Page 122 of Tides of Shadows

The army entered the castle boroughs, most remained beyond the gate, a looming threat. At the front, a smaller escort rode in with Magnus Dorthal at its head. Their horses were magnificent creatures, all muscle and gleaming coats. Their armor bore the Dorthal crest, polished to mirror-brightness. Green banners snapped in the gentle breeze. Like a beautiful army from old ballads.

Magnus dismounted with his guards. His armor was pristine—lustrous, unmarred, clearly never tested in actual battle. Emeralds glittered obscenely in the sunlight. He was standing in contrast to Aidenar. Who waited alone, unarmed, only his pale hair stirring faintly in the breeze.

“Greetings, Lord Cavareth.”

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Aidenar’s tone was carefully neutral.

“Oh, I think you know.” Magnus smiled. “We’ve come to collect certain... lost items.”

“Lost? I don’t know what you mean,” Aidenar replied

“Let’s not play games,” Magnus replied smoothly. “You know exactly why I’m here. Better for everyone if we settle this now. Peacefully,” Magnus emphasized the last word.

“Anything taken from our land belongs to us.”

“Do not exaggerate.” Magnus lifted his hands in a mock gesture of reason. “Those mountains border our territory as well. If you failed to exploit those sources earlier, that’s hardly our problem. Since we did all the hard work, common courtesy would dictate you return what’s ours.”

“Courtesy? What’s yours?” He descended one step. “You rob my lands and have the audacity to ride here and demand anything?”

Another step down. The air seemed to thicken.

“You will take your men. Ride beyond that gate, and your feet will never touch my soil again.”

“Oh, I thought we were friends.” Magnus’s smile turned cruel while he started pacing around the courtyard. “So many feasts. So much wine. So many women. Together.” His gaze lifted, and found me on the balcony. “Well, well. What do we have here? Wild beast from the islands.”

My fingers gripped the balustrade until my knuckles went white.

“You could have had everything Cavareth. Regency. Velena. But I see you let your emotions get the better of you.” He tilted his head, eyes still on me. “Have you tasted yet what she guards so fiercely?”

I couldn’t hold back. The water in the mountain fountain, in the well, underground. It all called to me. My ears filled with a rushing sound. I forced it down with everything I had. One more word. Just one more word and I would drown everything.

Aiden didn’t react. His power remained steady, unchanging. He stood straight, head slightly tilted. The Lord of the Mountains.

“Silent now?” Magnus laughed. “You always had so much to say. Always so eloquent. Maybe you don’t actually have these powers everyone whispers about. Maybe your mother lied to scrape together enough votes for you. But still, a failure of a son.”

Aidenar smiled, just at the corner of his mouth. I knew.

I felt it building. Felt him gathering it. The storm.

First came the sound, like the world itself splitting open. A roar that threatened to shatter eardrums. Several windows exploded outward.

The wind launched Dorthal and his knights through the open gate like stones from a catapult. The entire battalion beyond was swept aside.

Horses flew like scattered sticks. Men were crushed, pinned, but you couldn’t hear their screams. Only deaf despair.

The wind didn’t stop. Magnus sprawled on the ground before the gate. The gale kept coming, relentless. His men trampled each other, fell, struggled to rise. Magnus drove his sword into the earth to anchor himself.

Aidenar walked toward him. Very, very slowly. Untouched by the wind.

As he approached, Magnus tried to push himself up to his knees. The emeralds on his armor began to glow. The earth around them started to shift. Dorthal was reaching for whatever power he possessed.

Aiden didn’t move a muscle. He simply called more of the element and pressed Magnus flat against the ground.

“Down,” as he would command a dog.

Magnus’s face smashed into the mud. His beautiful armor, pale skin, chestnut hair, all smeared with dirt. Aidenar stood over him.

“You don’t know what I am. You have no understanding of what you’re dealing with. Touch what’s mine again and I’ll take both of your hands.”