Soul Binder (Soul Saga (Book #2))

by Todd, E. L.

  He pulled away from her embrace. “You must obey my every command without hesitation—do you understand me?” He knew the sound of his voice frightened the two women, but he didn’t care. Their unflinching cooperation was necessary. He stared into Penelope’s eyes. “This breakout will be painful for you due to your—disability. I would carry you if I could, but it isn’t possible. You are going to have to bear through the pain.”

  Penelope nodded. “As long as it doesn’t hurt the baby,” she said.

  Aleco looked down at her abdomen. She looked like she could go into labor any moment. “I can’t guarantee that it won’t,” he said honestly. “But you are going to have to risk it, Penelope. Your child deserves the opportunity for a better life.” A tear ran down her cheek, and Aleco patted her on the arm. He looked at the two children fast asleep on the cot. “You need to keep them quiet. I can carry the little ones most of the journey, but if I need to draw my sword, you need to keep them silent and out of my way.”

  Lydia nodded at his words. She stirred the two children from sleep. “What is your name?” she asked.

  Aleco shook his head but didn’t respond.

  The children woke up and looked at him. Fear was etched into their faces and Aleco was worried he had frightened them. He recalled Accacia’s memory in her Soul Catcher, and remembered what the children wanted above all things. “Hello,” he said with a smile in his voice. “I am looking for a friend, someone to play with. Do you two know of anyone?”

  Sadie smiled and opened her arms to him. Aleco swallowed the lump in his throat and cradled the child in his arms. Accacia was right. They were adorable. “Play with me!” she said excitedly.

  Vance was looking at the dagger on Aleco’s belt with admiration. He reached his hand out to grab the small sword from his waist when Aleco grabbed the hilt. Vance quickly withdrew his hand and looked away, ashamed that he had been caught. Aleco handed the dagger to him. “I could use some backup,” he said as he offered it to the boy. Vance eyed the shiny dagger in his palm and his eyes lit up. “It’s yours to keep.”

  Vance took the petite blade from his hand and withdrew it from the scabbard then placed it back into the black case. “Whoa,” he said. “This is so cool!” He looked at Lydia. “Look! I’m an assassin.”

  Aleco smiled at the young boy. He reminded him of himself in his youth. He cleared his throat. “The two of you need to listen to me. We are going on a trip outside of the city, and it is important that you two remain quiet. Can you do that for me?”

  Sadie wrapped her arms around his neck and nodded, silently obeying his command. Vance placed his new toy in his belt and met Aleco’s look. “I can do that.”

  “Thank you,” he said. “Now let’s get going.”

  Aleco helped Penelope to her feet while he held Sadie in the other arm. Lydia grabbed Vance by the hand and approached the entrance to the barrack. All the women in the tent were still asleep, and the street outside the female quarters was deserted.

  They walked down the vacant street. Aleco had one arm wrapped around Penelope’s waist and assisted her forward. Sadie rested her head on his shoulder and remained quiet like he asked. The Nature Priest whispered words under his breath and extinguished the nearby torches along the wall that lined the streets. The wind picked up and blew the flames into oblivion, leaving only the smoke in its wake. Aleco guided them to the section of the wall that wasn’t blocked by a building. It was the same place where he had thrown his rope over the wall, allowing him to climb over it when he entered the city. He leaned Penelope against the wall of the building and distinguished her loud breathing in the dark. If it was too painful for her to walk, he didn’t know how she was going to scale the wall.

  Aleco withdrew his rope from his pack and tossed it over the fortress. He turned to Lydia. “You first, Lydia,” he whispered. “The children will go next and you can catch them on the other side.” Lydia nodded her approval then climbed the rope. Aleco watched her scale the wall quickly, disappearing on the other side. He nodded with approval. He turned around and examined the empty street, making sure no one had spotted them. “Vance, you are next.”

  Vance grabbed the rope and Aleco helped him pull himself upward. He stood directly underneath the boy in case he slipped. He could catch him if he fell. After Vance disappeared over the wall, he turned to Sadie, who was standing at his feet. “Can you copy your brother?” he asked.

  Sadie nodded.

