WRATH (Rise Book 2)

by J. M. Kearl

  Midlan takes a sip before answering. “A man standing behind us must have seen him tap the face of a card and change it. The man starting calling him a cheater and yelled, “magic user”. There were already guards there and he didn’t have a chance to get away.”

  Madison mulls this over. Jordane wouldn’t be so careless in revealing his cards. He always kept them low and partially covered. But even Jordane is capable of a mistake…

  “Do you have a room here?” Midlan asks.

  Madison arches an eyebrow. “I do.”

  He drains the last of his wine and his eyes fall to the swell of her breasts. He licks his lips and leans forward. “I’m going to make love to you like never before.” He likely thinks he’s whispering but he’s not and the woman behind the bar turns her head toward them.

  She bites her lip. “Promise?”

  He gets up from the table and offers his hand. Madison takes it and leads him toward the back door. “This way is faster.”

  He halts. “But you came in the front door.”

  “We can go out the front, it will just take longer.” She pulls him that direction, so he won’t think anything is wrong. Jordane and Nebba will hopefully hear them leave the building and follow down the street, if not she can take care of it herself. She doesn’t believe Midlan. He must be lying, there’s too many holes in his story.

  On the way up the stairs to Madison’s room, Midlan turns her by the shoulders and pushes her against the wall. It sickens her to do so but she pulls him in and smashes her lips into his. After a few passionate moments she slips out of his grasp and they approach her room. The key lies heavy in her pocket when Midlan brushes her hair aside and his lips lightly press against her neck. Chills run down her body as she fumbles with the lock. A loud click and she’s in. Midlan slams the door behind him, and then saunters toward her, his eyes greedily roaming over her body. When he’s about to reach her Madison snaps her fingers and Midlan freezes, paralyzed by magic.

  He’s confused at first but that look washes into desire. “Is this some new fantasy of yours?”

  Madison’s lips curl into a conniving smile. “Oh, Midlan.” Her boots tap on the floorboards as she steps closer. “Look who’s the fool now.”

  Jordane and Nebba come through the door and the panic on Midlan’s face sets in. He can’t see who it is but he must have an idea. “Madison, no, no, no.”

  When Midlan’s eyes catch Jordane stepping into view, his chest begins to heave up and down quick as a rabbits.

  “Hello again, Midlan,” Jordane says, and even Madison is surprised by the darkness in her husband’s eyes.

  53. Daelyn

  Watching Athena Asger walk through her gathered soldiers is like watching a choreographed dance. They part and bow one right after the other, as if she were the queen. As Asger speaks, some of the women in the crowd look up to Daelyn standing on the last step to the entrance to the Warlord’s mansion.

  Daelyn thinks back to the conversation that had made this gathering a reality. Giving up and walking away wasn’t an option in Daelyn’s mind. After shouting at Asger for turning her back, Daelyn had her full attention. She didn’t have anything planned to say after that, but the words came. “You will fight with us or you will die as a traitor, right here and now.”

  Boaden released his hold on Daelyn, his hand going to his sword. Daelyn could feel the tension in the room as they waited for Asger’s response. “What gives you the right to call me a traitor?”

  Daelyn strode forward and stood nose to nose with the Warlord. She matched her in height and fury. “If you are not one of us, you are against us.”

  Asger stepped back as if the words themselves pushed her. “I suppose you are right.” She stared Daelyn in the eyes as if looking for something.

  Daelyn lifted her chin. “Then command your soldiers to fight with us.”

  Cheers erupted from the thousands gathered giving Daelyn goosebumps. “We leave in an hour.”

  Boaden leans close to Daelyn. “How you’ve changed since the girl I first met at the Dorcy.”

  Is that a compliment? Back then she’d suffer abuse and insults without fighting back. If there was danger, she ran away. A blush stains her cheeks thinking of how immature she was. Boaden used to comment on how kind and sweet she was, does he believe her to be that still? “Do you miss that girl?”

