The Bonded: The Allseer Trilogy Book I (27 page)

“You’re asking a lot from us, Therin,” said a portly man to the far side of the room. He had a thick mustache and eyebrows and his cheeks were as red as tomatoes. He was one of the few standing in the room and his muscular arms were folded over his chest. “My father journeyed here with you to escape from Sanctuary, so we could be free of it once and for all. He wanted us to be safe, to be able to have a family, to love freely…you’re asking us to throw that away.”

Therin watched the crowd gathered in his barn carefully, taking his time as his gaze traveled from face to face. In reality he
was
asking a lot from them. He was asking them to leave obscurity, to use their powers once more, to own up to the mistake of their past and possibly lose their freedom forever. It was a heavy price he asked.

He spoke firm but gentle, trying to rile the emotions in the room in his favor without bringing them to anger. “I know I ask much from you, Zith. I ask much of you all. It is regrettable, but it is necessary. When I started the rebellion that freed us from Sanctuary, I was young and foolish. I’m a man grown old now. The days of thinking only of myself and my wants are far behind me. When we fled, I didn’t think of the children that remained. I didn’t think of the consequences they would suffer as a result of our actions.

My brother, my own flesh and blood, has made these children to suffer. Their entire lives have been spent believing that there was nothing beyond the walls of Sanctuary. They believed that was the only life they’d live. An entire generation has been stripped of freedom and once their purpose is done, they’ve been forced to undergo the unbinding, forced to become mere shells of themselves in order to serve the Bonded after them. How is this any life for these children to live? How can we live a life free without thinking of those we left behind? These children didn’t ask for this. These children didn’t ask to be left behind. They didn’t have a choice. I say it’s about time we gave them one.”

His words carried through the room, rippling over the crowd like a forceful wave. The large man named Zith looked for an ally in the crowd and found himself wanting. He took a seat with a huff, his cheeks still tinged red from anger and what was now suspected to be a bit of embarrassment.

Therin let the words sink in, let it settle into the hearts of the men and woman that surrounded him. Once he was satisfied, he continued on. “I know I ask a lot. I ask you to leave your families, to possibly expose yourselves as bearers of the powers you try so hard to hide. But I ask this of you because I believe you can make a difference. I believe you can change the future for these children. So, I ask now, who will stand with us?”

The first to rise was an elderly woman with leathery skin and blue, sunken eyes. She smiled as she rose, raising a hand for all to see. “Therin, in my youth I joined under your leadership to win our freedom. I am prepared to follow you again, wherever this leads. I pledge myself to this cause.”

The man next to her rose as well, raising his hand high. “And I pledge myself as well.”

There was a chorus of noise as more rose, offering the pledge that would unite them under a single cause. In the end, even Zith commited to their rebellion. Therin smiled, feeling the familiar weight of leadership and responsibility on his shoulders. It was a fearsome burden to bear but one that filled him with a childish excitement all the same. It had taken strength and courage to leave Sanctuary all those years ago, and now he’d go back to reclaim it, to face his brother after all these years and put an end to his madness.

Though many had offered their help in reclaiming Sanctuary, they’d been forced to keep their numbers small. The decree of the Royal Family still carried and the noose was only ever so far from those with powers, waiting and taunting them to come out of hiding. Ultimately, they settled on a small party of eight, Therin and Kirheen included.

Leann stayed behind to care for Garild, though Kirheen could see in her eyes that she hated to do so. She packed their supplies with care, making sure to stock it well with food and water and bid them farewell in the early hours of the morning. Garild was nowhere to be seen. In her mind, Kirheen had thought he would have at least come out of hiding to see her off. It pained her that he didn’t, but she remembered Leann’s words, that time would fix the rift between them. She could only hope she was right.

They gathered their packs and took to the road in pairs, leaving at set intervals as to not draw suspicion. The last thing they needed was to be stopped by a Zekaren sympathizer and turned over to a patrol. Once the road was clear, they split off into the woods, heading towards the cave that even now sent tremors of anxiety through her body. She could only hope Akra would be more excited to see them than she was to see her.