  “Good,” he said. “Do not fear. If you fall, I’ll catch you.” He hoisted her onto the end of the rope. “Lydia is waiting for you on the other side.” Aleco watched her climb up the wall. Her feet slipped a few times, and Aleco prepared for the fall, but it never came. She disappeared over the side. He turned to Penelope, who was leaning against the wall and clutching her abdomen, breathing through the pain of her discomfort. Aleco sighed. He didn’t know how he was going to get her over the fortress. He grabbed her by the hand and steadied her. “This is the part we talked about Penelope,” he whispered into her ear. “You need to climb the wall. I will help you in any way that I can.” She shook her head as she stared at the rope, knowing it wasn’t possible. “I’m not going to downplay this for you, Penelope—it will hurt. But answer this: Do you want to give birth to your child in here as a slave, or outside of these walls so he can be free?”

  Penelope stared at him in the darkness, and Aleco could see the internal battle raging in her eyes. “Okay,” she said as she let go of her abdomen. She reached for the rope and Aleco helped her climb the first few feet. Aleco turned around when he heard the sound of voices. Penelope stopped her climb. She heard it as well.

  “Keep going,” he said. “Don’t stop for any reason. I will be right back.” Aleco withdrew his sword from his scabbard and hid behind the closest building. He heard footsteps approach and recognized two pairs of feet. The two soldiers passed Aleco’s hiding place, and he decapitated one of the men before they even noticed his presence. Aleco snapped the neck of the other guard, and his body fell to the ground. Aleco dragged their bodies behind the building, out of sight from the street. He knew their corpses would be found eventually, but it didn’t matter. It would be too late when they did.

  Aleco walked to the base of the rope. Penelope was almost to the top and he smiled at her progression. He knew she was determined to escape. He could discern her quiet cries at the top of the wall, but he didn’t hush her. He knew how hard it was for her. She sat at the top and clutched her abdomen, breathing through the pain of the trial. Aleco climbed after her and reached the top in seconds. He tossed the rope on the other side and looked at her. “This is the easy part,” he said. He handed the rope to her. She wiped her tears away and grasped the string tightly. “You are almost free, Penelope.”

  She nodded and began her descent. Aleco watched her and saw Lydia and the two children below. Lydia reached up and helped Penelope to the ground. Aleco followed them, sliding down the rope in a flash. When he reached the bottom, he yanked on the rope until it released its hold on the wall. Then, he stored it in his pack. Aleco looked at the others and saw Penelope sitting in the grass, trying to catch her breath. “We have to keep moving,” he said as he held his hand out to her. “I’m sorry, Penelope, but I can’t let you rest.”

  Penelope nodded then grabbed his hand. Aleco hoisted her to her feet. “Bear your weight on me,” he said as he wrapped his arm around her waist. He grabbed Sadie from the ground and carried her in one arm. He looked behind him and saw Lydia grab Vance, holding him in her hands. “We will not stop until we reach the forest.” He looked at Penelope. She was breathing through her mouth with her hand over her stomach. He could see the distress in her face, even in the darkness. “The hardest part is over.”

  They dashed across the plains then entered the nearby forest. When the tall trees and the brush covered their movements, Aleco let them slow their pace. He guided them to the two horses he had hidden in a disguised dwelling and let them rest on the wild grass of the fore
st. He hoped the two horses could carry everyone’s weight. If not, Aleco would run alongside the steeds.

  He opened his waterskin and handed it to Penelope. She took a long draught of water before she handed it back, and Aleco passed it around to everyone else. They just covered a league on foot, and Aleco could distinguish the exhaustion on their faces. After a few moments of rest, he untied the horses from the tree. “We need to keep moving.”

  Penelope shook her head. “No,” she said. “I need to rest. I can’t keep this up.”

  “You won’t have to,” he said as he led the steed to her. “The horse will carry you.” Penelope shook her head again. “I will let you rest when the sun rises. It is far too dangerous to travel the land under the light of day. It would be counter-productive if you were captured again.” Aleco held out his hand. “Come.” The idea of being imprisoned again seemed to encourage Penelope because she grabbed his hand and he pulled her to her feet. Aleco helped her astride the horse and handed her the reigns. He walked to the front of the gelding and stroked the horse’s nose. “She is with child,” he said. “Be gentle.” The horse nodded his head.

