Read Online An Oath Of The Kings (Book 4) by Valerie Zambito - Free Book Online

not take this threat seriously, I will have to force his hand. The Land of Men must understand that the Dwarves cannot allow the death of our King to go unpunished.”
    With that declaration, Rogan sat back and listened in as his advisors spent another hour discussing logistics for the journey. Arsten would need a few days to ready the army and a fast march should bring them to Nysa within three weeks or less.
    When all matters were finalized, he dismissed the group and reached for his pipe once again.
    “Father?” He turned and smiled at sight of his daughter. “Do you have a moment?”
    “Always. Come on in, darling.” He stood and when she came to stand in front of him, he drew a hand down the side of her head. “To what do I owe this pleasure?”
    Jala swung a nervous glance over her shoulder at Teran Mathis standing in the doorway.
    “Father, Teran and I wanted you to be the first to hear the news.”
    “News?”
    Teran came forward and knelt in front of him. “I have asked the Princess for her hand in marriage, Your Grace, and I ask for your blessing in our union.”
    Teran waited on bended knee. Rogan let him. For long moments. Finally, he crossed his arms at his chest and looked down at the metalshifter. “I don’t have to spell out for you what will happen if you ever mistreat my daughter, do I?”
    Teran shook his head. “No, Your Grace.”
    “You will be a good father to my grandchild?”
    “Yes, Your Grace.”
    Rogan tugged on Teran’s beard. “It’s a little short and scraggly.”
    “I…I am only in my twentieth year, Your Grace. I still have time…”
    Rogan glanced at Jala who wore an amused grin and then prodded the Fist in the shoulder until he stood. He chuckled. “I will be honored to have you join my family, Teran. You may—”
    A sudden, avian screech startled Rogan and he spun toward the window. Black feathers filled his vision as an enormous raven swooped through the open window directly at his head, talons outstretched to attack. Rogan grabbed Jala and dove to the ground, covering her with his body. He grunted in pain as the raven raked his back with its claws.
    “Father, get off me!” Jala yelled, wiggling to get free. “I’m supposed to be protecting you!”
    Rogan came up in a crouch, a sword of fire hissing to life in his fist. In his other, he sent a ball of fire screaming toward the bird and brought it down in a hail of flame. The raven flopped on the floor in the throes of death for several seconds, filling the room with the smell of burning feathers and seared flesh.
    “If that isn’t the strangest thing,” Teran breathed, walking over to the dead bird and nudging it with his sword. “Do you think it was feralshifting at work here?”
    Before Rogan had a chance to answer, more loud squawks sounded as dozens of ravens poured in through the open window.
    His first instinct was to protect Jala who could not shift due to her pregnancy.
    “Jala, you can’t use your magic! Get out!” he hissed, slashing at the air with his fire sword. His arms moved fast, but several birds still managed to find a way in between his strokes to claw and peck at him with sharp talons and beaks.
    “Don’t worry about me!” Jala screamed. “The window! Close the window!”
    Rogan barely heard her over the thunder of flapping wings. There must be a hundred of them! Jala and Teran disappeared beneath the sea of black and Rogan growled as he battled his way toward the window where more of the birds were trying to squeeze their way inside.
    A pair of ravens landed on his head and tore at his hair, digging their feet into his scalp. Rogan swatted them away, but the blood and sweat that dripped into his eyes made it difficult to see. Frantically whirling his weapon around his body, he managed to keep most of the creatures at bay as he finally stumbled to the window and slammed it shut. He threw the latch, but the black bodies continued to thud against the shutters from the outside. He