Rose of the Oath by Hope Ann
Chapter 13: Oathspeaker
Every muscle tensed as I held the girls close, but the sharp claws never came. A new voice completed the oath.
Adrian.
A thrill swept my veins.
“The oath has been spoken, Tauscher. This is the end.”
The snarls of the wolves paused, held in thrall by the voice. For a moment, silence hung over the battlefield.
I straightened. Adrian stood just beyond the pavilion, a blade in his hand. His gaze darted to me. Behind him was Eldric, his eyes fastened on mine, his body rigid. An arrow was nocked on his bow.
Around us, soldiers of Tauscher gathered, watching, waiting.
Tauscher glanced over his shoulder, his gaze fastening on mine. The wolves answered his unspoken summons, spreading in a circle around me.
Adrian paled. Eldric’s jaw clenched, but his hand trembled. Tauscher pivoted on his heel toward them. His laughter shattered the morning.
“You’re too late, Adrian. Too late, like so many times before.” He shook his head with a sigh. “One strand of power is broken. I have been revealed for many a month. The Oath is spoken. Yet I will kill you anyway. Where now is this Prince in whom you place your hope?”
“He is here.” The voice was low, full, throbbing through the morning as the first flashes of dawn broke above the horizon, sending fragmented shadows fleeing to the forest.
I spun and stared at the figure outlined by the rising sun. He stood alone, between the soldiers of Tauscher and an indistinct gathering behind him. Armor and blades glittered in the web of morning mist. The Aslarian army.
The Prince strode forward, his sword resting on his shoulder. Life itself seemed to hold its breath. Silence echoed in my ears as the rebels gave back. The Prince was a score of paces away. Now a dozen.
“I am here, Tauscher.” The Prince’s voice echoed clearly. “Here to fulfill the King’s Oath, fully and completely. I am here to lead Aslaria’s army. I am here to destroy the power of the Steig der.”
“That is not something even you can do,” Tauscher spat. “Your Father is the One Who declared the cost of the rebellion in the first place.”
The Prince didn’t answer. Didn’t shift his blade. He just stood. And waited.
Tauscher spun back on Adrian, his eyes flashing, his voice so low I barely caught the words. “The Prince may have come, Adrian, but my reign is not over yet.”
He flicked his wrist. The wolves leapt at me from all sides.
A scream tore itself from my throat as I collapsed under their weight, shielding the twins with my cloak and body as best I was able.
Distantly, I heard Tauscher shouting words of attack and the ringing calls of the Prince and the Aslarian army. Adrian and Eldric’s voices rose as Helene and Klara sobbed and cried. Wolves snarled. Their teeth tore through the cloak, sharp jaws snapping at my arms, my legs. A claw swiped across my brow. Blood blinded me, streaming down my face.
“My King.” I gasped. The Prince was here. The beginning of the fulfillment. The Prince had come. For us. For me. He’d face Tauscher. Would destroy him and his power. A haze blurred my consciousness. The King was with me. The Prince…
Fangs sank into my leg, then tore free with the sudden release of weight. Shouts were closer now. Or were they further? Who was yelling and why was there crying?
Light streamed through my vision, blurred and tinted red. Strong arms rolled me over, cradling me, wiping the blood from my eyes.
Eldric hovered at my side, one hand clasping the girls close, the other bearing a bow. Another face bent over mine. Scarred and bloodied; tight with fear.
My name echoed in my ears, repeated by that new voice. A voice that brought comfort even as shuddering agony overwhelmed me.
Pain. Everything was one throbbing wound. Light and dark blurred, shifting back and forth in my mind. Wolves and roses and flashing blades. Trembling hands, cool water, distant weeping. A small hand in mine.
My fingers closed over it as all else faded into a gray haze, replaced by white and gold. The pain eased, the gold melding into green and blue, crimson and silver.
“Elissa.”
The vision shuddered, but I clung to it.
“Elissa.”
The voice was soft but irresistible.
The azure faded to blue. A shadow bent over me. Warm hands framed my face.
“Elissa!”
I blinked, wakefulness returning fully at the command. Wakefulness, but not pain.
I stared upward into brown eyes. So deep. So ancient and intense. Full of power, of love, of sorrow, of determination and firmness. They stared through me, paring the layers of doubt, of fear, of bitter disdain. I shrank from them, but there was nothing left to hide behind. Nothing to veil my unworthiness.
Words rasped from my throat as though from a distance. “My Prince.”
He smiled, joy dancing in his gaze as he brushed the hair from my face. “Death will come to everyone, Elissa. All is not restored yet, though the end is now beginning. The final price is yet to be paid but my Oathspeaker will not die today.”
I stared at him. His smile widened as he straightened and looked beyond me. “Give her water.”
