“But he was in the castle at the breakfast table. Surely he’s more than that?” Kailia pushed.
Wren stopped, turning to face her fully. “You were also in the castle at the breakfast table. Was Jarek right? There is more to it?”
Kailia stared back, familiar irritation creeping up her spine. This female was… Well, she was very good at making someone feel at ease to get information. Kailia used manipulation all the time. Apparently, so did Wren. If it weren’t so fucking clever, she’d be impressed. Instead, she was annoyed at having missed something so obvious.
Wren didn’t push for an answer though. Instead, she flashed another warm smile before turning and pulling open the door to a shop. She didn’t wait for Kailia, and it wasn’t until she peeredat the shop window that she realized they’d come to a dress shop of sorts. Judging by what was on display though, Kailia knew this wasnotthe kind of shop she was going to find anything in. It was all lace and frills and corsets. Nothing she could move freely in.
Sighing, she pulled the door open once more, a bell jingling faintly as she stepped inside. It smelled inviting—vanilla and spices—and Wren was already talking to a female at the counter.
She didn’t reallyneeda dress. She had plenty at the flat where she was staying. The entire purpose of this was to get information about Razik. Instead, it had become a fiasco of sorts.
But she needed to know about the male. It had taken everything in her to hide her utter shock when he’d strode into the dining room that morning.
Because she’d seen him before, and not just since she’d stepped foot in Avonleya.
Well, nothimexactly.
Before she’d come to Avonleya, she’d been stuck on the continent across the Edria Sea. There were far worse places to be confined. She would know. She’d been trapped in such a place for two decades. But while she was on the continent, she’d found her way to an Oracle.
Each continent had an Oracle. They were bound to their continent as part of their role, and they were regarded as highly as the gods were. Maybe even more so, considering you could at least try to see an Oracle. It was excessively difficult to summon a god or goddess to this realm. Kailia wasn’t even sure it was possible.
The Oracles of the realms were often sought when one was desperate for answers or guidance. Or she sought you out when you were running from truths and destinies. Either way, if youencountered an Oracle, you were going to be given information that left you with a choice to make.
But to even get to the Oracle across the sea, she had to come to you, or you had to try your luck in the Witch Kingdoms. The High Witch was vicious and formidable, and with her various covens throughout the kingdoms, most never made it past the borders of their territory. More than that, Kailia assumed the Oracle was female because most Witches were. But that was where the conundrum came in. Not many knew what their true identity was. In fact, so few had seen an Oracle, that some considered them to be myths of old. If you found yourself in the Oracle’s presence, they appeared to you as something other. A person from your past. A creature that would greatly impact your future. Someone or something that would play a crucial role in your life—for better or worse.
She knew the Oracles were real because she’d dared to venture into the Witch Kingdoms. Dared to square off with the High Witch. Dared to request an audience. And when she’d finally wandered into the dark passages of the Oracle’s home, she’d been met by a tall male with piercing sapphire eyes, unruly brown hair, and a muscular build. She hadn’t known who he was—had never met or seen him before—and until recently, had never seen him again. Even then, he was scarce, and learning information had been difficult. Beyond his position in the Cadre and his name being Razik Greybane, she didn’t know much. She’d been here half a year, and she’d only seen him from afar a handful of times. She certainly had not expected to find him strolling into the dining room this morning.
The Oracle had appeared to her as Razik, and now she was desperately trying to understand how a member of the Avonleyan king’s forces was going to have such a profound impact on her future and the outcome of her plans. Was he going to help her? Hinder her? Did he have information she needed?
“Kailia?”
She blinked, finding both Wren and the shop owner staring at her. “Yes?”
“Fiona asked if you were looking for something in particular,” Wren said, her smile pointed.
“No. I mean, yes. Black, but I just remembered I need to be somewhere,” Kailia said, backing towards the entry door. “I appreciate your time. Both of you.”
“Kailia, wait—” Wren started, but she didn’t get to finish.
Kailia was gone, wrapped up in smoke and ashes. The scent of her power was like coming home, and she relished the freedom. She’d go to the flat she was staying in, put on her usual attire, and plan?—
Except something was wrong.
The ashes yanked on her, wrapping around her wrists and ankles as if they were manacles. Her power thrashed and bucked against a force that was pulling them elsewhere. She’d never experienced anything like this. Never had her magic take over. Control her.
But she was being pulled through the air, spinning so quickly she couldn’t get her bearings. Not as she was deposited beside a lake in a heap of limbs. She quickly straightened, brushing at her pants and tunic as she took in the sunny sky. The sparkling blue waters. The phantom figures floating above the ground, gold swords in hand. Numerous warriors with weapons drawn.
And across the way stood Razik Greybane with the Avonleyan king at his side.
Chapter 10
Razik
Thank the gods.
That was all Razik could think when the female appeared across from them, right on the shores of Lake Noctus. And that was saying something because the gods didn’t deserve his gratitude.
The gods didn’t deserve shit.
