After breakfast, Milton agreed to take Ayla to the Great Library. Rhobart retired to their room, needing to send parchments and look over reports he had received from the chief of the Warrior Clan. The Great Library was on the bottom floor, near the entrance. The doors were wide open, and Ayla and Milton walked in. Bookcases that reached the ceiling were placed around the walls, and tables with chairs were placed near them. Magic crystals floated close to the ceiling. The stone floor was covered with rugs. “Why is it called the Great Library?” Ayla asked Milton in a low tone. “Even the Royal Library from Myrthana is bigger.” “This is only the first floor.” He pointed to a staircase that led to a lower level. “There are many more floors beneath this one.” “Why is this called the first floor?” “When the Fire Monastery was first built, the Great Library was only on this floor. With time the Fire Mages started collecting more tomes, and they needed more space. They made the next f
A beautiful Snow Elf sat on the sofa in the Arch-Mage’s study. She wore a delicate pink chiffon dress and had a white fur wrapped around her shoulders. Her silky white hair cascaded down her back. Ice and diamonds floated around her head, forming a crown. On her pointy ears, she had silver cuffs in the form of dragons. Her cold blue eyes were fixed on Ayla, analyzing her. Sarya sat next to her on the sofa, an annoyed expression on her face. Ayla sat on a velvet chair across from the Snow Elf. Rhobart stood next to Ayla, his arms folded across his chest, his black gaze fixed on the beautiful Snow Elf. It was the first time Ayla saw her. From the way the elf woman held her head, the crown on top of her head, her icy stare, Ayla knew she was looking at the Snow Elf Queen. From the moment Ayla entered the study, the Snow Elf Queen looked at her like she was nothing more than a bug she could crush with the sole of her shoe. It didn’t bother Ayla as she was already used to those types of s
“Good,” the queen said before leaving the study. Ayla tried to go after her, but Rhobart stopped her. “Let go of me,” she demanded. “She has to take her words back,” she croaked. It was too late for the words to be taken back. From his throne made of bones and skulls, Death heard everything, and he was already on his way. Ayla tried to fight Rhobart, so she could run after Queen Vannya to ask her, no, to demand her to take her words back, but Rhobart pulled her in for a hug. “Let go of me!” she said while hitting Rhobart’s chest with her fists. “You don’t understand. She has to undo what she did.” “Ayla, it will be alright.” “She cursed you.” Her voice trembled. “I saw you die in my dreams, and I can’t...I won’t allow it!” “Stop!” Rhobart demanded. “Could I have a private moment with my n’alxa?” he asked Sarya and the Arch-Mage. The others retired. “She cursed you, and I don’t know how much longer until it comes to be. We have to stop her from leaving. I will beg her if
Why aren’t you eating?” Rhobart asked Ayla the day after Sarya and Queen Vannya’s visit to the Fire Monastery. They were in their room, having breakfast. Whenever Ayla was really nervous, she could not eat. How could she not be nervous when a Snow Elf was about to arrive to not only teach her how to make a stronger mental shield but also to see if there was a way to restore her magic? Apart from her mother and grandmother, Ayla hadn’t had any other tutors. Except for Rhobart. He was still teaching her how to fight with a dagger, and a few times, she even picked up a training sword. Ayla pushed the plate away. Kerra, who had returned from hunting the previous night, was lying on Ayla’s lap, purring softly. “I’m not hungry,” replied Ayla. Their bond vibrated with his emotions. They were in absolute chaos. “Is something the matter?” A vein ticked in Rhobart’s temple, and he was gripping his goblet so hard his knuckles turned white. “When was the last time you had your monthly cycle
Since remembering the Dark Mage and what he did to her, Ayla had felt ashamed of the way she screamed and cried and begged each time she had been tortured. Queen Vannya had called her weak and pathetic when she looked at Ayla’s memories. The queen was right; she was pitiful. But seeing the Magic Teacher so... calm when studying her memories made her question everything Sarya told her she had to do. What if she failed? What if Beliar won because of her? Could someone else be the Peace-Bringer? Before he left Ayla’s mind, he looked at another memory. At dawn, the heavy gates that prevented the enemy army from entering Erylas finally gave way after hours of being hit with the battering ram and with magic. Ayla was in her room, on her knees, praying to Addanos that her death would be quick, but that of Galian and her father would be so painful and slow they would beg—beg—for mercy, just like she did so many times. It was around midnight when Galian went to Ayla’s room. She knew why he
The clock on the wall chimed nine in the morning. Plates with the leftovers of Ayla and Rhobart’s breakfast were on the table inside their room. A strong blizzard was howling outside. Kerra was sleeping peacefully in front of the fireplace. Ayla lay on the bed watching the red and orange flames dancing in the fireplace, her head on Rhobart’s bare chest. He was leaning back against the pillows, reading to her from a book written in Old Nordmarian while his fingers were combing her unbraided hair. Ayla barely understood what Rhobart was reading, but nonetheless, she loved listening to his voice. A week had passed since the Magic Teacher arrived at the Fire Monastery. Ayla had spent most of the time either with the Snow Elf trying to find a way to restore her magic, with Milton in the Great Library, or with Atlas and the twins training with the dagger. Rhobart sometimes joined her, but he was mostly busy with the preparations for the war and often met with the chief of the Fire Clan
She put her hand between them and ran her palm on top of his trousers. His cock, his very hard cock, throbbed against her palm. He groaned. “Do you have any idea what you do to me when you touch me like this? When your little fingers—” Whatever Rhobart was about to say got interrupted by a knock on the door. Ayla reached out her hand to grab the duvet. She should have let the drapes loose around the bed. “Go away!” Rhobart growled loudly. “We are not here.” “My King, I am sorry for disturbing you, but the Arch-Mage requires the presence of Lady Ayla in his study,” the voice of a man came from behind the door. Rhobart sighed in annoyance. “Tell him we will be there in a moment.” The man left. “I guess playtime is over,” Ayla pouted. Rhobart chuckled and kissed her brow. “We will continue what we started once we get rid of the Arch-Mage.” After they got dressed and made themselves presentable, Rhobart opened the door. “Kerra, come!” said Rhobart before he and Ayla left the
“Did you?” Ayla wanted to know. “Oh yeah,” Rhobart said. “And they beat me.” Ayla laughed, “They did not.” “They did. But don’t tell them that I admitted it. To this day, I insist that I let them defeat me.” Milton chuckled. “I wish I were there to see the mighty Rhobart defeated by the twins.” “I must say, I was very impressed. Not that I told them. My father saw everything and invited them to his tent. My mother took a liking to them, and soon after that, the twins started training with the knights.” When they reached stairs made of wood, Milton looked over his shoulder. “The pool is at the bottom of these stairs, but please be careful while climbing down. Because of the humidity, moss has grown on them, and they can be quite slippery.” The stairs appeared to be on the upper part of a— “Is this a cave?” Ayla asked as they started climbing down. Milton nodded. “It was discovered after the Fire Monastery was built.” “Interesting,” said Ayla. “Back to the twins, when did th