AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“You’re always welcome...leyanyn,” Franzy sighs her familiar term of “sweetheart” endearment from our childhood?names we adopted for each other. But melancholy tinges the name. She doesn’t face me and applies more pressure to the claw marks, swallowing.
Regret knots in my stomach, and I squeeze my eyes shut. “Listen, Franzy, I’m sorry. There was a reason I?”
“It should have been me,” she interrupts, pressing harder, but I bear the pain because I deserve it. “I was going to volunteer, Isla.”
“What?” I straighten from her revelation. My Nether-mark slaughters my back with its ice and heat, alternating so rapid, it leaves me breathless.
Franzy focuses on my wounds, on cleaning them while her auburn curls eclipse much of her face. “I was going to volunteer as Bride of the Corpse King.” She pauses, swings her eyes to me. They’re wet with tears. “Three of Fathyr’s vessels sank, Isla. I didn’t tell you because I knew you would try to stop me. And your family’s situation was far worse with your father’s injuries.”
“But the bones?”
“They may have been enough to pay your debt, Isla. Not ours.” She shakes her head, eyes glistening. “I never could have expected you to do what you did. I didn’t think you were going to make it to the dance. I assumed you’d be spending the night in an Ithydeir prison.”
“Elder Kanat was going to?”
“I know what he was going to do,” she interrupts again, gritting her teeth and binding strips of cloth around my wrists. “I watched everything from beyond the bridge. I saw the bone he gave you. And I saw you run. I don’t blame you, Isla,” her voice softens. Heavier remorse weighs down my chest as she continues, “But I was going to help us. I planned to volunteer and wipe both our debts. Then, you plunged into the River!”
She huffs, finishes dressing the wounds, and presses her brow to mine. “They were the longest moments of my life. Waiting for you to surface. I was too late. So, I volunteered for the Prince instead. Once I told him about our friendship, he agreed. And he also said he would cover Fathyr’s debt and arrange for new vessels. And he won’t bed me until I turn eighteen. Prince Aydon is...kind.”
Pursing my lips, I nod but wonder if it’s more than kindness. If he consented so he could learn about me, but I won’t crush Franzy’s hopes. Not with how she looks at him or how her fingers stray to the mark beneath the transparent gauzy strap of her new gown. The fabric is a perfect shade of deep crimson to accentuate her auburn hair and amber eyes along with the demurer neckline lingering at her satiny gold collarbones.
“At least,” her voice cracks, her fingers fidget before they curl into mine so she may finish, “I’ll be here. At least I’ll get to say goodbye.”
I smile softly to the side and roll my eyes. “Come on, Franzy, you know me better. Gryzelda lived, didn’t she? I will, too.” I posture, adopting the regality of a queen, but my voice is overconfident with the underlining of doubt.
“If anyone can survive the God of Death, it’s you, Isla,” Franzy offers a feeble response, but her hand weaves around my gown to thumb the small of my back. Her rubbing doesn’t soothe the Nether-mark, doesn’t pacify it as the Corpse King’s presence does. But her words are a balm.
Now, I have the added problem of Elder Kanat. How long before he tries again? And what of the Queen? She’s right. If I can’t deal with one elder, whether or not he is the most powerful in the land, I won’t be strong enough for Aryahn Kryach. I lick my lips, considering an alternative: the King. Surely, I may rely on Allysteir to help me thwart Elder Kanat.
So, I force a smile, clutch Franzy’s hands, ignoring the fluttering in my stomach, the heat on my back, and announce, “Come, I need your help. I must look my absolute best!”
I remainin the shadows and channel Death’s power around my being until I am a silent specter. Whether or not I’d prefer to drive my power into Kanat’s heart for his audacity of invading my bride-to-be’s chambers, better to wait and observe. After his initial protests to her proposal and her revelation of how the Elder had claimed her as a Feyal-bride, more is at stake than my territorial pride...and rage.
Blood thunders in my ears, but I grind my teeth and cool my head which requires far more corpse ice than usual when Kanat rubs blood between his clawed fingers. A sinister smile creeps along his face.
I growl. Isla’s blood. I can smell it from here.
If Elder Kanat wasn’t so damned respected and renowned in Talahn-Feyal and if he didn’t possess the skill to communicate with the Void spirits, I would bring him to his knees now. Suffocate him with Kryach’s shadows and demand the truth while he chokes and begs for mercy.
I follow from a safe distance. However formidable Kryach’s power, Kanat is the highest elder. It would be foolish to launch a direct attack if he is communicating through Void portals, whispering to the spirits, seeking answers to Isla’s heritage. I remember his reference of having knowledge of her background. Vengeance kindles my veins to pulse, my muscles to quiver. What could he want with my bride?
Whatever the case, I’ll protect her. Aside from me, no one will ever hurt her.
A fresh wave of hunger ransacks my corpse. With my other brides, I was able to pace myself following the Bite Offering and endure longer periods between feedings. Now, I yearn to bury my teeth in her neck again.
I am yours, Corpse King.
Yes, every scrap of her sweet rose flesh belongs to me. Later, she will gift me her heart but only after I break it. My breath catches from the thought, my insides warming, but I banish all thoughts of Isla and channel fury instead.
Embracing bloodied rage, I direct it to hover around me, masking me in shadows while following Kanat to the lower recesses beneath the Citadel of Bones. To the various tunnels—some used for storage, others for sewers which lead to a mile-long drainage system and reservoir near the Bone Sea. Some halls are reserved for servant cemeteries. Thousands of Feyal and human servants lie buried in these catacombs: a position of due prominence for their service, though not honor. Sole gravesites like the Hall of Heroes or the Royal Tombs guarded by dragon bones hold such esteem.
My bones hum from the collective power force within these halls.
At least it doesn’t take much to keep pace with Kanat. As Ifrynna had observed, I am stronger. Pain lessened. Not from drink since I haven’t embarked to the kitchens. I’d planned to check if Isla was awake. A detour below the Citadel was not in the agenda. I bite back a curse at Kanat keeping me from her.
He progresses down another staircase, paying no heed to the onyke eyes glowing in the darkness like sharp points of swords. Bone powder showers the air, and the elder mumbles a common chant. A meager torch’s light fills the descending hall.
I travel by shadow.
