehvas and Colden conversing near a tent, and he assumes by the groaning, the tent is filled with the wounded. Although, he wonders why they haven’t been administered pain or healing potion by now. Daelyn turns with a bright smile as he approaches.

  “We’ll have our answer by the end of the day,” Boaden says, placing his hands behind his back.

  Colden scratches at his beard and then nods toward the tent. “Your wife gave our wounded the last of her healing potion. I’d give you another bottle before you go, but we’re out. We’ve had several villagers from the area come in wounded and this is our second battle with Hesstia. It will take two days to make another batch.”

  With her hands on her hips, Ehvas twists her mouth. “I feel I should stay and help here.”

  Colden’s gaze drifts to Ehvas, but he says nothing. Boaden can feel that he too wants her to stay. He senses that, even though Ehvas is doing well in hiding it, they have feelings for each other.

  “I think I will need you, sister,” Boaden says. “If Asger is as the Warlord has described.”

  Colden raises his chin slightly. “I agree with Boaden. You should go to Arohem. After you convince Asger to join the fight, I’d like you back here under my command.”

  “Yes, sir,” Ehvas says and gives Boaden a half smile.

 
Just then a nearby note flutters out of a fire to the hand of Daelyn. She glances at Boaden before she pulls it open. “It’s from Madison. She says that King Enden is moving Entari Agvaldr here to fight with two thousand men, and the King will be with them. They should be here in a week.”

  Boaden purses his lips at this. If Enden brings two thousand more men before Warlord Khana can get here they will lose Filda. But if Enden is coming himself that means he is afraid of losing the north.

  The Warlord echo’s Boaden’s exact thoughts but then says as if thinking aloud, “Khana should be here in two days, however. I thought of attacking Hesstia while they are weak but with no healing potions and no back up, it’s a risk. I have two thousand fighters which is likely enough but we’ll wait two more days.”

  “How many soldiers does Khana have?” Daelyn folds the note and stuffs it in her pocket.

  “Four thousand one hundred and eighteen.” Colden rests his hand on the hilt of his sword. “The only issue I had with bringing Khana’s force here is that it leaves the capital vulnerable but if Enden is coming here then I’ll put that thought to rest. Khana has the second largest, apart from Kyria, being just North of Delmar. We’ll crush Entari Agvaldr’s troops and hopefully Enden will die among them.”

  “Do you think he’ll actually fight?” Daelyn asks.

  Boaden wondered that himself. He knows Enden is trained in battle, he saw him training on a few occasions during his stay in Hesstia but to actually fight and risk dying is another matter.

  Colden shakes his head. “It’s not customary for the King of Hesstia to fight in battle. None of his ancestors did. His father died of sickness at an old age. Our queen died on the battlefields of the last war. I was there that day.”

  Hearing that, Boaden has more respect for Colden. He assumed by the man’s age and position he fought in the last war but to have fought alongside the queen and see her fall… “You saw Queen Marklis die?”

  Colden nods slowly. “I wasn’t Warlord then but I had met the queen a few times. I was but five feet away from her when she took an arrow through her chest. I still remember the painful cry she let out and the way it looked sticking out through her back.” He pauses. “And then another arrow, and another. I quickly chopped down her assailant but I’d been hit with shards of kirune and had no magic ability. I ran to her side and held her in my arms as blood welled up out of her mouth. I screamed for help, but no one had any healing potions left. I couldn’t even attempt to mend her with my own magic because I had lost the use of it.” The tent flap moving in the breeze is the only sound as Colden is silent for a solid minute. “She tried to speak but blood just kept coming out of her mouth. I removed her helmet and her red hair flowed out onto my lap. I sat her up and she coughed, and looked at me dead in the eyes, ‘Don’t let them win’ she said, and then she fell back into my arms and was gone. I honestly don’t think we would have won that battle, which won us the war, if she hadn’t been killed there. It lit a higher level of rage in all of us. Me especially.”

  Ehvas’s hand twitches like she wants to reach for Colden but she doesn’t, another check mark in Boaden’s mind that there is something between them. Boaden had heard stories of Queen Marklis’s death but not from anyone who had been right there. “I’ve heard that we were losing that battle until that moment.”

  Colden nods at Boaden. “That is true. We were outnumbered and many of us had been hit with kirune in one way or another. And yes, we had the academy back then but it wasn’t as prevalent as it is now. Back then it was a place that only the privileged attended. They were the only ones who could afford to send their children. It costs a lot for a single student; uniforms, weapons, food, housing, professor’s wages and much more. Many who fought in the war were farmers, blacksmiths, cooks-- the like with little skill. It was only after that we voted for a tax that would pay to expand the academy and our military.”

  “I fought my way in, as did my brother,” Ehvas says proudly. “Our father wanted a better life for us. One with honor. It wasn’t until five years ago that our father’s mead business began to turn serious profit.”

  Daelyn licks her lips as if remembering the taste of the honey mead. “I’ve had it. It’s very good.”

  “Yes, the queen serves it at all her parties,” Ehvas says.

  “I had it while in Hesstia,” Daelyn says. “Prince Enden couldn’t get enough of it.”

