The Binding

by L. Filloon

  Phoris gasps through clenched teeth, “Poison!”

  The woman in my head is softly talking , and I find myself following her instructions without question. I know she’s here to help, but who she is, I don’t know. I focus on Alorn, listening intently to the voice as I continue to follow her directions closely.

  “Give me your knife, ” I demand of Phoris. He looks at me for a moment and I stare back at him without wavering, “Give me your knife,” I ask again.

  Without further hesitation, he takes his blade from his side and hands it to me handle first.

  In a calm voice I say, “Phoris, call the elements. I need the black root misma that grows here. Have the elements show you the way and bring it to me.”

  “Misma?” ask Phoris . “It’s poisonous.”

  I make a cut at one end of the wound and without turning to him, “I know , Phoris. Please trust me on this. Hurry.”

  I hear Phoris rise and then he’s gone without another sound. Julia com es near and watches for a minute. “Lily, do you know what you’re doing? How do you know about this root?”

  The blood that flows from the wound is black, thick and oily. I press down around the wound trying to push the pois on toward the opening and watch as it slowly seeps out.

  “I don’t know, Julia. I just do. Here,” I ask pulling on the warrior’s arm, “help me get him on his side. I’ll need to try and work the poison out from his back.” Somehow, I know the woman speaking to me doesn’t want Julia to know about her. A slight sense of guilt flows through me , as I’ve never kept anything from Julia before. She grabs hold of Alorn’s hip and together we pull the elf so he’s on his side. Julia grabs Tolan’s coat, rolling it on her lap quickly. She moves to Alorn’s head, lifts it and slips the coat under him.

  I hop to the other side and look at his back. The back area is not as bad as the front, w hich means the cut started deep from the front, and then tapered off as it sliced along the back . I take Phoris’ knife and make another cut near the end of the wound on his back . The black blood is now seeping slowly from both ends.

  While pressing gently along the wound, I say, “Check on Mellis. See if his lips are also discolored , t hen check the knife wound to see that it’s not infected like this.”

  Julia does as I say as she quickly moves to Mellis. I can hear her grunting with effort as she tries to lay Mellis on his back. Phoris appears kneeling beside Alorn, root in his hand. As I take it from him, he holds on to it not releasing it right away .

  “Please,” I say locking eyes with him , “trust me.”

  Phoris lets go of the root. I ask him for somethin g that I can use as a bowl. He reaches into one of the bag and pulls out a wooden bowl. I place it on the snow, and then using his knife, I cut small chunks of the root into it. I take some snow from beside me and add it in the bowl with the chunks. I use the butt of the blade and begin to m a sh the root into a paste , holding my breath against its foul odor . I glance over at Phoris and he takes over from where I left off. He’s gently pressing the wound at both ends trying to get the poisoned blood out. I take the paste and gently move Phoris ’ hands to the side.

  “Breath e deep, Lilianethia,” she commands softly . “Place your hands near each opening, but don’t touch him.” I do as she instructs. She tells me to concentrate on the wound. Word for word, I listen and I follow. I can feel my hands going numb from the cold. I start to feel a drain on my body, but I stay focused on the wound as she continues to instruct me. With bleary eyes, I see the poison no longer slowly seeping, but draining at both ends as if being pulled out by some unseen force. I watch along the cut as the black dots push toward each end as if now trying to escape from Alorn’s body. I see the green tinge to his skin clear up, and finally, I see red blood flow freely from the opening s . Without hesitation, I pick up the bowl and after wiping the ex cess blood with my own hand, I apply the paste to each end of the wound, closing the cuts and stopping the bleeding.

  I sit back on my heels surprised that I’m sweating ; at the same time I feel the cold seep through my bare fingers. My head hurts and it feels as if it’s about to explode from the pressure. I know Phoris and Julia are staring at me, but I close my eyes , shutting them out, trying to hear the voice again. I re ach out with my mind, but there i s no answer, only silence.

