Vowed

by N R Tucker

  Ryan followed Clay. The bird form just got more and more useful, although if he had a smaller form, bug maybe, he could have hidden in the car. Ryan would have to work on that. He didn’t know how far they were going, and he was tired from the previous flight. Not to mention hungry. He hadn’t eaten anything since the burger at the bar when he was talking to Evan. That was hours ago. Between the glamour, shifting, and keeping invisible, Ryan needed to eat soon, or they would hear his stomach, even if they couldn’t see him.

  Eventually, Clay arrived at another farmhouse. This one was more run down.

  Ryan flew to one of the trees that framed the front entrance and set his shield, remaining invisible. He could feel the presence of fae. Hopefully, they couldn’t feel his presence through his shield.

  Spruce walked out the door and glared at Clay. “You’re late.”

  Clay frowned but admitted, “Yeah, Dave called me in. He’s still fishing for info on the sword.”

  The smirk on Spruce’s face widened, “Our deal was made with no out clause. I know that doesn’t mean much to you, but to fae, it’s binding. I can’t double cross you and make another deal with Dave. Don’t worry.”

  Clay smiled and followed Spruce into the house.

  Ryan shook his head. If Clay died, Spruce could then deal with Dave. Somehow, Ryan doubted Clay would have included his continued status of living as part of his bargain. No time to worry about Clay right now, anyway. He needed access to the house. He eyed the open window, but it was a bit too obvious. After his fourth trip around the house, searching for another way in, he surrendered, and flew slowly inside, tripping a sensor.

  A net caught Ryan, and he hit the ground, losing his invisibility in the process. The trap wasn’t unexpected but angered Ryan anyway. He dropped his bird form to increase the odds of escaping the net. Most fae would be able to identify the bird as a shifter.

  “The way you follow me I’m beginning to think you like me.” Spruce’s smile widened when Ryan rolled his eyes. “Still looking for the sword? Everyone in the five realms knows about your quest. You can’t keep a thing like that quiet. I’m surprised Ralliner gave you the task. You must owe her a great debt.”

  Still, Ryan said nothing.

  After waiting a few seconds for Ryan to reply, Spruce laughed. “No matter. I think I’ll let you see the sword you’re tasked with retrieving.”

  Ryan looked up then. If the sword were here, he might be able to wrap this mission up. It would be a relief. The sword’s song called to him and he sat up.

  Spruce entered the room with the sword in his fighting arm and frowned. “I didn’t know the sword called to non-fae.”

  “I suspect there’s a lot about that sword you don’t know,” Ryan said.

  “Perhaps, but I can be taught.” He raised the sword toward Ryan and said, “Tell me why you’re searching for the sword.”

  Thinking the truth might help him, Ryan answered, “Ralliner didn’t want to send a fae on the search, and since I was in her debt, she sent me on this quest.”

  Spruce nodded, “I thought as much. She helped you to escape the fortress with Victoria. I was impressed you managed that.”

  Ryan nodded as if Spruce had figured it out.

  “How can I get Star to meet me away from the shifters?”

  Ryan raised an eyebrow but didn’t speak.

  Spruce gripped the sword tightly and asked again.

  Ryan responded through gritted teeth, making a show of fighting the power of the sword, “Leave a message on her private email saying I’m dead if she doesn’t show up. Star would never leave a friend in danger, even if she knows it’s a trap.”

  Once Ryan provided the email address, Spruce grinned, “Excellent!” Before he closed the door, Spruce added, “You are dead if she doesn’t show up.”

  Still in the mesh, which contained his magic rather well, Ryan glared at the door. First cuffs and now a net. This was getting ridiculous.

  *****

  Kyan’s team overran the AIB facility quickly. A few escaped, Dave Roberts senior being one of them, and some loyal AIB member had let loose a virus that destroyed some of the computer files, but overall it was a successful mission. Destin’s team was hard at work rescuing whatever data they could.

  Kyan looked over at Phoenix who was engrossed with his cell phone. “What are you doing?”

  Phoenix looked up from his phone, “Waiting for an email. Aha, it just came in. Uncle, I need a gate to Calabozo.”

  Kyan stood in from of him and growled, “I know about Ryan’s mission, and I know you’re helping him. If you get stuck, call me.”