She was absolutely delighted to have so many visitors. The journey back through the cave turned out to be far less perilous with more people and a light to guide the way. They used their powers in turn, guarding each other from the whispers that filled the cave, luring them towards madness. If a stone picture could pout, Akra would have done so at their departure.

They rested out of eyesight of the cave door, settling down with their packs to eat and drink. Back on this side of the mountains, Kirheen found that food was the last thing she wanted. She nibbled at a piece of dried meat all the while pacing back and forth. A man in the group named Erick watched, his green eyes following her back and forth. He was younger than the others and had never lived in Sanctuary. He’d pledged his service all the same claiming he didn’t want to miss out on the action.

“Kirheen, you should rest. We’ve a long day ahead of us,” he said, trying to lure her back to their circle. The rest of the group looked up from their meals, all eyes falling on her. She felt embarrassed until she remembered that for them, this was a return trip they’d never planned on. They were probably just as nervous as she was, they just hid it better. Her frantic pacing was probably jangling their nerves more than anything.

With a sigh she joined them in their circle, taking a seat next to Therin. He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder. An older woman across from her, her brown hair streaked with gray, pushed a piece of cinnamon bread into her hands. Kirheen struggled to remember her name.  Celene?

“It’s Sarah,” the woman said, giving her an amused grin. The rest of the group laughed and Kirheen focused intently on the bread in her hand. “You can guard your mind now. There isn’t a soul willing to cross through those mountains that doesn’t have powers.”

Without willing it to do so, her mind dredged up an image of that poor girl, broken and bloody in the street. And that smile… Kirheen brought up her guard, pushing away the image. It was like wrapping herself in a favorite blanket.

They finished eating and packed up, finally setting out on the road at a pace that was all too slow for Kirheen. They wound their way west for a time, setting a steady pace through the trees that towered over them. Their flight had been nothing but a blur before, an endless flurry of blue and green as they’d fled. It was strange to see it all now with open eyes, retracing that frantic trail through the woods.

After a time, Therin called for the group to halt and turned to Kirheen. “You said that they’ve been unbinding the adults and those without adequate power, correct?”

Kirheen nodded, unsure why he asked. “Around our 21st year in the cycle, we enter the Birthing Age. I don’t know much about it, but when that time comes, those people just disappear. ”

“We’re going to divert from here to the North. I’m curious about something. It isn’t too far out of our way and knowing the answer may make things easier… for all of us.”

“What do you hope to find,” Kirheen asked.

“You’ll see.”

They changed directions and Therin led them through the forest. It was obvious he knew the place like the back of his hand. Kirheen imagined he’d probably learned as much as he could about the forest before leading his fellow Bonded out of it. Dark fell before they reached their destination and they were forced to sleep among the trees. But Kirheen could feel the nervous energy around her and she knew that night that she wasn’t the only one unable to fall asleep.

They rose with the sun, quietly packed up their things and were off again without a word. They came upon a stream after a few miles and were forced to slog through it, the cold water feeling like thousands of tiny needles upon her skin. And then Kirheen saw it, a village up ahead. At first she thought it the small cluster of homes shared by the Bonded, but she realized that there were far more than just the few that they dwelled in. She could see rows and rows of long, narrow buildings with peaked roofs.

“What is this,” Kirheen asked, unable to raise her voice above a whisper.

“This was our original village. This was what Sanctuary used to be. In time, it became used for farming and crafting, hosting all the supplies we needed from year to year while we moved our homes just a little further away. And now…”

“This is where they go. They don’t go to fight the Darkness because the Darkness isn’t real. They come here to work until what? Until they grow old?” She could see movement now, dozens of people of various ages bustling about. She was too far away to see their eyes but she knew if she could she’d see nothing there. Everything that made them who they were would be gone.