  Both Colden and Ehvas look at her then to Boaden. Colden grows a wicked smile. “So that’s how you infiltrated the Hesstian royal house. I’d wondered how you became friends with Enden. Queen Kyria didn’t give those of us who voted against her the details.” He rolls his eyes. “And seeing you, Daelyn there is no wonder how you got close to him. You’re just as beautiful as your mother, maybe even more so.”

  Daelyn grows a wide smile. “Thank you, Warlord. But there was a love spell involved as well.”

  “Ah, your mother always was a crafty one,” Colden says with a smirk. “That’s dark magic, you know. The use of it is outlawed, but I’m assuming Kyria gave her permission.”

  “Why is it dark magic?” Daelyn asks.

  Colden cocks an eyebrow. “What if I were to put a love spell on you and you had no choice but to want me? Nearly every thought was of me. Wouldn’t that be wrong? It’s against your will and even though you love Boaden now, the spell would trump the feelings you have for him.”

  Daelyn’s face twists at the thought of that scenario. Boaden doesn’t like thinking about that either.

  “That is very wrong.”

  Colden laughs. “And I wouldn’t even be a bad choice. Imagine if it was some ugly, pock faced old bastard who can barely get his cock hard.”

  Boaden feels a little sorry for what they did to Enden. He hasn’t felt empathy for him until this moment, and he isn’t sure why he even cares now. Enden isn’t a bad man, it’s the law of his kingdom that is wicked. They took so much from the prince, but in one stroke they also made him one of the most powerful people in the world. He wondered if it would be possible for the two of them to sit down and work out a diplomatic way to stop the war and free the slaves. But then the image of two arrows through Enden’s brother comes to mind and he’s sure that will never happen. If Enden had killed Boaden’s brother, he’d never forgive him no matter the circumstances.

  A note conjures out of the fire and floats to Boaden. He recognizes the library seal and tugs the letter open. “It’s the spell,” Boaden says with a grin.

  “That was fast,” Ehvas remarks.

  “Now we’ll put your magic to the test,” Colden says to Daelyn. “But we should do this at the grounds of my estate. This isn’t the place to attempt such a thing.”

  ∞∞∞

  The three of them stand in a semi-circle around Daelyn eagerly awaiting the outcome of the spell. Daelyn takes a few deep breaths staring at the piece of paper the spell is written on. “it can’t be much harder than the appearus spell, right?” She closes her eyes, and murmurs the words. Nothing happens. She blushes, tries again and then moments later the ground begins to rumble beneath their feet and Daelyn’s face looks pained. She smashes her palms to the sides of her head and groans through clenched teeth.

  Ehvas turns to Colden. “Is this supposed to happen?”

  His mouth falls down. “I’ve never seen a portal open that wasn’t already set.”

  Boaden places his hands on her shoulders and whispers in her ear, “You are the most powerful woman I’ve ever known. Focus on your magic, see the place in your mind. I know you can do this.”

  Daelyn drops her trembling hands to his and breathes slowly. A luminescent rip in the air appears a few feet before her. Her eyes shoot open and she turns her head to Boaden. “It’s working.”

  “It is.”

  She keeps mumbling the spell, over and over; the rip widens enough to fit a person though. Boaden can see the ocean behind Asger’s mansion. Even the calls of seagulls can be heard.

  “I don’t think I can hold
it for long,” Daelyn says. “The spell needs me to anchor it.”

  “That’s why we use the stones,” Colden says, folding his arms. “Let it go.”

  Daelyn’s shoulders drop, and the strained look on her face fades as the portal closes in a snap. “I can hold it long enough for us to go through. We just need to be ready.”

  Boaden pulls her into a hug and swings her around in a circle. Even though the others are probably rolling their eyes, he can’t contain his excitement. No one has ever been able to open a portal that far. Even with the stone, Kyria doesn’t open portals a great distance. “You are remarkable,” he says in her ear as he sets her down.

  Daelyn giggles and squeezes her arms around his chest. “Let's gather our things and get Presten and Kendoa before you get into trouble with Lord Everon.”

  Boaden releases her and then kisses her hard on the mouth. “Oh, I just love you!”

  To his surprise both Colden and Ehvas are grinning. “That was amazing, Daelyn,” Ehvas says. “I’d swing you around like that if it wouldn’t be weird.” They all laugh at that.

  50. Daelyn

  Opening the portal a second time was much easier, but stepping through it made her skin crawl. She doesn’t understand why it affected her that way but it felt eerie to be in one place and then another miles away as easy as opening a door and walking through.

  Presten is the last to come through with his horse. Daelyn releases the magic and the portal closes reminding her of a wound being stitched.

  They stand on a cobblestone street just outside the gates of Warlord Asger’s estate. Daelyn glances around finding they are on a hill that overlooks the rest of the city. The water stretches out with no end behind the mansion of Asgers. Waves crash into the jagged cliffs that jut up along the beachfront. Daelyn’s attention is pulled from there when two women march through the once closed gates with angry expressions. Both of them have a thick line of black charcoal from the bottom of their eyebrows to the bridge of their noses. The black makes the blue of both of their eyes stand out like two bright orbs.