I turned my head as Eldric crouched beside me. Ignoring the skin he held, I threw my arms around his neck. His embrace wrapped around me, and I closed my eyes, relishing the protection of his hold as the twins clung to us.
Finally, Eldric released me.
Klara squeezed herself on my lap and traced her finger down my face. “What is this?”
My hand flew up, touching ridges raised against my skin and coursing across my cheek. Lifting my hands, I stared at the white scars lacing my arms beneath the bloodstained skin and torn fabric.
“Badges worth more than any medal.” The Prince pressed a hand against mine, then rose to his feet. “Wear them with honor.”
I blinked, staring after him as he strode off, then spun my gaze outward. I was under the eaves of the forest now. Tauscher’s pavilion was collapsed. The midmorning sun gleamed over a blood-torn battlefield. Aslarian soldiers gathered in groups and others tended to the wounded. Except for several clusters of prisoners, there was no sign of Tauscher or his men.
“Fleeing, all of them.” Eldric followed my gaze, a smile breaking out over his face as he held out the waterskin again. This time I drank eagerly. “Fleeing to the south. With the Prince at our head, they will continue to flee.”
“And Adrian?” I turned, scanning my surroundings again. “He didn’t…” I stared at my brother with alarm.
Eldric shook his head. “He’s fine. Reasonable enough, I suppose. He sent me a message to fetch you and I arrived to find Tauscher’s men dragging him off. By the time we returned to the fortress, you were gone.” He frowned and jerked his head toward the trees. “He slipped away once the Prince healed you.”
“Where to?” I scrambled to my feet.
“Careful!” Eldric held out a hand to support me.
“I’m fine. The Prince healed me completely.”
He grinned. “I see you’re unchanged.”
“Perhaps not unchanged.” My smile faded as I stared into the shadows. Perhaps not. “I need to find Adrian.”
He nodded. “Be quick about it. I won’t be able to keep the girls for long.”
I inclined my head, then hurried through the trees. A score of steps and I caught sight of the broad figure just inside a small clearing. His arms were crossed, his head bowed.
I slipped off the wolf-skin cloak I still wore and draped it over his shoulders as I stepped up behind him. “I am sorry I couldn’t keep it in better shape. I’m afraid it’s worse than your old one now.”
“A good thing I’ll no longer need it.” Adrian turned to me. His voice washed over me, so low and… right. He took my hand and touched a scar running along the back of it. “Oathspeaker. Who would have guessed?”
I hardly heard the words as I drank in the undulating tone, vibrating with a depth I’d not imagined eve
“I was the Oathkeeper,” Adrian explained. “I expected to speak it as well, but…”
“But I spoke it,” I said. His words finally focused into clarity. “Part of it, at least. Tauscher got it wrong.”
“We all got it wrong. All of us except the Prince.”
“And now?” I looked up.
He shrugged. “I could return to the fortress.”
I stared at him.
“Then again, it was merely lent to me by Tauscher.” He studied me. “I’ve no great love for the place. I have heard of a village that was recently burned. I was considering offering my help to rebuild it. Help your brother. Perhaps even build my own home.”
His eyes twinkled. I caught my breath.
“I don’t want to do it alone, though. I’d need help. A… wife.” He raised an eyebrow. “You objected to being held captive, but you are free now.”
My pulse quickened, but I kept my face expressionless. “I’m not hearing the question.”
Adrian’s brow furrowed, then cleared as his eyes twinkled. “An unforgivable mistake, but easily rectified.” He took my hand, his gaze holding mine. “Beauty… Elissa. Will you marry me?”
Behind me, I heard the quick steps of my sisters.
A smile crept across my face, growing broader before it turned into a laugh. “Yes. Yes, it would be my honor.”
“Honor indeed.” Adrian snorted. “It is my honor.” He reached out, tracing the scars coursing down my face. “It is my honor, my Beauty.”
I bowed my head, my lips curving upward. The girls broke from the trees and rammed into my waist. Adrian steadied me with his arm, and I closed my eyes as I rested my head on his chest.
There was much to do. Much to rebuild.
But the Prince had come. The Oath was spoken. Tauscher’s days were numbered. The Prince would pay the final price.
A vision of a crimson rose fluttered through my mind, and I exhaled softly. Opening my eyes, I watched Eldric approach. He held out his hands to the girls and I tilted up my head to meet Adrian’s gaze.
A slow smile spread over my face. “Let’s go home.”
Adrian nodded, his arm shifting to my shoulders. “Yes. Let us all go home.”
I have a problem. You see… I want a dragon. Now there is a rumor that Amazon is raising a select number of these majestic beasts, but they don’t just let anyone buy them. Instead, they award golden doubloons to authors for every ten book reviews the author receives. So, if you enjoyed this book (or even if you didn’t) I’d be indebted if you lend me your aid by leaving an honest review. With your help, I can slowly save enough gold to… well, who knows? Maybe I’ll be a dragon rider after all!