  Boaden’s eyes trail across the warriors as they gather into groups. “I love you all the ways you are. A few months ago you wouldn’t have dared called out Asger like that. And you feared the thought of royalty.”

  Daelyn steps into Boaden’s side and he wraps his arm around her. “I don’t want to be queen of Delhoon as much as I didn’t want to be princess of Hesstia.”

  Boaden’s green eyes move down to Daelyn’s face. “But you were willing, in the right circumstances. There may come a time—”

  “If I become queen that makes you king. You would make a great ruler.”

  Boaden grows a smile. “Remember when we talked about this at the water hole near your farm? Neither of us ever thought in that moment it could actually happen.”

  “If there is enough support to nominate me, what happens then?”

  “It hasn’t happened in a century. But if history is any indication of what happens next, you would fight Kyria.”

  Daelyn’s heart stills for a moment. “Fight her? What do you mean?”

  Boaden brushes a stray piece of golden hair from her face. “Much the way I fought to get into the academy. You will have to prove you are worthy.”

  “As in with a sword, or magic?”

  Boaden chews on his lip. “If I recall correctly there is a series of tasks to complete magic wise and then a fight in an arena, no magic allowed. But I don’t know for sure.”

  Daelyn’s stomach feels as though butterflies suddenly awoke and are banging against her insides to break free. “I could never beat her in a one on one sword fight with no magic, and she knows more spells than me. She’s trained her entire life.”

  Boaden takes her face in his hands and then kisses her lips. “We will continue your training. You will be magnificent.”

  Asger clears her throat and Boaden drops his hands. “Pardon the interruption,” she says in a respectful manner. “I know that the orders were to go south but if King Enden is heading north and his new allies, Collweya are in the north, that is where we will be needed the most.”

  Asger gives Boaden a glance but she’s speaking to Daelyn, the person she wishes to be queen. Even though Daelyn isn’t comfortable with making the decision, she’d been thinking exactly what Asger is thinking. Her mother’s vision weighs heavy on her mind.

  “As things stand, we must speak with Lord Everon,” Boaden says, placing his hands on his hips. “I know what it is you wish, but for now Daelyn is not queen.”

  Daelyn nods in agreement. “If Boaden is correct, I will have to earn that title. We must speak with Lord Everon. We don’t want Kyria to be able to claim treason.”

  Tapping her foot, Asger says, “True. I will send a letter to Lord Everon at once.” She marches up the steps with three of her soldiers behind her.

  Presten comes from the crowd with Ehvas just behind him. “Rumors are already spreading about you, Daelyn."

  Ehvas nods. “It’s true. The red haired soldier and the blonde have been telling everyone that you opened a portal to Filda and that Asger wants to appoint you as queen.”

  Despite the cool breeze, Daelyn feels a drop of sweat trickle down her back from nervousness. “They should be more worried about the battles to come. We won’t even have a queen if we lose to Hesstia.”

  Presten can’t seem to hold back his grin. “I know but it’s exciting. I’m excited! I don’t really know Kyria but you, I mean, we’re friends, right?”

  Daelyn laughs. “Yes, Presten.”

  Presten’s grin becomes even wider. “So are you going to open a portal for the entire legion? It would be great to not have to ride for a week and just ge
t to the action. The battle in Filda was thrilling, arrows flying, magic attacks, catapults and such but I want to get on the battlefield. Face the Hesstian’s man to man, sword to sword.” He pounds his fist against his chest for dramatic effect.

  Daelyn had hoped that no one would ask that. She knows that she wouldn’t be able to hold it that long. Each person that steps through pulls on the magic making it harder to hold. “I don’t think I can.”

  Ehvas shoots Presten a glare. “Battlefields are not what you might think, Presten. When you hear the cries of thousands, it will change things. Even when I was in the Hesstian camp I felt sorry for them.”

  Talk of battles makes Daelyn think of her mother’s vision. If the dragons come and Collweya adds their army to Hesstia’s, it will be difficult to win unless they gain some leverage over them. “If we lose the north and the south and are forced to retreat to the coast, then if things turn bad and it looks like we might lose, will we surrender?” All three of them stare at Daelyn as if she’s gone mad. “What else would we do?”

