Princess Of The Skulls - Chapter 42: Chapter 42
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In the aftermath of the dragon's collapse, the cathedral felt like a tomb. The few surviving soldiers of Lord Cassius's force had either fled or cowered behind overturned pews, too traumatized to continue fighting. My ghostly knights had managed to maintain their forms, but they looked as shaken as spectral warriors could be.
I was barely standing, leaning heavily on Kael's supporting arm while Aldric checked me for injuries I couldn't feel through the magical exhaustion. The soul-bond between us was strained to its limits, both of us running on fumes and desperation.
"That was incredibly stupid," Kael said quietly, but there was admiration in his voice along with the rebuke. "And incredibly brave."
"Stupidity and bravery often look the same," I managed to reply, my voice hoarse from screaming during the binding ritual.
Through the ruined cathedral doors, I could see the flicker of more torches approaching. Lord Cassius' main force would be here soon, drawn by the magical disturbance and the reports of fleeing soldiers.
We'd won this battle, but the war was far from over.
"We need to leave," Aldric said, his diplomatic training warring with concern for my condition. "Whatever advantage we gained here, it won't last long."
But as we prepared to flee, a slow clap echoed through the cathedral. From the shadows near the altar stepped a figure I recognized but had hoped never to see again—Master Dorian, my former combat instructor, the man who'd trained me to be the weapon I'd become.
"Magnificent," he said, his scarred face wearing an expression of paternal pride that made my skin crawl.
"Absolutely magnificent. I knew you had potential, girl, but this exceeds even my wildest expectations."
The way he looked at the dragon's remains, at the destruction we'd wrought, sent ice through my veins.
This wasn't the reaction of a loyal teacher impressed by his student's growth. This was something else entirely.
"Master Dorian?" I said carefully, noting how both Kael and Aldric tensed at my tone. "What are you doing here?"
"What I've always been doing, child. Watching. Waiting. Ensuring you develop into exactly what you were meant to become." His smile was cold and calculated. "Do you really think your father arranged your training by accident? That your combat skills, your necromantic abilities, even your rebellious spirit developed naturally?"
The implications hit me like a physical blow. "You've been manipulating me. All of it—the training, the challenges, pushing me to develop my powers ."
"Every step of the way," he confirmed with obvious satisfaction. "Oh, the raw talent was always there. Your bloodline ensured that. But talent alone wasn't enough. You needed to be forged in conflict, shaped by betrayal, hardened by loss. You needed to become someone capable of commanding dragons."
Through our bond, I felt Aldric's growing horror mixing with my rage. Kael's hand moved to his daggers, but Dorian simply chuckled.
"Peace, assassin. I'm not here to fight. I'm here to offer our princess a choice." He gestured to the dragon's bones. "You've proven yourself capable of wielding power that most sorcerers could never dream of. But this is only the beginning. There are greater forces at work, older conspiracies that your father and Lord Cassius never suspected."
"What conspiracies?" I demanded, though part of me dreaded the answer.
"The kind that span centuries, girl. The kind that have been manipulating the bloodlines of both kingdoms since their founding. Did you think it was a coincidence that you and Prince Aldric possess such complementary abilities? That your union would create unprecedented magical potential?"
My blood ran cold. "The marriage treaty. It wasn't about uniting kingdoms."
"Politics are for small minds," Dorian confirmed. "This has always been about breeding the perfect magical weapon. You, my dear child, are the culmination of a thousand years of careful genetic manipulation. And now that you've awakened to your true potential ."
He let the sentence hang, but I could see the hunger in his eyes. The same look I'd seen on my grandfather's face when he spoke of ultimate power.
"You want to use me," I said flatly.
"I want to complete your education. There are techniques I could teach you, powers I could unlock, that would make tonight's display seem like a child's parlor trick. Together, we could reshape the world itself."
The sound of approaching armies was getting louder. Whatever decision I made, it had to be now.
"And if I refuse?"
Dorian's expression hardened. "Then you'll face Lord Cassius's revenge with only your current abilities.
