A Soul for Vengeance

Chapter 29



A scream of rage echoed through the castle, shaking the chandeliers and rattling the crockery all the way in the kitchen.

“Uh-oh,” Liverna murmured. “Her ladyship is in a foul mood. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere near her tonight.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Zara replied, gathering the last of the silverware she needed to set the table for dinner. “I wonder if there’s a way to serve them dinner without having to be in the same room with them.”

“You’ll be smart to find a way. Now get up there before we feel the brunt of her ladyship’s wrath.”

Zara climbed into the lift with her tray of plates, glasses, utensils, and napkins. Her heart hammered with each crank of the wheel. Something bad had happened, and she could only hope it meant good news for the rebellion.

Sobs filled the corridor when she reached the Triumvirate’s quarters. The cracked door to their study gave her a glimpse of Decindra crying with her face in her hands while Ermane stoically stared out the window. A sliver of delight filled her as she counted back the days and realized Barsaulus’s troops would’ve met with the Gravarian forces by now. Based on the scene she witnessed, he hadn’t been successful.

It was just more one thing that had gone in their favor. A storm had sunk the Thallian armada bound for Gravaria. Ortono had managed to capture a store of weapons and supplies bound for Trivinus. And now, one of the Triumvirate had fallen. She grinned, her hands shaking from excitement. With each day, they came closer to defeating the Thallians and reclaiming the throne for Kell.

And in a few days, her plan would come to fruition. She’d added the last of her kokalla powder to their sherry the other night. When they’d drained that barrel in the next couple of days, they would experience the same cruel withdrawals they’d inflicted on her people.

Just in time for the armies to arrive at the city walls.

The dining room door opened, and Ermane led a still sobbing Decindra into the room. “Calm down and have a drink. We can’t let the—” He paused when he saw Zara, his mouth pressing into a stern grimace. “Fetch her some sherry now.”

Zara poured a small glass from the crystal decanter and handed it to the near hysterical member of the Triumvirate.

Decindra stopped crying long enough to turn her gaze on Zara. “I bet you’re happy to hear the news, you horrid little slave.”

“What news?” she asked, feigning innocence.

“Barsaulus is dead.”

A bolt of magic flew from her fingers and hit Zara squarely in the stomach. Her breath rushed out, and her head swam. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes as she stumbled back. The pain only added to her joy, though. One member of the Triumvirate was gone, and another was torn apart by grief.

Decindra raised her hand to deliver another spell, but Ermane caught it. “There’s no need to take it out on a slave like her. I need you to clear your mind and help me find a way to fight back.”

He turned to Zara. “Fetch dinner and be quick about it. We have much to decide tonight, and I do not want any disruption in our schedule.”

Zara ran back to the kitchen, practically skipping by the time she was safely within the world of the Ranellian slaves. “Barsaulus is dead,” she whispered to Liverna.

The startled woman dropped her pan with a clang. “How?”

“I suspect the Gravarians.” She set the tureen of soup on her tray. “We’ll be free soon.”

“I pray to the Lady Moon you’re right.” The head cook pinched her cheek. “Until then, we’d best keep our heads down and ears open for more news.”

Kell looked through the spyglass at the enormous sinkhole and the lines of Gravarian soldiers skirting around it. He handed the glass to Bynn. “It looks like Arden was here.”

Bynn held it up to his one eye and cursed. “Damn witch. Is she capable of using magic without destroying everything in her path?”

“Why don’t we ride ahead and find out what happened here?” He kicked his horse forward, galloping past his men and across the gap between the two armies. By the time he caught up with her, both he and his horse were breathless.

Complicating matters was a thin, blond woman who nearly knocked him to the ground the moment he slid from his saddle. “Kell!”

He managed to catch his balance and wrap his arms around her. “Arden, it’s so good to see you again.”

And he meant it. His heart no longer stung from her rejection. Instead, it beat with the love he bore her as a dear friend, a love she’d once offered him but he’d been too disappointed to accept. Now he welcomed it. “And you, too.” He nodded toward the sinkhole. “You’ve been busy.”

Two blotches of color appeared in her cheeks, and she stepped back toward Dev. “Loku got a little out of control.”

One look at her protector told him that things had gotten more than just a little out of control. He’d have to ask Dev later what really happened.

“The good news is that we managed to take out the Thallian leader and his army without suffering any huge losses ourselves.”

“Huge losses is debatable,” Dev said dryly. “You weren’t the one turned into a pin cushion.”

“But I still had enough magic left over to heal you, right?” She gave him a playful pat on the nose, earning a rare smile from the elven knight.

As Kell watched them together, he realized he’d been a fool for thinking he could compete with Dev for Arden’s heart. Those two understood each other in ways he couldn’t possibly fathom. They were truly meant for each other, just like Zara was meant for him. The sight of them together revived his yearning for Zara. Soon, he’d be with her again. Soon, he’d convince her that she was the only woman he’d never need.

He scanned the others around them, spotting another familiar face. “Sir Fane, welcome to Ranello.”

“It’s an honor to be here alongside you, Your Majesty.” The knight bowed, then reached into his pocket to pull out a small metal box. “Foresco asked me to deliver this to you along with a message.”

Kell took the box, finding within seconds that it was locked. “And a key, too, I hope.”

Fane shook his head. “No, no key. But he said you’ll know when to open it.”

“Was that all of his message?”

“You know how he can be,” the knight said with a shrug. “Mysterious as always, but I think he took a liking to you. He’s known more for his swords than little trinkets like that, and somehow, you’ve managed to receive one of each.”

Kell shook the box, curious about its contents. But when he stared into the keyhole, a vision slammed into his mind. He saw Zara opening the box, her lips parting in astonishment at what it held. He blinked, and the vision was gone. “I’ll save this for the moment Foresco intended, then.”

“Wise choice,” Fane replied, grinning.

That night, he dined with friends old and new, catching up on the lost months and discussing the battle ahead. But when they parted for the evening, Arden pulled him aside. “Where’s Zara?”

Worry and grief strangled his throat. He’d only received a brief message from one of her contacts in the city, telling him about the army under Barsaulus. But at least she was still alive. “She’s already in Trivinus.”

Arden searched his face, her blue eyes darkening with concern. “I hope for your sake she’ll be alive and well when we find her again. I’d like to meet her in person.”

He’d lost count of the number of times Zara had referred to Arden as the “yellow-haired witch.” It might be a tense meeting between them. “Why?”

Arden smiled. “Because she saved you.”

As Arden walked off with Dev, the full-meaning of her reply hit him. Yes, Zara had saved him in more than one way. She’d saved his life by rescuing him from the ship. She’d saved his hope by believing in him when he struggled to believe in himself. And she’d saved his heart by teaching him to love again.

Now it was his turn to save her.