Did the High Magister know what had happened? Surely, he had to know something hadn’t gone right with Iver’s coronation.
But now that the divine gifts had been given to me, I had a fighting chance. I had no sword, but I had newfound powers and strength at my disposal.
My feet dug into the toeholds of the rough rock, and I hoisted myself up, then stopped short.
My uncle waited on the path, on a horse.
What I hadn’t expected? Lucia Ragnall, bound by heavy chains and gagged, held at knifepoint by one of his guards. Vangar soldiers flanked them—about ten in all. But I’d be a fool to assume that the only strength these soldiers possessed were their swords. I’d been in the Viori territory long enough to know these Unbound people had imperceptible skills.
“I don’t have a weapon,” I said, taking slow steps toward them, my hands in front of me.
“You are a weapon, Calix. I saw that well enough in the Havamal.” My uncle narrowed his gaze at me. “Not another step or my man will slit the throat of your darling wife’s mother.”
Fear pulsed through me, but I couldn’t allow it to show. I shrugged, still inching closer. “And why should I care? Do you really think I love a Viori gutter rat? I have many far more beautiful women waiting for me in Suomelin.”
Lucia’s eyes widened, pleading with me as the guard pressed the knife closer.
“You’re lying.” Haldron’s mouth turned up in a cruel smile. “You think I haven’t had you watched this entire time in Emberstone? You’re in love, Calix. Maybe it’s the effect of the Oath of Bryndis or maybe you’re just a simpering fool, but you care about Seren Ragnall. How long do you think Seren would continue to love you if she knew you didn’t even try to save her mother?”
I ground my teeth. Fuck. Despite my temptation to ignore him, he was also right. But I wouldn’t give that away, either.
Seren loved her family deeply.
She might never forgive me if I didn’t help Lucia.
I stopped my approach, weighing my options. Fire would be expected—and a sure way to make certain Lucia was killed. My fire wasn’t as precise as Seren’s ice was. Not yet.
“I must admit, I didn’t anticipate you, Calix. I’d heard of your powers, but you impressed me. You were magnificent in the Havamal, and that was before the gods chose to bless you with their divine gifts.” Haldron’s eyes glittered. “It will be a pity to kill you.”
I had to get Haldron away from Vangar protection. No doubt they’d interfere if I tried something from here.
“Then I suggest you do it yourself, Haldron. You wouldn’t want to leave the task to someone else and have them fail you again, would you?”
Haldron held my gaze. “I didn’t get where I am by being a fool. You shouldn’t underestimate me, dear nephew. Or what I’m capable of.”
“This from the man that murdered my entire family?” I threw him a hard glare. “I’m already well aware of what you’re capable of.” I shifted my weight forward with one foot.
“Clearly you don’t. That was yet another step …”
Before Haldron’s words had fully sunk in, the guard plunged the knife into Lucia’s gut, without the slightest hint of emotion on his face. She cried out, her voice muted by the gag, but a red stain appeared on the front of her dress as he pulled the knife back.
“No!” The word escaped me as the guard lifted Lucia and tossed her, face forward. She tumbled off the path, barely catching herself as she hung from the edge.
If I went after her, they’d kill me.
But I couldn’t stand here.
Fire burst from my hands once again as I plunged toward her. One Vangar member lifted her hands as a shield and the fire bounced against a transparent wall harmlessly—a protection charm.
I was going to die saving Lucia Ragnall.
Several of the other Vangar soldiers released ironstones from slings—small, sharp, flat, triangular weapons with sides as sharp as razor blades and points that pierced flesh easily when thrown with speed. Each sling released several ironstones, and they sliced through the air toward me.
With an unpracticed gesture spell, I sent a gust of wind, knocking the ironstones off their trajectory. I dove onto the path heading straight for Lucia.
As I reached her, more ironstones pierced my skin. Gods. They’d fired another volley. Pain lanced through me as I yanked Lucia by the chain at her back, dragging her up and over the side of the cliff.
She heaved for breath, the gag impeding her, and I tugged it out of her mouth as I heard another volley of ironstones fired. As I shielded her with my arms around her, the ironstones embedded in my back and the back of my neck. Nyxva.
