Read Online Water's Wrath (Air Awakens Series Book 4) by Elise Kova - Free Book Online Page A

right for his sword.
    “I’ve seen you fight.” She stilled as he held his sword at her throat. “You may be made of wind, but steel will cut you.”
    Vhalla panted, straining against the ropes. She clenched and unclenched her fists over and over, trying to summon magic that wouldn’t come. The shackles seemed to glow brighter, fighting against her magical struggle.
    “We won’t kill you, yet , but we can make you hurt a lot more than you currently do.” He waited until she eased away, panting in the saddle. “Good girl.”
    “Where are we headed?” she demanded.
    The man glanced forward, and Vhalla followed his stare. At the head of the small caravan was a bushy-mustached man. Major Schnurr .
    “You may tell her,” Schnurr called. “It will change little now.”
    “We are going to use you as the tool you were born to be.”
    Vhalla attempted a bold laugh to sell her lie. She’d known what they sought for weeks, more or less. “You all are larger fools than I thought. I can’t manage crystals any better than any other sorcerer.”
    The Knight actually seemed doubtful for a moment.
    “Don’t listen to her.” The man immediately in front of her shook his head. “All Windwalkers are the same; not one was ever found who couldn’t manage the crystals.”
    “I can’t,” Vhalla insisted. “I can’t, and you are all going to face Imperial judgment for this as I am a Lady of the Court. High crimes for no returns!”
    The two men exchanged a look.
    “Ignore the Wind Demon’s lies,” Major Schnurr scolded. “She’d say anything to save her skin, and the Empire hunts her presently for justice, not us. We’d be heroes for turning her in.”
    “But, sir—”
    “If she can’t manage crystals, her skin would’ve already begun to turn to leather and her eyes red with taint from carrying the axe as long as she has.” The major patted his saddlebag and returned his attention forward, talking with another man. There were six Knights in all. Two in the front, the two talking to Vhalla, and two behind, one of whom was nursing his wounded face.
    “Are you mad?” she screamed. The desert was vast and empty. She saw nothing but sand for miles. She didn’t even know how they were making headway. Roads were nowhere to be seen. But if someone was close by, she’d cry loud enough that they would certainly hear. “The Crystal Caverns have only ever spelled disaster!”
    “Our forefathers were close to unlocking their secrets,” the man beside her proclaimed arrogantly.
    “They would have unleashed a new reign with the Sword of Jadar, were it not for the Ci’Dan bitch,” the other snarled.
    Ci’Dan bitch?
    “This is insanity. What do you hope to accomplish?” Vhalla cried to the major. “The last time people went to the caverns they unleashed the taint that started a war!”
    “Do not lump us in with Southern fools.” Major Schnurr had finally decided she was worth his attention. “We have centuries of studying your kind.” He chuckled. “A war is just what we want to start, and the Emperor was so ready to be rid of you he delivered you right into our hands.”
    The ropes dug into Vhalla’s shoulders as she strained against them.
    “Solaris is getting old, losing his edge. Who would have thought he would get so worked up over the son of the Ci’Dan whore finally finding something to squeeze beneath the sheets,” one of the men near her sneered.
    “The time to strike is near,” another Knight agreed.
    Vhalla stared at nothing, trying to process an escape, a solution, something . She’d tried to stop the Knights and only gave them what they wanted. She’d led Jax to his death in the process. The horse swayed and it caused the ropes to dig further into her slumped shoulders. They rode the entire day and into the first part of the night before stopping. Vhalla spent it in silence, keeping company with the shade of her friend.
    As the other men dismounted, Vhalla was left strapped in place. They