  Aleco helped Lydia into the saddle and placed Vance in front of her. He carried Sadie to Penelope’s horse and placed her in front of Artremian’s wife.

  “What about you?” Lydia asked. “How will you keep up with us?”

  “I will run.”

  They stopped when Aleco saw the sun rise over the horizon. He held up his hand to the horses. “Halt!” The horses obeyed his command and stopped immediately. Aleco grabbed both horses by the reigns and led them to a secluded glen that was adjacent to a quiet stream. He removed their bridles and saddles and placed them on the ground.

  Sadie pulled on the leg of his pants and looked up at him. “Won’t they run away?” she asked.

  “No,” he said gently. “They will not abandon us. After the leagues they covered, they deserve a break. Don’t you agree?”

  Sadie nodded her head. “I’m thirsty.”

  Aleco retrieved his waterskin from his pack and handed it to her. He was parched himself, but he couldn’t resist her charms. “Share it with your brother.” Sadie walked away and leaned against a nearby log where Vance was sitting. He was admiring the dagger Aleco had given him, slicing it through the air against invisible enemies. Aleco had to admit Accacia was right. They definitely weren’t brats. The thought of her brought tears to his eyes. He imagined Accacia pregnant and bulging with his child, lying in the grass of Orgoom Forest while the sunlight warmed her skin. He would kiss her bare stomach and feel his child kick within her, sensing the presence of its father. He would teach his son the blade, and Accacia would teach their daughter to read the stars, telling her she would never be lost if she could map the constellations. Watching their children grow as they grew old together and still make love even in their later years. But that would never happen. Not just because she wasn’t here anymore, but she was probably barren. After what Drake did to her, he doubted she could carry a child. The thought broke his heart, and Aleco forced back the tears. He couldn’t do this now.

  He turned towards the campsite and kneeled before Penelope. Lydia was pressing a damp cloth to her forehead, trying to comfort her in any way that she could. Aleco held his hand above her stomach and looked at her. “May I?” Penelope nodded. Aleco closed his eyes, and through powers available to him with his connection to the tree, he felt the child within her womb. The baby was ready for his birth. Aleco knew she would go into labor the following evening. They would be in Orgoom Forest by that time, which Aleco was thankful for. He would have his healers help in the delivery. “Would you like to know the sex of the baby?”

  Penelope and Lydia stared at him. Aleco opened his eyes and met their gaze. “How do you know?” Penelope asked with interest.

  Aleco looked away. He didn’t see the point in hiding his identity. They would find out anyway when they entered his lands. “My name is Father Rhonian, and I am the Chief Nature Priest of Orgoom Forest. I can sense the life within you.”

  The two women stared at him in awe. “How can this be?” Penelope asked. “Why did Art send you?”

  “Because the man was desperate to save his wife—he didn’t have a choice. All the other leaders are compromised, with the exception of Father Hyphalia.” Aleco removed his hand from her stomach. “I would appreciate if you didn’t tell anyone of our encounter and what I have done for you. I think that is a fair request.”

  Lydia nodded. “Of course, Father.” Penelope nodded as well.

  “Please refer to me as Rhonian.”

  Penelope smiled at Lydia. “I know how hard that is for you.”

  Lydia shook her head. She turned towards Aleco. “Thank you for everything, Rhonian. I speak for both of us when I say we are forever in your debt.”

  Aleco shook his head. “You owe me nothing, Lydia. Nor do you, Penelope.”

  Lydia’s eyes widened. “How did you know my name? And why did you save me as well?”

  Aleco looked away. He hated having to choose his words wisely. He couldn’t afford to tell a lie. His powers depended on it. He didn’t know how his uncle lived a life of truthfulness for so long. “I recognize you from Accacia’s memories, the woman who came to your home with payment for Devry. She told me how much she adored your children. When I recognized you, I knew I had to save you and your children—for her.”

  “Is Accacia your wife?”

  “No.” Aleco wished she were.

  “Then how do you know her? Do you know Devry as well?”