  Boaden shakes his head. “Delhoon warriors will never surrender. Especially when the alternative is slavery. I’d rather die.”

  Daelyn shouldn’t be surprised but she is. “You would choose the complete annihilation of Delhoon’s people over surrender?”

  Boaden and Ehvas look at one another. “As warriors we will fight to the last man and woman,” Boaden answers. “As for the people of Delhoon that are not warriors, it would be acceptable to surrender.”

  Daelyn doesn’t speak further. To her, surrender means living to fight another day, to find a new way for freedom but death is the end. Now she knows that somehow she must find something to use against King Enden. Watching Boaden die would be unfathomable.

  An hour later just as everyone is about to move out, Warlord Asger steps through the front doors. “Lord Everon has consented. We go north.”

  54. Madison

  Midlan sits before the three of them, bound to a chair. His pleading eyes make Madison want to slap him across the face but she restrains herself so that Jordane can speak what he feels he needs to. Though a small part of her wants to believe Midlan, she can’t forgive his other lies. Even if Jordane had gotten himself caught, Midlan told her he died. He never gave her the chance to free him. Then there's the fact that he’s a traitor to Delhoon. He also lied to the queen about what happened in Kezington, which she forgot to even mention.

  “Not only did you betray me, ruin my life and the life of Madison and Daelyn, but you are a traitor.” Jordane folds his arms over his chest.

  Midlan eyes each one of them. “I’m no traitor.”

  Nebba laughs but there’s no humor in it. “We saw it with our own eyes, Midlan. Feeding information to Kind Enden.”

  Madison huffs stepping back and forth in front of him. With the buzzing of energy through her body, she can’t seem to hold still. “He’s just proving yet again that he is a liar.”

  Midlan’s eyes fall to his sword on the table. The one that Madison took from his mother’s home in Delhoon. He licks his lips and stares at Madison. “How did you get my sword?”

  Madison’s lips curl. “I took it. I can see by the look in your eyes there is something you want to ask me.”

  “Is she…”

  “Dead?” Madison’s says, remembering the way Nadene’s body looked crumpled on the floor. “Killed that wench myself.”

  At the words, Midlan’s eyes well with tears. Madison can hardly stomach his reaction. He can cry for the death of his mother and yet betray his best friend and steal his wife.

  “She was innocent!” he shouts trying to pull his hands free from the ropes that hold him to the chair. “She had nothing to do with this.”

  “So was I.” Jordane spits the words out.

  “I mourned you, Jordane! I knew I was wrong but it was too late for me to help when the guards came.” Midlan’s bottom lips quivers and it takes all Madison’s self-control not to strangle the life out of him for his filthy falsehoods.

  “Help when the guards came?” Jordane says nearly laughing. “You brought them there.”

  “No, you were caught cheating at cards.”

  Jordane clenches his jaw and stares at Midlan. “So that’s your story now, huh? I didn’t even have to use magic to win that night, Midlan.”

  “I didn’t tell you everything because I let my jealousy blind me.” He pleads to Madison now. “All I ever wanted was you. I love you, please don’t do this. I still love you. If I could take everything back I would.”

  Jordane shakes his head. “If you think that apologizing will absolve you of your sins, you’re wrong.”

  Nebba begins to pace behind Midlan. “You are only sorry now because you got caught.”

  Then suddenly Midlan’s demeanor changes. He sniffs away his tears, straightens his posture and looks Jordane straight in the face.

  Wondering what he has planned now, Madison narrows her gaze.

  “Those ten years you were in prison I was humping your wife. I know what she sounds like when she—”

  Madison clenches her fist wrapping the invisible cord around his neck before he can get out another word.