  “Aw, Uncle, you do care. Gate, please. I’m on a deadline.” Kyan opened a gate, and Phoenix waved over his shoulder and left. After passing through the checkpoints at Calabozo, he headed straight for Star’s quarters and knocked.

  The door opened quickly, revealing an agitated Joey. “No. This is not happening. Star is not going to be anywhere near Spruce.”

  Phoenix pushed his way into the room and closed the door. “Don’t yell the secret plans in the hallway. Seriously, some things the sovereign’s squire should just know. Besides, Star isn’t going.”

  Joey cocked his head to one side, “Uh, what?”

  There was a knock on the door. Phoenix opened it and said, “Joey, meet Teirra, Char’s daughter. She shifts into a jaguar.”

  Joey stared at the dark-haired beauty. She looked nothing like Star. “Can you glamour?”

  “No, I can open a gate within the Seen and have some control over the weather. As my uncle said, I shift into a jaguar.”

  And with that lovely Brazilian lilt, she sounded nothing like Star either. Joey turned back to Phoenix. “How’s that going to work? She doesn’t look like Star. She doesn’t sound like Star. She can’t open a gate to the Farseen. I see a lot of holes here.”

  “I’m the distraction. If Spruce is as fixated on Star as everyone says, he’ll focus on the jaguar, allowing Ryan time to take the sword,” Teirra said.

  “And where is Ryan?’ No one answered, and Joey rubbed his forehead. “Like I said, a lot of holes.

  Chapter 34

  Spruce paced around the open field, getting the feel of the sword, keeping Ryan in his field of vision. The net should be strong enough to contain the shifter, but the cuffs, wherever they were, would have been a better option. There was no doubt that the cuffs worked on the shifter, and the net wasn’t nearly as powerful. It was a known fact that the net couldn’t hold any of the shifter half-breeds born to Lord Ellwood, but it worked fine on the average shifter. No proof of its effect on a full-blooded shifter of the sovereign’s line was available.

  Spruce smiled in anticipation of Star’s arrival. Lady Tempest wouldn’t come. The sword would keep her away. She, Lord Ellwood, and Ridge were afraid of the sword for some reason. Yes, he felt safe in his demand for Star to meet him. With the sword in his hand and Star by his side, Lord Ellwood would welcome him and perhaps even approve of his methods. After all, he had tricked Lady Tempest and the Alpha Clan. Even the Forest Lord had failed at that. Spruce was finally moving up in the world and soon everyone, even his father and brother, would have to give him the respect he deserved.

  The way opened, and Star walked through in jaguar form, with a shifter male by her side. Spruce yelled, “Should I kill Ryan now? You didn’t follow my instructions.”

  “Easy,” Phoenix said. “Don’t you recognize me? I’m no threat. I’m just here to take Ryan back as we expected him to be injured.”

  Spruce stared at Phoenix. There was something strange about him. He never fought, but served as the sovereign’s spokesperson, dealing mostly with humans. And he never seemed to get hurt if magic was tossed. The humans said he was immune to magic, but that didn’t make sense. No one was immune. Of course, if other alphas were around, they would be the ones on the receiving end of a magical bomb. Perhaps Star asked her uncle to come and help Ryan. It’s something she would do. She worried about others. That’s th
e first of her bad habits he would break.

  “Once Star and I leave, you may do whatever you wish with Ryan.” Spruce turned to Ryan, still inside the net, and raised the sword to point at him, “Does Phoenix have any powers I need to know about?”

  Ryan strained at the net, but answered, “Phoenix turns to shadow but commands no aggressive power.”

  Spruce grinned. “Come Star. We have much to discuss.” She hesitated, and he added, “The agreement was you in exchange for Ryan.”

  She meowed low, hung her head, and padded toward Spruce. Once within striking distance, she lunged.

  Spruce fell back as her claws scrapped his left arm. The sword, still in his right hand, cut into the jaguar’s side.

  Phoenix grabbed the net, nullified its magic, and took off running to the jaguar’s side. Ryan leaped to his feet with the net still covering him and used telekinesis to pull the sword to him even while he opened a gate to Calabozo.

  Spruce, sprawled on the ground, watched as Phoenix took the bleeding jaguar through the gate Ryan opened. He jumped to his feet to follow, but the gate closed in his face. Spruce screamed. He turned to Ryan, “Is Star alright? I have to know.”

