by Sam Dogra
I had to take a breath to stem my anger.
“Everyone got to have a say in my future, except me. Nobody cared about what I wanted, and I didn’t have anyone to talk to, either. I was so isolated.” I wrapped my arms around myself. “Now, with the Binding on top…” I shook my head. “I can’t even choose what I feel.”
The straw rustled, and Ryan clasped my shoulder. A soothing warmth rushed through me, and suddenly it was a struggle to keep my eyes open.
“I’m sorry,” he murmured. His breath tickled my cheek, and I gripped the hay to stop myself jumping into his arms. “I didn’t know.”
“It’s okay,” I whispered. Goddess, my tiredness had caught up quick. “We both haven’t had much control in our lives. I should be used to it.”
Ryan drew closer. A ripple ran down my spine, and I gulped. Uh oh. The curse was moving in.
“Not anymore,” he said. “I won’t let the Binding hold your heart forever. We’ll find the runes and break the spell. I promise.”
He kissed my cheek. My eyelids drooped, and I lurched sideways…off the hay bale and straight onto the floor. The impact shocked me back to wakefulness, and I groaned. At least I’d had a soft landing.
“Eliza!” Ryan knelt by my side, and helped me sit up. My fatigue rushed back, and a curtain fell across my vision. I could feel myself drifting away, my body turning limp. My eyes widened. His touch—his touch was making me sleepy!
Without thinking, I shrugged off his hand and scrambled away before I’d pass out. Ryan stared, his face a mix of confusion and hurt. I curled my knees to my chest, slightly nauseous. Damn, the curse was up to its tricks again, and it was taking no prisoners.
“What’s wrong?”
“It’s the spell,” I said hurriedly. “It’s acting up again.” Despite my drowsiness, I managed to haul myself upright. Ryan raised a hand to offer support, but I shrank back. Lack of sleep or not, I refused to cave to the magic’s demands. “It’s alright. I can handle it.”
“Are you sure?”
“I said I can handle it!”
The words came out harsher than I meant, and I bit my lip. Ryan watched me, silent, but his expression said it all.
“…sorry.”
I spun on my heel and hurried out of the stables. I didn’t stop walking until I was back in my room, the door safely closed. The snow still lashed outside, though I didn’t pay it much attention. My whole body trembled, and it took a few breaths to get it under control. Adam continued to snore away, ignorant of my pounding heart.
My head slumped against the door. You idiot, Eliza! Why had I taken such a stupid risk? I’d invited the curse to do its worst by being alone with Ryan. It’d been strangely quiet the last couple of days—no doubt because of the protection from the rune in Begara. I should’ve realised it was planning something and turned back the moment I saw him in the stables.
Yet seeing him there, so lost in his thoughts…it was only natural I’d ask what was on his mind. Although I’d not expected such a personal truth to come out. I had no idea his problems at home ran so deep. Bullied by his father, pressured by the household; it seemed it wasn’t just his Binding to Navinka that prompted his escape.
I crawled back to bed, sighing. There was still so much about Ryan I didn’t know. Another reason the feelings in my heart couldn’t be trusted. Nonetheless, it seemed we did share something in common. Neither of us had enjoyed much freedom even before we fell under the spell. Also, I had to admit it had been comforting to exchange stories. Finally, someone who could empathise with what I’d had to put up with...
My eyes closed, and I let out an irked breath. Well, that might have been the case, if these ridiculous compulsions would leave me alone. I couldn’t even have a normal conversation with Ryan anymore. The magic was sinking deeper, making it trickier to maintain control. Worse, it was giving him completely the wrong impression.
I tightened my jaw. The curse was evolving; I couldn’t keep tabs on it as easily as before. I’d hoped it wouldn’t have come to this so soon, but my options were running scarce. I would have to keep my distance from him. The spell might have free reign over my emotions, but I wouldn’t let it play with his.
Even if it did mean forfeiting my sleep.
CHAPTER TWO
‘Though she lost the memory of his face, her heart broke upon the echo of his cries...’
– Tale of the Binding
A yawn escaped me, and I caught a mouthful of snow as we rode deeper into the East Pass. My tongue burned, and I drew my hood over, shivering. I could barely feel Duke’s reins in my hands, and my nose was raw. Adam pressed closer, blocking the worst of the blizzard, though even he couldn’t keep the cold at bay. We’d kept a gruelling pace since morning, but this sudden snowstorm had really slowed us down. The daylight had started to fade as well, making visibility next to nothing. We needed to find a village, and soon.