Hope Ann
Behind every beast, there is a curse.
Behind every curse, there is a promise.
Behind every promise, there is a sacrifice.
Two hundred years before Beauty was born, blood and tears wove a legend of hope and sorrow. A timeless tale of a forbidden rose and the smooth voice of a masked stranger. A story of rebellion and despair and love. A story of a promise given and of a hope received.
The story of the Oathkeeper.
A Rose of the Oath prequel!
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Beyond the Novella
What is love? A mere emotion that comes and goes as it wishes? Nothing could be further from the truth. Emotion does mingle with love, but love is so much more than an emotion. Love isn’t warm, fuzzy feelings or a deep-seated affection. These might be signs of love but love is, ultimately, a choice. It is a decision one makes and does not depend on the recipient for completion.
God loved us while we were sinners. While we were still His enemies, Christ died for us. True love does not need to be loved back. True love gives, without asking for anything in return. It pours itself out, even unto death, simply because it has made the choice to love. Love is not logical, or reasonable with gains or losses. It simply is.
True love such as this, a love that sacrifices all simply because it chooses to, is found and based in God. He loved us without reason. He died for us even when there was nothing we could give. We can rest secure in His love, knowing it was not for any act of our own that He saved us. It was because of His love that He paid the price on the cross, and it was because of His mercy that we are now saved. There is nothing we can do to shake that love. It is freely offered to all who will accept.
It is because of this love that we can love others, truly and fully like we ought. Because we are loved, and because we love Christ and look to Him for our example, we ought to show this love to others around us. We choose to love, be it family members, neighbors, friends, or enemies. Our love for others should not be dependent on what they can and will do for us. Rather we chose to love, and we sacrifice our own desires and pleasures because that is what Christ did for us. Romantic love, love for family, love for friends… these all ought to be ranged under a true love that gives of one’s self, no matter what. We love God because He first loved us, rest on Him for strength, and love others because His love is in us.
Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.
John 15:13
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:19
Mentioned references: Romans 5:8; Titus 3:5; Philippians 4:7
About Hope Ann
Hope Ann is a speculative fiction writer who lives on a small farm in northern Indiana. She has self-published three Legend of Light novellas and writes regular articles for Kingdom Pen as the Writing Team Captain. Reading since the age of five, and introducing herself to writing at age eight, she never had a question that the author’s life was the life for her. Her goal is to write thrilling Christian fantasy and futuristic fiction — stories she longed for while growing up. After graduating from homeschool, Hope now teaches writing to several of her eight younger siblings. She loves climbing trees, archery, photography, Lord of the Rings, chocolate, and collecting shiny things she claims are useful for story inspiration.
You can visit Hope’s blog at authorhopeann.com, or follow her on Facebook, Pinterest, Instagram, or Twitter.
More Books by Hope Ann
A glittering sword. An ancient oath. A living melody. Can Evrard rescue his sister before it is too late? This is a retelling of Rapunzel that you won't want to miss.
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Defeat was bad enough.
Refusal by the Prince to deal with those who rebelled was worse.
Haydn detests the pardon that has been declared. A pardon that refuses to punish the rebels threatening his village. Threatening his sister.
With enemies closing in on all sides, a pardon that refuses punishment, and nightmares of murder and fire haunting his every thought, will Haydn recognize the truth or will his fear condemn everything he loves to destruction?
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Upcoming Books
Coming autumn 2017!
Finally a copy you can hold! A printed collection of the first three Legends of Light:
Rose of the Oath
Song of the Sword
Shadows of the Hersweald
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Acknowledgments
As a writer, I am so grateful for beta readers and other writers who have helped me both in my writing journey and in each individual book.
Special thanks to Kate Flournoy, a good friend whose critique, encouragement, and friendship have aided and strengthened me in more ways than one.
I’d also like to thank my wonderful beta readers, who helped me refine and polish Rose of the Oath: Kate Flournoy, Katherine and Sarah H., Audrey Caylin, Rebecca Morgan, Cela Day, Sara Willoughby, Esther, Erudessa Aranduriel, Jessi, Lena,
Many thanks to my editor, Arielle Bailey, for correcting the grammatical mistakes I make.
Some of you might have also noticed familiar wording in the King’s Oath. Yes, I took inspiration from the first verses of Isaiah 53 and wove them into the prophecy about the Prince’s coming. I love finding portions of prophecy or Psalms to include in my writing.
And, of course, I have to mention my family. My thankfulness to my father who makes time to read my work. My mother and sister, Joy, who encourage me whether they’ve had time to read or not. My brothers, Noah and Luke, whose eagerness to read anything I give them is encouraging. And my other siblings who are just… around. And whose noisiness gives me a good excuse to slip on my headphones and delve into a world of my own.