“I always knew Nyson was powerful. He had been gifted with the ability to control, to lead, but to use it like this. He must be stretched terribly thin to be controlling all of these people at once. The amount of power required to do something like this… it’s hard to believe he’s capable of it.”

They crept closer, staying out of sight of those working. Kirheen could make out faces now and her heart dropped when she saw someone familiar. Isa, once so cheerful and bright eyed, bumbled around the village, carrying a basket of vegetables in her hands. Her black hair was dull and lackluster, her skin sallow, robes dirty. Her eyes were dead and vacant and she stared off into space, looking at nothing in particular. Even when she tripped and the basket spilled its contents across the ground, she showed no emotion. She simply stooped to pick them up and hurried along as if nothing had happened.

Kirheen felt a surge of anger as she watched. She wanted to charge into that village, wanted to rip them free from the bonds that held them. Therin had warned her of the pain this would cause, the pain of seeing these people and being unable to help them. Even if she had the ability to fix their minds, there was always a chance they’d still be broken. And what then?

“I can’t believe he has done this. This is unthinkable,” said Sarah. She stared across the clearing, her eyes filled with spite. “This is too much. We need to end this, for their sake, before he does this to anyone ever again.”

There was a mumbling wave of agreement from the rest of them. She saw hands grip tighter at weapons, their body language changing as they prepared for the battle to come. Anger swept through them like a noxious cloud. If they hadn’t had a reason to take down Nyson before, they certainly had one now.

When they finally turned away from the village, the pace they set was much quicker. They had purpose now and Kirheen could see it in every angered step. 

Along the way, Therin gathered information from her, piecing together what she told him like a puzzle. “We want to keep casualties to a minimum. If we can take people without hurting them, we will. Nyson has probably forced many under his control. If we can break them of that link, we can keep things from becoming a blood bath. Are there any completely dedicated to Nyson?”

Kirheen thought about each group carefully, trying to sift through what she knew of all of the people she’d grown up around. “There will be some loyal to Nyson, but it’s a relatively small group that I can think of. I’m afraid of what he may have done after we left.”

Therin frowned. “Those that didn’t openly commit to him have probably been unbound and put under his control. It’s easier that way and with how many people he’s already taken, it’s the only way he could keep control without everything falling apart.”

She thought of Tomias and Fenir, Burk, Abby… It was possible their minds were no longer their own. The thought filled her with disgust. She could only hope they had fought back, that they had kept Nyson at bay long enough for help to arrive.

“If we can keep him busy with small skirmishes, keep him focused on controlling the battlefield around him, wouldn’t it be easy to ambush him?”

“It would and it’s what I intend to do. If we can spread ourselves through the village and create chaos, he’ll be forced to split his attention. It’ll make him incredibly vulnerable and we can use that to our advantage.”

Kirheen continued to divulge information to him about the Bonded, sharing their strengths and weaknesses. She spoke at length of the instructors and their loyalties. They discussed strategy and timing, and it almost felt like she was back preparing for the battles. Only this time, it was real and now death was on the line. She tried not to think about that as the Circle of Rest came into view.

The Circle stood as it always had, a ring of wraith wood houses with their symbols emblazoned on the door. She caught sight of her own home and her heart sank. It felt so long ago and now she was back, feeling like a stranger in her own home. After the battle, she’d probably never see it again. She hadn’t expected that thought to make her so sad. Despite her feelings, it was a beautiful place and she knew deep down she’d miss it. 

The wraith wood tree in the center of the circle towered above them, casting web like shadows over their position. All was still.

“I don’t like this,” Kirheen whispered.

Therin nodded gravely. “Neither do I. He must be expecting us.” He turned towards the rest of the group. “We’re going to carry out as we planned. Split off into groups of two and head for the circle you’ve been assigned. If it’s clear, head for the Temple of Trials. It’s the most likely spot we’ll face resistance. And everyone,” he paused, meeting their eyes one by one. “Thank you for this.”

