Blood Bond (The Stones of Terrene Chronicles Book 4), page 19
Someone like her had been used to create the most atrocious magic that enslaved so many, herself included. Had they been raised in Terrene all their lives, with no memories of Earth? Or were they like Ben, remembering where they were from, where they belonged?
She’d meant it when she said she’d do it. She’d do it for her Papa. For those in the world that she’d met who had accepted her as she was. But a small part of her soul balked. There were so many who would want her dead, just because she was a Void Born. Those who would shun her, who would chase her out of town, who would willingly leave her to the dragons, just because she was barely different. And now she was going to give her life for them?
Raine kicked the post and felt surprised satisfaction as the soft wood splintered under her wrath. She stared at the jagged shards through tear-prismed eyes. What about her and Ben? This took away their chances together––together anywhere, for that matter. What if they didn’t die, but they got separated? What if he went back to Earth, and she was returned to Terrene … away from him?
Memories of Papa’s stories about raising the barrier floated into mind, and acid burned her throat, choking her. When raising the barrier, time turned Papa back to an infant. Other sages died, some fully disappeared, and one stopped aging completely. What if something similar happened with this? What if it killed one of them, returned another home, trapped the third in the Void? Or it messed with their ages, and one aged decades before their time, and another turned into a child?
She closed her eyes and shook her head sharply. “Focus, Raine. This isn’t going to help you.” She slipped into the sad excuse of a stable for the horses and greeted her mare before pulling a brush from her saddlebags. Coarse horse hair under her hands kept her grounded to reality just enough to not lose herself in the battle of her mind.
What if things went well? What if she went to Earth with Ben? It could be a fresh start.
It didn’t matter that everyone who knew about Simon agreed that she was in the right for killing him. There was a stain of darkness in her soul and a taint in her body that she carried everywhere she went. Would going somewhere new be easier for her? Would she find a friend in Sara?
Or was the other possible fate—being trapped in the Void forever—more preferable? The third option, death, seemed better than that. If she were dead, she’d at least have peace of mind.
Raine tangled her hands in the mane of her horse, bowing her head against the strong neck. “How do I save myself?” she whispered.
Ben had said it would be baby steps. Maybe her first step would be to save innocent lives by facing this unknown ending bravely.
The click of the door jolted her, and she swiped the moisture from her eyes.
“Raine?”
She relaxed at the sound of Ben’s voice, and swallowed hard before calling out, “Over here.” She kept brushing down her mare and it rubbed its velvet nose against her cheek. She smiled slightly and ducked away to avoid horse kisses.
“This is one sad excuse for a fence.”
Raine turned to see Ben examine where she’d kicked earlier. A broken laugh escaped her, and he looked up sharply, concern overshadowing his wry amusement.
He passed the fence and came to her side, closer to her than he’d been the last few weeks. With the exception of last night.
He hesitated, awkwardly fidgeting then shoving his hands into his pockets. “Your thoughts?”
She pressed her lips together, desperately containing her desired outburst at the lack of fairness in her life. “Last night held hope. The morning holds despair.”
Ben nodded silently. He patted her horse, face pinched in thought. “As a––”
“Hey, you two.” Geist called out from the house. The sound of crunching snow grew louder as he came into view. “The Phoenix is safe and nearly here. We’ll head out to meet them and let them know of the—” he faltered and pain flashed through his eyes. “We’ll let them know what we’ve learned.”
“Right. Um.” Ben used his thumb to point at the horses. “I suppose we need to get them ready, then?”
“Exactly.” Geist scuffed his boot against the snow, leaving a muddy streak across the glaring white. “I’ll go pack our things inside, give you two a moment.” He gave Raine a heartfelt look of sorrow with anger burning beneath before retreating into the house.
Raine’s entire body felt too heavy to start tacking up the horses. “Everything changes after this.”
“But not yet.” Ben came to her side and hesitantly held open his arms. “Do you––”
She lunged into his embrace, all but clinging to him. His arms came around her, solid, secure. The only safe haven she knew of in the uncertainties of their situation, and even that security wasn’t promised for long. Emotions in her heart threatened to overflow as she tried to burrow into his embrace. She tucked her head into the nook between his shoulder and head and inhaled deeply, memorizing the sensation of their synchronized breaths, the scent of the crisp winter day and him, the sound of his heart beating in her ear. “Thank you.”
He rubbed circles against her back as he cradled her close. “I should be saying that to you, you know.”
“Whatever for?” She tilted her head back to look at him, conscious of just how close they were, and yet uncaring. If she was to be stuck in a void forever, she’d want memories like this to get by.
Ben searched her eyes for a moment. “For trusting me all this time. For this.” His voice grew hoarse. “For letting me lov—for letting us have this time, here, together, now.”
She caught his hasty change of words and debated on chasing that, but he pressed his lips to her forehead in a simple, chaste kiss that sent her heart fluttering. He dropped his arms slowly and squeezed her hands, his expression somewhere between bashful and roguish. “We should saddle up the horses before Geist has anything else to add to his running commentary about us.”