  I open my eyes to see Phoris looking at me strangely. He’s saying something to me, but I can’t hear him . I feel Julia beside me holding my hand and s he’s talking to o , I can see her lips moving, but there ’s no sound. I lean into her and the last thing I see is a grey wolf disappearing into the trees .

  *

  Chapter Forty-Six Tharin

  We found the old pine deeper in the forest. When Tolan sent out the calling, we heard the return ing call of the old pine about a mile away. Within minutes we we re standing in front of it, looking up. After a moment of inspection we decide d that it would be a s afe spot to leave Fien until we a re able to send a party back for him. We need to conserve ou r energy for the long trek ahead. As Tolan prepares to accept the old pine ’s offer of shelter for the fallen Sidhe , I turn my back to keep vigil from any attack.

  I’m worried about leaving the others, especially with both Mellis and Alorn down. Phoris is almost fully recovered, but if the Ange should show up, he will be tested. Alorn’s cut looked bad , but wasn’t deep , and he should be able to hold his own in a fight. Mellis, however, will be out of the game for a while. As soon as we reach the northern peak of Crowfoot Glacier , we will be able to find shelter within the rock wall. I’m certain that Lily and Julia will be wrapped up nice and warm, but no matter how much we prepare for the cold, I know it won’t protect us when the temperature drops by night fall. The protection of the Sidhe clothes is also useless against a blizzard. We have to reach shelter quickly.

  I hear the soft padding of footsteps and I slowly shift my stance. I let my sense s roam out before me and find that the footsteps don’t belong to man or Sidhe, but animal. I lift my head as if to breath in air, and I catch the scent of the she-wolf. I don’t sense hunger from her, so her presence is more of curiosity than the need to hunt and kill. I send out my senses beyond her and find her mate, a large black beast further back, silent and waiting. I don’t sense any danger from him either, just patience.

  I slowly lower my head and my eyes seek a patch of shadows not more than twenty feet from us. Her coat is dusky grey, and she blends in easily with the shadows. As if sensing I’m now aware of her presence, she slowly approaches until the front of her chest is visible. She’s magnificent and as if reading my mind, she bows her head to me.

  I reach out to her, but to my surprise, my thoughts are block ed . I can’t get a read on her. I look closely and see the gr e y within her coat and around her eyes. She’s old that’s certain. Either she was or still is the a lpha female of her pack. I sensed that her mate is just as old, definite ly a lpha. He’s suddenly by her side. Tall and proud, broad and fierce, yet, I feel no danger from him. Strange, but they “feel” familiar.

  “Tharin, son of Thilthen, future King of Velesi,” her thoughts come to me swift and gentle. I’m startled that she’s able to initiate the communication between us. I’ve never heard of a beast initiating the communication link ― ever. Their minds are different and to communicate in their language takes a skill I’ve honed over the years working with Cessa, and only a handful have the skill to do so. Not only has the she -wolf initiated contact but she’s also in control.

  I stay quiet, no t liking that she’s able to reach me, while I’m unable to read her. She senses my frustration, which in itself makes me even more frustrated.

  “Calm yourself, child. We mean you and your brother no harm.”

  “What may I do for you , Mother,” I ask respectfully.

  I feel her satisfaction at the term of respect and I sense her mate take a step back, also satisfied. She moves forward saying, “There is much you need to know, but very little time. War is at King Thilthen’s doorstep
, you must convince him to prepare to meet with the other k ings and unite the c lans.”

  “If we’re uniting the c lans, then there will be no war. Each clan will handle its region and hold fast to peace , ” I answer.

  “War will happen between the c lans, young prince , if Thilthen does not meet with the other kings . An old evil has come to Velesi and has planted the seed of fear and doubt within the minds of the other rulers . If he meets with them now and convince s them of the impending danger , then they will unite as one and fight this impending evil.” Although her voice is calm, I hear the underlying desperation.