They broke apart into their groups. Therin and Kirheen made their way to the center of the village, moving quickly but cautiously. Therin carried a bow in his hands and he gripped it tightly as he ran. Weapons weren’t a common thing in Sanctuary as far as she knew, but there were many secrets in Sanctuary. It wouldn’t surprise her to face them now. Therin had given her a dagger for the journey and though she didn’t intend to use it, it was a comfort to have it close.

She held it in her hands now, feeling the weight of it. Her muscles were taut, her jaw locked, ears open for any noise that would give away an enemy. They encountered very little as they made their way along the dusty roads.

As they rounded the bend, Kirheen caught sight of a familiar hut and forced them to stop. “This is where Trista lives. The healer,” she explained, catching her breath. There was a body lying at the foot of the steps, and she could see an arrow sticking out of the man’s back. Dozens of broken glass fragments lay near him and there were patches of scorched earth around the hut. They approached cautiously, Therin holding his bow at the ready. When they neared the body, Therin flipped him over with his boot. It was Verin, former instructor of Bell and Tyrin. His eyes were wide with shock, as if he hadn’t been expecting the arrow that had taken him in the back.

Kirheen shuddered and forced herself up the steps, feeling the eyes of the dead man follow her. Her palms were sweaty as she pressed them against the door of the hut. Therin raised his bow and whispered three counts under his breath. At the third, Kirheen flung open the door and ducked. Trista stood on the other side, bow in hand.

Neither let their arrows fly and there was a look of confused shock on Trista’s face. Kirheen quickly rose to her feet, stepping between them. “Don’t shoot, either of you. Please! Trista! Are you alright? Are you yourself?”

The bow quivered in her hands, her green eyes suddenly shiny with tears. The weapon clattered to the floor and she flung herself forward, wrapping her arms around Kirheen tightly. “Is it really you,” Trista cried into her hair. “Please tell me you’re real. Please don’t just be an illusion.”

“This is real, Trista. I’m back,” Kirheen said, hugging the healer tightly. She pulled away, looking her up and down. She had seen a struggle, that much was certain. The right sleeve of her robe had been torn away and her upper arm was bandaged. There was a burn mark on her right cheek and her hair, while braided, was a mess. She looked exhausted and considering the events that had happened, she could see why.

Trista pulled her into the hut and Therin followed them in quickly. She scanned the road and satisfied that they were safe for the moment, she pulled the door shut. As Kirheen turned, she was surprised to see Burk sitting on Trista’s bed, a bandaged leg propped up on a chair. He tried to sit up and winced.

“Burk! Are you okay,” Kirheen asked, setting her dagger down on the table next to her.

He gave her a dismissive wave. “I’m fine. A little beat up but no worse off than the last time I got beat up. I get kind of used to these things being Bonded with Abby. Girl knows how to punch.”

Kirheen smiled. “I can imagine. Where is she?”

Burk shook his head, all humor faded from his expression. “I don’t know. She was right behind me when we were attacked. We split up. I saw her run into the trees and I haven’t seen her since. Damn it, she better be okay. I couldn’t live with myself if…if…”

Kirheen reached out her hand and took his own, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “Burk, she’s a strong girl. She’ll be okay.”

“I think you’ve got some explaining to do,” Trista said. When Kirheen turned, she was leaning against the door, arms crossed. A bow and quiver was propped up against the door next to her, ready and waiting.

We don’t have time for this…

“Trista, I’d love to explain all of this but we’re running out of time. What is the situation like around here?”

Trista frowned. “After you left, things went chaotic real fast. The Council was called together and I don’t suspect the meeting went so well. Herzin was let off the leash and the first people she turned against were those near her. Apparently, with Tomias and Fenir turning against him, everyone was suspect. Most of the instructors have undergone the unbinding and are running around like puppets on a string. They’ve been apprehending anyone they come across and taking them back to Herzin. I think Nyson intends for all of them to go through the unbinding until things settle. I’ve been keeping them away with a few tricks of my own, but they’ve been getting clever.”

