Page 46 of Burn Her They Said
My chest burns with rage, roiling and screaming to be set free. To burst from my chest and make this tyrant state Hendry’s name for the crowd. To acknowledge his cruelty in displaying his disappointment in Hendry’s magic—something outside of anyone’s control. But I suppress the urge, shoving it down with every other scream I’ve had to swallow over the years.
“The Anomaly was believed to have ended by the time you were born, with solar flares and earthquakes decreasing so significantly we had no reason to believe any sorcerers born later would grow to possess such great power. However, the forces—be they natural or otherwise—imbued you with great potential, and ever since then you have proven your strength with exceptional abilities in battle, as well as your loyalty to the Empire. Rising to the rank of Sergeant at such a young age, then most recently exemplifying your leadership acumen as an Imperial Army General, successfully guiding an elite unit stationed on the Minacian border.”
Emperor Aldritch steps forward, and Varic’s eyes drop to where our ruler raises his hands before him. Two Guards move ahead to present His Majesty with his sword of ceremony, with one holding the case while the other raises the black and gold weapon from its black velvet cushion. The Guard delicately places the flat of the blade over His Majesty’s outstretched palms with practiced grace before stepping back.
“General Varic Euclid, I trust you will bring our Empire glory in vowing to lead the Guards protecting our most precious asset, the Imperial Grand Witch Tasch, in affirmation of your loyalty to the Dragons and the Ampara Deicra Empire until your dying breath,” Emperor Aldritch extolls.
My pulse pounds in my ears as the Emperor lifts his sword above Varic’s bowed head before bringing it down to rest the flat of the steel blade over Varic’s right shoulder.
The page steps forward, his short fingers working to unfurl the scroll, before clearing his throat loudly enough to echo within the stone walls, made all the more dramatic with the eerie silence from thousands of Imperial citizens.
“I, Varic Euclid, vow to serve the Dragons who share this land with us in a show of gratitude for First Emperor Aslo, who so valiantly rescued the precious egg belonging to Elder Dragon Mythsea, stolen by the vile dwarves who settled here without the Dragon’s blessing. I vow to honor the majestic beasts of our great Ampara Deicra Empire by protecting our greatest asset, Imperial Grand Witch Tasch.” Varic repeats the words in an unfamiliar yet practiced monotone, with his eyes flicking to mine the moment my name passes between his lips.
Now fourteen years since my last Guard made their promise, so much time has passed since I last considered the requirements where every sorcerer appointed must convene with Imperial Priest Kado and the Elder Dragons. How each of my Guards was assessed in a sacred test meant to determine their worthiness, requiring approval from every Elder Dragon in order to be allowed to take the Guardian’s Vow.
Warming my heart as the meaning settles within.
Because the Elder Dragons chose him. For me.
“I vow to serve Ampara Deicra in defending the Imperial Grand Witch Tasch’s life until my dying breath.” Varic’s gaze locks on mine as time stills and his mouth silently forms the words ‘and beyond, if the Dragons allow it.’
A small smile forms in the corner of his lips and my lungs constrict. He’s being too bold. Taking too much of a risk for someone vowing to live under the Emperor’s observance.
“I vow to use my magic, my body, and my life to protect Imperial Grand Witch Tasch.” His eyes flick over to mine again, stealing the air from my lungs as he forms my name with such reverence. “I vow to place the health and safety of Imperial Grand Witch Tasch above all, including my own.”
No. This isn’t fair. He can’t do this.
This isn’t what we are to each other.
My heart cracks, spilling forth a sordid mix of emotions, from sorrow to longing, despair to compassion, and frustration tinged with fear, all forming a thick sludge in my stomach.
The Emperor raises the blade, skimming Varic’s stray hairs atop his head before setting the flat side down over his opposite shoulder.
Varic repeats, “I vow to comply with the Emperor’s commands pertaining to Imperial Grand Witch Tasch’s safety.”
Emperor Aldritch raises his sword high in the air as a collective gasp tears through the room when it slips, though he merely adjusts his grip to point the sharpened tip to the floor, standing it upright while piercing the black velvet carpet at his feet.
“Stand,” His Majesty commands before turning to me. “Witch.”
I pull in a breath and carefully stride toward them, coming to a halt one pace from Varic. Before the Emperor. For our Empire. Channeling the Imperial Grand Witch to take over, pulling on her intimidating energy, needing it to steady me, especially since each ritual requires we make contact.
His Majesty turns to the Imperial Guard who is presenting the ceremonial dagger, which matches the design of the ceremonial sword with our sigil adorning the rounded gold hilt. Its weight creates a significant depression in the crushed black velvet cushion.
Varic’s eyes dart from me to the weapon and back, concern lacing his expression, and I can’t help but allow a smile to curl the edge of my lips because Varic has never attended a Guardian Vow ceremony before this.
He has never witnessed the rituals required to create a blood-bond between us.
Chapter Seventeen
Blood
“It is my honor to present you with the dagger of ceremonies,” Emperor Aldritch says, holding out the blade to Varic, who bows before carefully taking the grip of the weapon in his hand. “You will carry this blade with you, always. And it is my hope that you may never have use for it beyond this ceremony. However, with times throughout our history where the strongest sorcerers were spelled to be without their magic, one must train with a blade to be safe.”
Varic’s eyes narrow as my magic reads the level of suspicion pooling in his middle.
Pity overtakes mine, and I twist threads of calm and complacency into slender lines of tender blue and pale green, sending them straight to Varic. His shoulders drop before he sends the same back to me, tangled with a bit of yellow, indicating his curiosity. I nod once his eyes cast over, just enough for him to notice.
His Majesty holds the dagger before him. “The history of Ampara Deicra weaponry?—”