She could get lost in the ocean of his eyes if he kept looking at her like that. She turned away, floundering to find words. “Right. Let’s get going.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Christopher
Christopher breathed in the chill air, relishing the bite of cold in his lungs. Others had commented with disdain on the bitter winter conditions, but he welcomed the blustery weather. This was the season he’d loved as a child, and now that Brandon had freed his mind, the memories of Christopher and his siblings playing as children in the snow shimmered freely in his imagination.
Andrea’s shrill shriek when snow hit her neck, Mama’s mulled cider to warm their hands and bellies, Pappy’s stories shared around the stove in the kitchen. Frennick’s massive snow castles—oh, how he missed his brother—and Joyner’s legendary snowball battles.
It had been a simple life, but overflowing with laughter and love, and Christopher clung to that. If only he could forget the flip side of those winter memories. Mama’s scream as she reached out for him. Pappy’s blood spilling and mingling with Frennick’s in the mud-churned snow. Joyner’s glassy eyes watching them go. Andrea’s quiet sobs as she and Christopher clung to each other in the back of the wagon their new Elph overlords had thrown them into.
Christopher’s stomach churned, and he swallowed bile, shaking himself free of the memory. He gripped the reins of his horse as he followed Geist down the trail, Zak and the others behind him. A low fog hung over the mountains and the evergreen trees, giving them some cover from any unfriendly eyes. Tension knotted the muscles in his back, and he tried to stretch in the saddle. What chance did they have, really?
How would they manage to get into Magus Heights without being caught, let alone get to the daises? And what if one of them didn’t make it? It didn’t work without three, and the ones who made it to the daises would be … what? Dead? Trapped? Crossed over the Void?
But if they did all make it, somehow, and they managed to break the bond, and free Andrea …
Any life freed would make it worth the sacrifice.
He didn’t want to burst the hope that Jade was unharmed. She was likely bonded by now, and who knew what Victor would have ordered her to do, or to think, or forget?
But if they could kill Victor, Jade stood a chance. Or if she’d been bonded, and they broke the bond. She seemed to have a solid family and group of friends to help her regain her balance after whatever Victor was undoubtedly putting her through. As for Victor, Christopher would do all he could to get his own revenge for the Elph’s callous treatment of him and his team.
Even if he had to stand in a line with others who wanted a piece of the Enforcer for revenge, he’d do it.
Pamela.
The idea of life without her was bleak, as empty and lifeless as the snow-covered mountains they’d crossed through. If only he’d been able to somehow break the bond before he’d run into her. Been able to save her, pull her out of there, away from Sephirn’s grasp.
A blast of frigid wind slapped into Christopher’s face, and he inhaled sharply, letting the arctic air stab at his lungs like a thousand tiny knives. They had to break the bond somehow. Before anyone else died.
Geist’s voice cut through the quiet, “Phoenix, ho!”
Christopher’s head jerked up, and he scanned the tree line, his breath catching at the sight of the gleaming airship nestled in a barren clearing. He’d been on it for a limited time, and yet it already filled him with the foreign sensation of homesickness and relief. It represented safety. Being in a group that wouldn’t order him around just because they could. There they would be able to organize themselves and develop their plan while in a more defensible position.
Strange, how quickly he’d adapted to being on this side of the war. And yet, it fit. Despite his background, they trusted him. And not because he’d been ordered to be trustworthy or anything. All because he’d been freed and chosen to side with them.
They drew up to the Phoenix, and in a flurry of energy, jobs were called out, tasks assigned, just like that.
Geist sat on a crate next to Nae, the Phoenix communications officer. They worked together, him with the communications glow stone, her with a wired device, fully engaged in sending an update of all they’d learned of breaking the bond to Lord Weston in Lucrum.
Some of the crew worked to get the horses secured in the hold, and Finn and Christopher lingered by the open door, looking out over the snowy valley the airship had landed in. Finn stayed silent, lost in his own thoughts, while Christopher tried to sort through his own. He honestly hadn’t expected to see Tastow again, nor had he expected to leave it under such bitter circumstances.
He’d wanted to free Pammy. Not watch her die in front of him.
“Hey, Finn.” Geist edged his way into view, relief lightening his dark eyes. He’d shed his jacket already, sleeves rolled up to his elbows, showcasing his dragon-scale inked forearms. “We heard back from the Prince. He says they have things covered down there right now; we should focus on Jade. He doesn’t like the sound of a suicide mission and thinks we should save our manpower for now.”
Finn blinked slowly, the import of Geist’s relayed message obviously taking a moment to sink in. He pressed his palms to his forehead and nodded slowly. “Sounds good.”
Christopher exhaled quietly, letting some of the tension in his shoulders drain away. He wasn’t afraid to die. Especially now that he was alone. But not having to face such unknown chances to break the bond was fine by him.
Horses taken care of, two crewmen winched shut the large back door, leaving the crew gathered around in the large capstan drop zone, their voices melding together as they greeted one another and quickly exchanged stories of what happened back in Tastow.
Christopher tuned out the quick, concise explanation Finn was giving for what they’d learned, and where they should consider going in the search for Jade.
