Glass of Revenge

~24~

Lyria was feeling smug. So, so smug. And she felt she had good reason to feel smug, to feel pleased with herself, with the wisdom of her very own 'brilliant' war strategies. For they were now crossing the grassy plains and foothills that formed the border between Adarlan and Terrasen and yet they had not met any form of resistance. Lyria was now completely and utterly convinced that they would be able to ride all the way to Orynth, completely and utterly unopposed. She was now expecting Aelin to be defeated and broken in spirit and therefore an easy kill. Thus making it ever easier for her to snatch Rowan out from under her nose.

Deep down, however, Dorian knew that something wasn't right. The Aelin that he knew wouldn't willingly leave her kingdom undefended. This lack of opposition was brooking something rather suspicious in his opinion. But Dorian couldn't talk, not when he was acting against reason. Not when he was currently riding at the head of an army, intent on conquering the kingdom of his dearest friend.

Dorian wished, though, that he could break free of the hold Lyria had over him. He truly did not wish to destroy the life of his friend, nor to wreck the kingdom she so dearly loved. He wanted to know why she was not going to defend Terrasen from the army Lyria and he were riding at the head of. And most of all, he wanted to be free from Lyria. Why couldn't Aelin and the others come to save him from her?

He didn't want to spend the rest of his lifetime enslaved to her, his mind and body hers to command, to be freed only be his death. He didn't want to endure Lyria for a single moment longer. He didn't want to endure this slavery for a single moment longer. Why wasn't Aelin going to save him from this slavery the way he had saved her from the slavery of Endovier? Wasn't anyone ever going to save him? Didn't they care about him after all?

"Remember not to look so gloomy," Lyria said, smiling broadly, "when we enter the city of Orynth, to the cheers of the newly liberated people. When we are recognised as the heroes and liberators of this entire continent. Perhaps one day the liberators and heroes of this entire world. Just imagine how much they'll glorify us then."

"We've still got a while to go before we reach Orynth," Dorian said, all the while giving Lyria a saucy smile that he did not feel. Truth be told, he felt sick to his stomach, but with Lyria around, he had no control of his actions, of his speech. "If my memory serves right, we still have a few weeks' ride before we reach the capital city. And a couple of rivers to cross, as well."

"Bah!" Lyria declared loudly, clearly unconcerned. "Rivers are nothing, and are nothing to cross. I am more than used to rivers. After all, they don't call Doranelle the city of rivers for nothing. If any one will be able to ford and cross those rivers for our use, then it will be me. I am, after all, our resident expert on rivers."

Dorian wished he could frown at that, he didn't believe her claim about being an expert on rivers, nor did he believe that she would be able to find a way to cross those insanely deep and dangerous rivers all by herself. He also remembered with ease the ice and wind magic of Rowan Whitethorn and his cousins. If any one would be able to make those rivers uncrossable for their army, it would be Rowan and Endymion Whitethorn.

As though she could read his mind, Lyria suddenly shot him a sharp look, and Dorian suddenly felt something sharp and thorny jerk around in his insides, as though they were being torn up and shredded. Have you forgotten that since our marriage, I can control all your actions, hear all your thoughts, read your mind as though slipping through the pages of a book? Lyria's voice echoed through his mind. Have you forgotten that I can, therefore, read and hear all of your disloyal thoughts? Do you not wish the honour of serving me and mine long ere now?

Dorian had forgotten. Or maybe he had simply been so miserable that he had not even noticed. If she could read his mind, just how much control did she have over him, and his life? Would death even be enough to save him from her? But for now... Best to appease her, he thought. If he managed to appease her enough, perhaps she would be more inclined to set him free once she had Rowan back in her life.