  “What evil are you referring to? How can I convince my father if I don’t know or understand what you speak of?” I question with trepidation.

  “He will know. Tell him that Eathos has return ed to the land of Sidhe . He will know what I speak of,” she response cryptically.

  “Eathos ? Is he this Falsad who has killed and taken over Lucas?”

  “Falsad is but one of many minions who serves one master ― Eathos. Falsad’s master is old, older than Thilthen. He has been here before an d he nearly succeeded in tearing the Velesi realm apart.”

  “Been here before?” I ask not sure what s he’s trying to tell me.

  “You’ll find your answers in the Book of the Manui in the library of the Willow Clan.” She turns her head sideways as if listening to her mate. I watch him quietly and the sense of familiarity comes back to me.

  “You’re the couple from the gas station , ” I say. It was more of statement than a question.

  “You’re quick,” replies the male wolf. His voice is deep and commanding in my head. His presence makes me want to fall to my knees and bow to him. I fight the urge and remain standing.

  As if he find s humor in knowing my struggle to kneel before him, he says “Relax, child. We ask only this of you ,” he pauses as the she-wolf whines at him, nudging his face with her nose. He nudges her back gently, and she submits to him, standing quietly as if mentally moving aside for him to speak.

  “The Manui statue, give it back to Lilianethia .”

  At the mention of Lily, my shoulder s tense as I quietly ask, “Why?”

  “Because it belongs to her, the gift was given to her.” He doesn’t say any thing more but waits for my answer.

  I think back to the field, when Mellis blew up the vehicles. I remember how Lily asked about the statue, worried that it was in the vehicles when the y exploded. She didn’t give a reason, or even questioned that I had it. She took my word for it and then didn’t bring it up again.

  I nod my head slowly. Satisfied, the black wolf steps back again.

  “One more thing, Prince Tharin,” says the she-wolf, “Falsad’s master is real and lives among your circle at the Oak Tower . We’re unable to discover who h e is. But we do know this, he is not Sidhe. Black magic has been used to disguise him and has allowed him to live among you . He has lived among the Oak Clan for many years now. Beware of those around you.”

  “What do you mean disguised as a Sidhe?”

  They remain silent, confirming my fears. There are a few of us who can sense the true core of a being. Alorn, my father and I have this ability. We would know if there was an imposter living among us.

  “Why not take Lucas’ body? At least then he has a c lan to rule, to form an alliance with others , not to mention his own army? Why let his underlings do it instead ?”

  “Have you not been listening all these years, b oy?” The black wolf steps forward, anger in his tone. “The key is Lilianethia. She is the daughter of Senestra, a line of healers, seers and the direct line to Mother Earth herself. This evil doesn’t want your throne, he wants to destroy Velesi. And, to do so, he needs the p rincess.”

  I feel my own anger rise and I struggle to steady my temper when the she-wolf steps in saying, “The answer to your question is that only those who are first and seco nd to the throne cannot be over power ed by a demon. Lucas was never in line.”

  “No, Lucas was Senestra’s son, and first born. He wa s first in line,” I correct her, confused that she would make such a simple mistake.

  “The first in line is Lily. The second in line is Harlu. He i s Lily’s twin brother.”

  The shock silences me. I know that Harlu and Lily look like twins, but actual twins? In c lans, royal families look alike and often cousins are mistaken for twins, especially first cousins. I think again of Mellis and Alorn.

  “How is this possible?” I ask . “All her life, Lily was raised with Lucas as her brother . How can he not be Senestra’s son?”

  “King Thilthen is the one you should be asking,” answers the black wolf. He turns to his mate and she quietly retreats into the shadows. “Remember, son of Thilthen, the Manui statue. Give it back to her.”

  The communication is broken and the two disappear into the shadows. I send out my senses quickl y trying to track them but they ’re gone. Tolan finishes as I turn in time to see the old pine’s branches lower and gently take Fien’s body. Within seconds, Fien is nowhere in sight, swallowed by the old pine until we send for his body later.