  Ryan cocked his head to one side. “Do you care? She’s a means to an end for you.”

  “She’s much more than that.”

  “Interesting. I won’t know her status until I return home, and I have to return the sword to its guardian first.” Ryan pointed to the new gate he opened, “And you’re coming with me.”

  *****

  Ryan, net over one shoulder and the Sword of Veracity in his arm, marched Spruce toward Ralliner’s lair. Three unaligned fae mercenaries attacked. Ryan found he was more irritated than surprised. He froze Spruce in place and tossed the net on one of the fae. While the fae untangled from the no-longer-magical net, Ryan used wind to push one fae off the bank into the fast-moving river. Ryan turned to face the third with the Sword of Veracity gleaming in the sun.

  “Drop the sword. You can keep Spruce,” the fae grinned.

  “I’ll keep both.” Ryan again used wind and tossed the fae who managed to get out of the net into the river. He joined his comrade, moving down the rapids and over the Psyche falls. Too bad they were only fifteen-feet tall. Both would survive, probably wouldn’t even be hurt.

  The remaining fae dropped into a fighting stance and pulled a beautifully detailed short sword. This sword also sang. The fae smiled at Ryan’s confused look. “You are not the only person in possession of a dragon made weapon. Give me the Sword of Veracity, and I’ll allow you to leave unharmed.”

  “Right, ‘cause Ralliner won’t be mad that I gave it up,” Ryan scoffed.

  “Then I shall kill you and take the sword. I have never been defeated with this sword drawn.”

  “That’s because you’ve never faced me.” Ryan had no clue where those words came from. He was not nearly as experienced with swords as the average fae and it was a bad idea to brag before a fight. He raised the Sword of Veracity in his hand, and it sang. The sound grew louder until the song of the short sword could not be heard. Ryan charged.

  The fae faltered. Without the song of the short sword to guide his steps, he wasn’t as sure of his fighting skills. The fae’s defensive moves were no match for Ryan’s attack. Ryan lunged, and the Sword of Veracity connected with the short sword. The fae lost his grip on his weapon. He ran into the woods as the sword fell at Ryan’s feet.

  Ryan looked at the sword in his hand. He wasn’t sure what happened. He had never wielded a sword so well and never so aggressively. Ryan bent down and picked up the short sword and stuck it through his belt.

  Ryan, once again, marched Spruce toward Ralliner’s lair. Spruce was now wet from where Ryan melted the ice off his body. The two dragon guards smiled wide showing their large white teeth. The dragon on the left asked, “May I help you with your burden? The long sword, the short sword, the fool, perhaps all three?”

  Spruce slid closer to Ryan who pushed him away. “I need no assistance. As you see, I have returned with the object Ralliner requires.”

  The other dragon blew smoke, “You may give the items to me. I shall return them to Mother.”

  Ryan shook his head, “My quest. I shall return the sword to her.”

  More blue smoke accompanied the dragon’s laugh. “Indeed, young alpha. Enter in peace. Congregate in peace. Leave in peace… or make the blood price so high, your enemies will desire peace. You are earlier than expected, but Ralliner awaits you.”

  As Ryan and Spruce walked into the lair, the whelps once again guarded the forks in the tunnels, allowing them to make good time. They entered Ralliner’s chamber and Spruce sucked in air, “I never expected to be here.”

  Ryan raked Spruce with an incredulous stare, “You tried to wield a sword that belonged to Ralliner, and you didn’t think you would end up in her presence? You are a fool.”

  “Why am I here? I didn’t steal the sword from her. The one who did is already dead. I’ve broken no dragon law.” He turned to run and found himself facing the business end of the Sword of Veracity.

  Ryan grinned evilly, “After I return the sword to Ralliner, I’ll return you to Lord Ellwood.”

  Spruce groaned, and Ryan’s smile widened.

  Ralliner chose that moment to shoot up out of the river, spraying water on her visitors. Since dragons could exit the water without splashing, Ryan assumed she did so for a purpose. He suspected she did it because she could.

  She took no notice of Spruce as she took the sword from Ryan. “You have impressed me, young alpha.” She revealed the wall with the swords and the Sword of Veracity flew to its assigned spot. “I also require the two leather drawings.”