  Jordane rushes Midlan, his fists crashing into the scum’s face over and over. Nebba and Madison both watch, allowing him to take out his rage. The beating is well deserved. When blood drips from his mouth and nose, and his face begins to swell Madison nods to Nebba. Their large friend moves in and wraps his arms around Jordane’s body, pulling him away.

  Jordane thrashes about wildly so much that Nebba can hardly contain him. The pent up rage that he’d held together thus far is fully released. “Let me go! He’s a dead man!”

  When Madison grabs Midlan’s jaw and forces him to look at her she simply stares at him for a few moments. “Soon you will wish that we let Jordane kill you tonight.”

  Jordane calms down but Nebba still holds his arms tightly. His chest heaves up and down, his gaze boring into the man he once called best friend.

  The urge to yank her dagger from it’s sheath and slit his throat pulls at her instincts, forcing her to step back. It’s not time for him to die yet. “How does it feel to lose everything? I hope it hurts more deeply than even I can imagine, and I know pain, Midlan.” Tears slowly cascade to the floor as she slaps her hand to her chest, and for the first time the deep seeded pain she kept locked down surfaces. “I know pain,” her quiet voice wavers on those words but then it grows strong, “How could you! How could you have taken the man I loved so much from me for so long?! How could you betray your best friend? How could you hold me, and claim to love me as you watched me lie in bed for months knowing what you did! You watched the agony it caused me for years. You told me you loved me but it wasn’t true. I believed in you. I trusted you!” Madison shoves her hands into her hair and screams with the pain of a thousand broken hearts as she falls to her knees.

  Nebba releases Jordane and he rushes to Madison’s side. As she rocks back and forth, he gathers her in his arms as she rocks back and forth. She cries for the years lost, for the fool she got played for, for the suffering of her husband. Sobs tear from her throat for her little girl who had lost her father when she needed him most, and for the man they had both loved and been friends with before he let jealousy and hatred ruin all of their lives.

  “I’m sorry,” Midlan’s voice breaks and his head bows.

  Nebba knocks him with the hilt of his sword and Midlan falls unconscious.

  ∞∞∞

  Hours later Madison has regained her composure as have the others. Somberly, they load the horses with their belongings and drag the unconscious Midlan outside. She wanted to kill him but there’s still time to make him suffer. The horse they tie him to was stolen from the Hesstian’s while they slept. Leaving now will put them ahead of the army so they can warn the city of Filda and Warlord Colden of what is coming.

  Madison forces a potion down Midlan’s throat that will keep him down for days. An agreement had been m
ade between Jordane and Madison on the traitor’s fate. The amount of physical pain he will feel when she gets her revenge won’t be to the level Madison wishes but it will be punishment enough.

  “Are we ready?” Nebba asks as he climbs onto his horse.

  Madison slips her foot into the stirrup of the saddle. “We’ve got everything we need.”

  Nebba takes the lead rope to Midlan’s horse and waits for Jordane to move. None of them want to look at Midlan so his horse trails behind as far as the rope allows.

  As they pass the last building a note flutters out of the torch by the entrance. Its makes it’s way to Madison and she halts her horse. After reading the note her heart quickens. The fear she’d harbored caused by her vision becomes realized. “Daelyn says that Enden has married the daughter of the king of Collweya, forming an alliance.”

  Jordane looks for Madison to Nebba. “Do we know anything about Collweya? Ten years ago it was a mysterious place.”

  Madison folds the note. “We still know nothing about them but rumors. Dragons being one of those rumors.”

  Jordane’s face falls. “Your vision.”

  Appearing worried, Nebba rides up beside them. “What vision?”

  A heavy sigh escapes Madison and she nudges the sides of her horse. “I’ll tell you along the way.”

  55. Boaden

  After riding for a week, Boaden stands looking out at the battlefield in Filda covered in snow. Yet the grass still pokes through; it will not be enough to halt any fighting. The thousands of Delhoon fighters have gathered and set up camp just south of Filda. The city can’t hold them all. This fight will take place in the open, no hiding behind the walls this time. The air feels different too somehow, as they wait for the order to strike.