  Tolan turns to me ready to go. He looks at my face and then looks around him sensing something is amiss. “What is it Tharin?” he asks, finally looking in the general direction of my attention .

  Then like a whisper in the wind the she-wolf calls back, “Make haste , Prince, Lilianethia needs you!”

  Ignoring Tolan, I take off heading back to where we left the others. I feel him catch up and run along side me in silence. We weave in and out of the trees, leaving nothing behind us to mark our passing . The forest around me becomes a blur as a sense of urgency knots in the pit of my stomach.

  As we approach, Phoris, Julia and Lily are bent over Alorn under the tree . I look at Mellis and he’s laying flat o n the snow. Alorn is out cold, and both Julia and Phoris ar e speaking urgently to Lily who i s kneeling before Alorn as if in a trance. She falls heavily onto Julia as she stares off into the trees .

  *

  Chapter Forty-Seven ~ Lily ~

  The pressure in my head starts to recede and the dizziness slowly goes away. I feel Julia stroking my hair and talking softly. I take a deep breath and the last of the nausea disappears. I try to sit up when someone grabs me , lifts me by my shoulders shaking and yell ing at me .

  “Oh my God, Tharin! Will you stop manhandling me!” I shove myself out of his grip. I step back looking at him and it’s as if he ha s lost his mind. He s tands before me breathing hard, worry and concern etched into his face.

  That look pisses me off . What right does he have to be worried about me? He has a girlfriend and has no business touching me or even being worrying about me. I’m not Kalis . I can’t take the roller coaster of emotions I get with him anymore. I know I’m over reacting, but I’m exhausted and cold and scared and ready to break down.

  “What is wrong with you?” My words sound harsher than I mean them to be, but I can’t stop myself. “Ever since you met me you’ve been pushing me around, shaking me like a rag doll and bullying me! Don’t touch me again ! I’m no substitute! Just leave me alone!”

  I regret the words as soon as I say them . Too late for an apology as Tharin turns and walks away, his face hard and unreadable. My chest aches so much I feel like dying. What did I just do? I watch him walk over to check on Alorn, speak ing softly to Phoris . After listening to his cousin’s response he says something quietly in return before getting up . He walks over to grab one of the bags and heads for a tree f a rther down from us. Julia comes to me as I see Tolan look after his brother. He turns and stares at me with a look that embarrasses and humbles me to the bone . I have to look away . What have I done? Julia puts an arm around me . She leads me to a tree next to the one that Mellis and Alorn are still lying under. What did I just do?

  Even as Julia leads me away, all I want to do is run after Tharin and tell him that I’m sorry, so sorry. I want him to pull me near and hold me as he did at the football field. I want him
to smile at me and tell me to calm down. That will never happen again, not after what I just said to him. Ugh…why did I say those things to him, why? It’s too much . I sit under the tree, feeling the wetness from the snow seep through my jeans, but I don’t care. I pull my knees in and place my head on folded arms to try block out the scene. Why did I do that? Why? I can’t stop berating myself. I feel Julia next to me shivering as she sits on the cold snow.

  “Are you okay?” she asks, as she puts her arm comfortingly around my shoulder.

  I can’t answer her , so I just shake my head without lifting it.

  “He knows you didn’t mean it , Lil.”

  I look up at her saying, “Really, Jules? Because he walked away like he didn’t know.” I put my head down again.

  “Seriously, Lil, what’s wrong. Was it seeing all that blood? I mean, I’ve seen my share of bloodied faces, broken bones and bad bruising, but I’ve never seen anything like that. And you handle d it like a pro.”

  I lift my head again, “Really? Because after it was over I felt nauseous and my head really hurt. I thought it was going to explode, and just when I was feeling better, h em an over there comes and starts shaking me again.”

  She nudges me gently asking, “What’s wrong? You know you can tell me.”