Burk snorted. “Verin tried to use me to get Trista out. The man had gone mad. He damn near cut my leg off and then told me to get Trista to help me so she’d come outside. Instead he earned himself an arrow in the chest.”

“And there have been others. Some of the other Bonded have been through the unbinding. They’ve crept close but there is nothing I can do for them. I’ve been driving them away with vials of fire clove. I refuse to hurt any of them. They didn’t ask for this.”

Kirheen was prickly with anger and she surrounding herself with it like needle sharp quills. “This has to stop. Nyson is completely out of control.”

“Who is this,” Trista asked, tilting her head towards Therin.

“This is…uh…”

Therin stepped forward, offering his hand. “My name is Therin. I am... Nyson’s brother.”

Trista’s mouth fell open, her green eyes regarding him with both suspicion and awe. “You…you’re his brother? This is the truth,” she asked, eyes darting to Kirheen for confirmation.

Kirheen nodded. “As I said, there is a lot to explain and not a lot of time to do it. Where are Fenir and Tomias?”

Trista shook her head. “I don’t know. Last I saw they were both pulled into the Temple of Trials. It isn’t where they were unbinding people. I don’t know what’s happening. I’m… scared for them.”

“We’re going to get them back, Trista.”

“I expect no less. I just hope…”

“Trista, I know. I hope so too.”

Trista suddenly lit up. “I can come with you, you know. I can fight too.”

Kirheen shook her head. “And who would look after Burk? If I find anyone, I’ll need someplace safe to send them. You’re as good a bet as any. I need you to stay here and guard them. Keep everyone safe.”

She nodded, her expression grave. “Please bring them back…”

“I’ll do everything I can,” Kirheen said gravely and then she and Therin left, stepping back out into the dusty road. The path was still clear, no resistance in sight. They continued up the road towards the Temple of Union. She could see the shattered wraith wood tree high above them, standing out from the rest of the surroundings.

As they neared, they branched off the path, creeping through the trees until they could scout out the entrance. There were two instructors standing guard in front of the tree. One of them was Velga, previously the instructor of Isa and Ian. It was sickening to see. To twist her into a mindless husk after she’d lost both of her students was unthinkable.

Kirheen couldn’t help but feel guilty as she looked over her. The old woman had gone through a lot and most of that pain had been a direct cause of Kirheen. She wouldn’t be surprised if the woman hated her for what she’d done and part of her believed she deserved it. If it hadn’t been for her, Ian would still be alive and Isa wouldn’t be broken.

There was another instructor standing next to her named Isaac, though she didn’t know him well. As small as Sanctuary was, she didn’t know everyone. She only hoped he hadn’t suffered because of her actions.

There was a crack of a branch to her right and then a wave of shimmering blue power manifested in her sight, crashing towards her through the trees. She forced herself into her mind quickly and blocked what she could, disrupting the amount of power.
Uh oh, too slow!
Despite her effort, the blast hit her hard and she flew back into Therin with enough force to send him to the ground. 

“You alright,” Therin called, untangling herself from her and rising to his feet. He hoisted her up by the back of her robes, keeping her steady while she recovered.

“I’m alright,” Kirheen huffed.

“I fear I’m a little rusty when it comes to this, Kirheen. Be prepared to block on my behalf.”

“Will do!”

The culprit of the attack was Daris and he hovered in her peripheral, his blank eyes watching her. His usual bravado was gone from his mannerisms and it made him seem smaller somehow, less dangerous. There would be no wolfish grin, no glimmering white teeth ready to cut her open. Just power against power.

The noise had caught the attention of the two instructors guarding the building. They raised their heads in unison, scanning the trees for the source. Velga locked her gaze on their location and shot forward.

“This isn’t good,” Kirheen said through clenched teeth. “Not good at all.”

“No. No it isn’t,” Therin agreed, raising his bow. They put themselves back to back and prayed to the Allseer that the next few minutes wouldn’t end in a blood bath.