  Ryan pulled the drawings out of his pocket. He was glad Tempe had warned him they would have to be returned. He was happy to be rid of them. Knowing that the leather was the tanned pelt of the fae who stole the sword was downright creepy. Even creepier, the fae had been forced to draw them on his skin while he was still alive.

  He held out the short sword, “Is this another dragon sword? I took it off a fae who attacked me for the Sword of Veracity. Veracity swallowed up its song. I think that’s how I defeated the fae.”

  “The Patron’s Sword. It likes you, young alpha.” She reared back on her legs. “This sword was presented to Valiant the Bold by Tulvir, supreme matriarch of the greens. Since Valiant’s death, the sword has moved from fae to fae, looking for a new master. While others could wield it, they could not call forth the true power of the sword. The Patron’s Sword has chosen you, alpha. Veracity didn’t defeat it. The Patron’s Sword surrendered to you. It will remain faithful to you until your death or until you disappoint it. Wear it well, Ryan, bearer of the Patron’s Sword.”

  Ryan stood there in shock. Somehow, he acquired a sword explicitly made for Val. Hopefully, that story made Val’s journal.

  Ralliner dropped a ring in Ryan’s hand. “Give this to your human. As long as she wears it, we shall provide for her safety in the Farseen. Once the ring is on her finger, no one can remove it, save me. I expect we shall see more of you in the future. Until next time, young alpha.” Ralliner dove back into the water. This time there was no splash.

  How long would the dragons would refer to him as a young alpha? Ryan turned and pointed Spruce back out of the lair.

  “No reason to return me to the Northern Realm. After we leave this lair, we’ll each go our own way,” Spruce offered.

  “It will be my great pleasure to return you to the Northern Realm, telling Lord Ellwood exactly what you tried to do.”

  Spruce gulped.

  Chapter 35

  As expected, Spruce tried to make a run for it after they left the dragons. Prepared, Ryan grabbed him, opening a gate to the Northern Realm’s receiving rooms. A breach of protocol, sure, but he was done with Spruce. Ryan exited the gate with his prisoner, and the Northern Realm guards remained wary but relaxed. A bit disappointing. After all, he was a shape shifter and an
alpha. Ryan had expected weapons aimed at him, maybe even an attack. He looked over at the Master-At-Arms, Ash, and saw Ridge standing next to him. They were both smiling until they saw the sword he pointed at Spruce. Ridge did a double take and Ash’s mouth dropped open.

  Ridge was the first to reclaim his bemused expression and to speak. “Ralliner told us something of your adventure, but it appears she left a few details for us to discover ourselves. Leave Spruce with Ash. Lord Ellwood awaits your testimony, Ryan. Lady Tempest, Lady Star, and her consort are here.

  “Is she alright?” Spruce asked. “Is Lady Star alright?”

  No one answered, and Ridge shut the door in his face.

  “Ryan!” Star hugged her cousin.

  “Man, you look a little worse for wear,” Joey grinned, patted him on the back, and whispered, “I’m told I can’t challenge Spruce, but I don’t get it. He tried to take milady. It seems like I should be able to seek justice.”

  “You aren’t looking for justice. You seek revenge. We haven’t had a blood feud in the Northern Realm in nearly one thousand years. I have no desire to see that record broken,” Ridge said.

  Joey snarled, but Ryan agreed with Ridge. Fae blood feuds could last centuries and frequently ended only when one of the feuding families died out. Ryan moved forward and bowed to Lord Ellwood. Only then did he present his grievance against Spruce. He included the actions of Pinus and Balen as well.

  “You have had an excellent quest,” Lord Ellwood leaned backed in his chair. “Pinus and Balen presented themselves to my rule shortly before you arrived. Spruce used the sword to control them.”

  Ryan sputtered, “The sword doesn’t control people!”

  “True,” Ellwood agreed. “It remakes truth to match the wielder’s words; however, most people believe it forces everyone to tell the truth to the wielder, and so they told Spruce what he needed to enact his plan.”

  “You know Spruce didn’t act alone.”

  Tempe stepped forward to stand on her Father’s right side, facing Ryan. “Did you see any fae except Spruce wield the sword?”