After the chill of the outside, it felt positively sweltering as the crew filled the space. He peeled off his coat and scrunched papers with dried blood-stained edges fluttered to the wooden floor. Right. The papers Fulton had dropped after he’d ordered Pamela––Christopher firmly pushed that memory aside in favor of examining what the commander had been holding. His hands trembled as the sick irony hit him double-fold.
“Captain!” Christopher exclaimed, still reading the top page. He flipped it over to look at the back. “Captain Stohner!”
The room quieted as Samantha shouldered her way toward Christopher, her tone firm. “What is it?”
He lifted the papers to her. “I know where they’re taking Jade.”
It was as if the entire room took a breath at once, leaving it completely silent. Her eyes didn’t leave his even as she held the manifest in her hands. “How do you know?”
He gestured. “Those papers. Manifests going to Magus Heights. Avery’s stronghold. Victor is taking Jade to his uncle, along with supplies for the war.”
Now Samantha examined the documents herself, hope shining a new light in her eyes. She turned to Finn. “The same place you mentioned as having the daises. I assume we have a heading for this location?”
“Yes, ma’am.” Christopher swallowed hard. Going there would be equivalent to bedding down in a dragon’s lair. The danger was all too real for him and Raine, since they were already bonded. But it’s where their princess was headed, and, if needed, where they had a chance of breaking the bond.
This was what they’d be doing, whether Christopher liked the idea of that danger or not. The end goal was worth the risk.
Worth the chance of no more loss.
To Magus Heights then.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Weston
Weston gripped the railing with white knuckles, staring in horrified awe at the scope of destruction before him. Gone were the proud outermost east walls that protected High Doldra. Cobblestone lay crumbled beneath a barrage of stone missiles. Smoke wafted heavily through the air, tickling his sinuses, his throat. He followed the most distinct dark haze to a building with no roof, black edges of charred wood the only testament of what had once been a home. The remnants of a singed laundry line flapped in the winter wind nearby.
Bile coated Weston’s tongue. This destruction wasn’t that of battle. High Doldra had been targeted. Snow covered some of the rubble, but not enough to even come close to hiding the extent of the damage.
“Why?” He breathed. “Why would …”
“A message.”
Weston jumped and shied away from Brandon. When had he arrived? And why hadn’t Niles warned him? Weston shot Niles a quick glance to convey his annoyance, but Niles’s attention was down on the city below, and Weston’s reprimand died on his tongue as he looked back at the Doldran king.
When they’d received word from the Phoenix, they’d been in agreement that things here were under reasonable control and that the crew should continue to search for Jade. But that was before either of them had seen this carnage.
Brandon’s face was red, though from the cold or from anger, Weston couldn’t tell. Brandon pointed, his posture comfortable with their height and the wind buffeting against them. “Notice that they hit the homes hardest?” Fury heated Brandon’s words. “They wanted to maximize the casualties.”
Weston studied the ground, his heart sinking. What would be left for them to even help save? If the Phoenix crew rescued Jade, what would she come home to? Stubborn pride lit like a torch under his doubt, and he pounded one fist against the safety rail. “We will reclaim it. And we’ll do all we can to help your people.”
Brandon didn’t reply, his gaze narrowed to the west of the city. “What do you see over there?”
Weston followed Brandon’s finger to the horizon, and his blood froze for an eternally long heartbeat. Hundreds, no thousands, of people camped in hastily erected shelters on the edge of the city. Their dark green tents like a vine of creeping ivy twisting its poisonous tendrils through the streets. It led through the capital, to the point where they were passing over the Elphen armies. “There’s so many.”
Now that he knew where to look, he could just make out people darting about in the streets further back, and closer to the sea of the Elphen army, people fighting. A dragon’s body lay in the road, half collapsed on a building. Weston couldn’t swallow the lump in his throat. How many had died already?
“Take us directly to the palace,” Brandon shouted at the captain of the airship. It banked, and Weston clutched at the rail, his stomach lurching with every dip and bump in the air. He peered through the hazy sky, trying to discern if the middle wall of Doldra still stood.
Would General Titus send in the parajumpers right away? Probably. Weston debated trying to walk across the deck to see if Titus was watching from his airship behind them and what he’d do in response to the army, but a cross blast of wind threatened to knock Weston away from the safety rail, and he clutched it, gulping. He would trust the general to do his job, and he’d ponder all the other questions later. When he was safe on land.
Someone touched his elbow, and Weston glanced over his shoulder, not risking letting go enough to turn. Safety line or no, he wasn’t going to peel his hands off that rail until he had to.
Andre stood there, feet a bit more than hip distance apart, wind throwing his hair every which way. He gave Weston a tight smile before signing. “Your face is white. Sit.”
Weston nodded, taking one final look over the rail before trailing after his sure-footed friend into the relative privacy of the cramped cabin room that Weston shared with Andre and Niles. Niles stayed behind, silently overlooking the destruction with Brandon.
Weston shut the door behind Andre, then leaned against it, the strength in his legs suddenly failing him. “Did you see how many were out there? How are we going to fight that many? How––”
He cut himself off and closed his eyes, willing away his rambling fears. He was a leader, and he’d known before leaving Lucrum that they would confront death wherever they were. At least here, they could make it count for something.