  “Accacia was very—close to me. I will not speak further on this subject.” He crossed his arms over his chest and looked away. He was thankful his hood hid his face from view. “Yes, I know Devry well. I used to work with him many years ago. I know he is your brother. You are important to two people I care for—you had to be spared.”

  Lydia nodded. “Thank you,” she said again.

  Aleco nodded. When he looked over at Penelope, she had finally fallen asleep. The exhaustion took over her body, and she couldn’t fight the urge to stay awake any longer. Lydia looked just as tired. Her eyes sagged in the corner like they would close on their own. Aleco looked over to the two children and saw their eyes flutter with fatigue. “Get some sleep, Lydia. I’ll take the first watch.”

  “No, Rhonian, allow me,” she said. “You ran at the same speed of the horses all night. You deserve to sleep first.”

  Aleco shook his head. “I insist,” he said. “Please rest.” He walked over to a nearby tree and sat down, leaning his back against the stump of the base. Aleco rested his head against the bark. Lydia leaned her back against the log and closed her eyes, finding sleep immediately. Aleco saw Sadie yawn from across the clearing. She rose to her feet and walked over to him. Without asking, she crawled into his arms and rested her head on his shoulder. He stroked her hair until she fell into unconsciousness. He kissed her on the forehead and he felt his heart rise into his throat. He remembered doing the same thing to Accacia.

  Aleco looked down at the child in his arms and let the tears fall from his eyes. He cradled her to his chest, his thoughts on Accacia and the child he knew they would never have together—because they would never be together again—ever.

  Aleco led them through the border of Orgoom Forest, pulling the reigns of Penelope’s horse behind him. She was crying in agony, clutching her swollen stomach as he led her into the forest. He would command the horse to sprint, but he feared Penelope would fall from the steed, hitting the ground and killing her child with the collision.

  They finally entered the heart of the forest and Aleco assisted Penelope from the dray horse, escorting her into Asylinth House. Natalia smiled at him when he opened the door, but her happiness vanished when she saw the woman with him. Her water broke on the threshold and flooded the parlor. “Please prepare the upstairs bedroom,” he said. “She is in labor.”

  Aleco carried Penelope up the stairs and laid her on the pillows on the floor
. Lydia commanded the children to remain downstairs before she followed behind them to the bedchamber. She sat by Penelope’s side, holding her hand. “You can do this Penelope.”

  Penelope screamed as the pain that flooded her body. She was having a contraction. Aleco instructed her to control her breathing, inhaling air through the nose and exhaling through her mouth. Penelope followed his instructions and it eased the pain somewhat.

  Aleco grabbed the rim of her pants. “May I deliver your baby?” he asked. Penelope nodded. “Can I remove your clothes?” She nodded again. Aleco’s experiences through Accacia’s Soul Catcher made him sensitive to female emotion. He never wanted to violate a woman in any way. Aleco removed her clothes and placed a blanket over her thighs, protecting her privacy as much as possible. “The baby is coming,” he said to Penelope. “This is the time to push.”

  Penelope screamed as she pushed the baby from her womb, squeezing him from her body. She felt her body expand and tear at the extrusion, and tears streamed down her face in agony. She tightened her hold on Lydia’s hand with every push.

  Lydia ignored the pain coursing through her palm. “Keep going, Penny.”

  Natalia opened the door and two female Naturalists entered the room. Aleco looked up at them. “This woman is bleeding profusely. I need medication to stop the bleeding and ease the pain.” The women nodded and left the room. They returned a few moments later with the needed supplies. When they walked into the bedchamber, Aleco was already holding the baby boy in his hands, supporting his head with one hand and his trunk with the other. Aleco handed the child to Penelope and she smiled at her son. Aleco saw the tears change from one of pain to immense joy. She kissed the child on the brow, despite the fluids that covered his body, and cradled him in her arms. The baby screamed, and Aleco sighed at the irritating noise, relieved that the child was responding in a normal way. Aleco stepped aside and allowed the healers to care for Penelope by applying medication to the open wound, preventing further infection and the loss of vital blood. She was still bleeding, but Penelope didn’t seem to notice. Her eyes were on her son.