And I promise you, child—impressive as they are, they won't be enough for what's coming."
I was barely standing, leaning heavily on Kael's supporting arm while Aldric checked me for injuries I couldn't feel through the magical exhaustion. The soul-bond between us was strained to its limits, both of us running on fumes and desperation.
"That was incredibly stupid," Kael said quietly, but there was admiration in his voice along with the rebuke. "And incredibly brave."
"Stupidity and bravery often look the same," I managed to reply, my voice hoarse from screaming during the binding ritual.
Through the ruined cathedral doors, I could see the flicker of more torches approaching. Lord Cassius' main force would be here soon, drawn by the magical disturbance and the reports of fleeing soldiers.
We'd won this battle, but the war was far from over.
"We need to leave," Aldric said, his diplomatic training warring with concern for my condition. "Whatever advantage we gained here, it won't last long."
But as we prepared to flee, a slow clap echoed through the cathedral. From the shadows near the altar stepped a figure I recognized but had hoped never to see again—Master Dorian, my former combat instructor, the man who'd trained me to be the weapon I'd become.
"Magnificent," he said, his scarred face wearing an expression of paternal pride that made my skin crawl.
"Absolutely magnificent. I knew you had potential, girl, but this exceeds even my wildest expectations."
The way he looked at the dragon's remains, at the destruction we'd wrought, sent ice through my veins.
This wasn't the reaction of a loyal teacher impressed by his student's growth. This was something else entirely.
"Master Dorian?" I said carefully, noting how both Kael and Aldric tensed at my tone. "What are you doing here?"
"What I've always been doing, child. Watching. Waiting. Ensuring you develop into exactly what you were meant to become." His smile was cold and calculated. "Do you really think your father arranged your training by accident? That your combat skills, your necromantic abilities, even your rebellious spirit developed naturally?"
The implications hit me like a physical blow. "You've been manipulating me. All of it—the training, the challenges, pushing me to develop my powers ."
"Every step of the way," he confirmed with obvious satisfaction. "Oh, the raw talent was always there. Your bloodline ensured that. But talent alone wasn't enough. You needed to be forged in conflict, shaped by betrayal, hardened by loss. You needed to become someone capable of commanding dragons."
Through our bond, I felt Aldric's growing horror mixing with my rage. Kael's hand moved to his daggers, but Dorian simply chuckled.
"Peace, assassin. I'm not here to fight. I'm here to offer our princess a choice." He gestured to the dragon's bones. "You've proven yourself capable of wielding power that most sorcerers could never dream of. But this is only the beginning. There are greater forces at work, older conspiracies that your father and Lord Cassius never suspected."
"What conspiracies?" I demanded, though part of me dreaded the answer.
"The kind that span centuries, girl. The kind that have been manipulating the bloodlines of both kingdoms since their founding. Did you think it was a coincidence that you and Prince Aldric possess such complementary abilities? That your union would create unprecedented magical potential?"
My blood ran cold. "The marriage treaty. It wasn't about uniting kingdoms."
"Politics are for small minds," Dorian confirmed. "This has always been about breeding the perfect magical weapon. You, my dear child, are the culmination of a thousand years of careful genetic manipulation. And now that you've awakened to your true potential ."
He let the sentence hang, but I could see the hunger in his eyes. The same look I'd seen on my grandfather's face when he spoke of ultimate power.
"You want to use me," I said flatly.
"I want to complete your education. There are techniques I could teach you, powers I could unlock, that would make tonight's display seem like a child's parlor trick. Together, we could reshape the world itself."
The sound of approaching armies was getting louder. Whatever decision I made, it had to be now.
"And if I refuse?"
Dorian's expression hardened. "Then you'll face Lord Cassius's revenge with only your current abilities.
And I promise you, child—impressive as they are, they won't be enough for what's coming."
End of Princess Of The Skulls Chapter 42. Continue reading Chapter 43 or return to Princess Of The Skulls book page.