“Keep going!” Navinka shouted, both she and Sandy blanketed by the haze. “We are almost at Celwall!”
I could only mumble in response. While I was eager to avoid another night in the open, I wasn’t sure how much longer I could go on. My left eye was sore and twitching, my shoulders tight and heavy. Scraping through the day with an hour’s sleep hadn’t particularly helped, either. Damn that stupid curse!
Adam squeezed my waist, and I sat up straighter.
“Don’t doze off on me now,” he teased. “Maybe I should take over, just in case.”
“Why, so you can steer us into the nearest tree?” I quipped.
“Hey, that happened once, and it was foggy,” Adam protested. He jabbed me in the ribs. “Besides, you’re the one with the daydreaming problem. If I don’t keep an eye on you, who knows where we might end up?”
“Ha, ha,” I sneered, though it didn’t dim my smile. He was closer to the truth than he knew. In fact, it was only because of some broken naps and steering clear of Ryan that I’d been able to cling to consciousness at all.
“Celwall is through that tunnel.” Navinka’s voice cut through the gale. “We are fortunate to have made it in time. Stay close and follow me!”
I gritted my teeth. The blizzard hadn’t dampened her bossiness one bit. Fortunate to have made it in time—what a joke! It was her fault we’d been late leaving Bardwall in the first place. Not to mention she’d not stopped complaining from the moment we’d set out. ‘Stop riding so close to Ryan’, ‘Don’t pull Duke’s bridle so hard’, ‘Don’t forget to fill the water skins fully’, ‘You didn’t cook this the whole way through’, ‘You expect me to drink that cold?’.
It was almost enough to give in to the Binding’s jealousy and show her what for.
Pulling my scarf over my face, I followed Ryan and Navinka into a rocky tunnel. Cielo whickered, stumbling into us. He still wasn’t a fan of enclosed spaces. Ryan reined him in, but it didn’t stop his leg skimming mine. A wave of tiredness washed over, and my head lolled. Luckily the contact was brief, and I jerked my head up before my eyes would close.
“Sure you don’t want me to take the reins?” Adam leant his chin on my shoulder.
“I’m sure,” I said, too quickly. “We’re almost there, anyway.”
Adam sighed, and tightened his hold. I rested against his chest, recalling the last time we’d ridden like this. That was two years ago, when he returned from his first year’s training and I told him the Binding was affecting me. Together we’d searched for the perfect hiding place, as our village wasn’t safe enough. We rode so much that eventually the stable-master refused to lend me a horse, and we’d ended up sharing a single mare. It was on that final journey we stumbled across the clearing.
The clearing that had protected me every month, until I’d betrayed its shelter…
Duke grunted, taking bigger steps as the tunnel sloped upwards. The rock wasn’t quite natural, reinforced with girders, while slats buried in the ground provided better traction. The clop of horses’ hooves echoed, dancing off the walls that shimmered with ici
cles. If I weren’t feeling so rough, I might have found it enchanting.
When we emerged, it was still snowing, but it no longer drifted into my face. Celwall was sheltered by the Blackvale woods, much like the Galgiza forest protected my home in Velwall. My bitterness about Navinka quickly vanished. This place would’ve been impossible to find, even without such bleak conditions.
“How’re you doing?” Adam’s breath warmed my ear.
“Fine, for the moment,” I said. A second yawn took hold, so big I couldn’t hide it.
“You’re exhausted.” Adam shuffled back, letting me dismount. “I’ll sort out Duke and Sandy. Navinka will be finding a place to stay, go with her.”
I rolled my eyes.
“Adam, I’m fine. Stop…”
I didn’t get the chance to finish; he’d dropped to the ground and snatched Duke’s reins. As he led the gelding into the square, I sidled towards Navinka, who was deep in conversation with a villager. She was obviously a familiar face. She must have stopped by often during her trips to Begara.
“Eliza?”
I looked up. Ryan came over with Cielo, ignoring the horse’s protests to follow Duke. I managed a smile. We’d not spoken much since the incident in the stables. I hoped it hadn’t dampened his spirits.
“Good thing we made it before nightfall,” I said, glancing to the sky. “I wasn’t sure we’d reach the village through the snow.”
“That makes two of us,” Ryan said. Cielo jerked his head, and Ryan laughed. “Or should I say three. He’s been more temperamental than usual today.”
“Maybe he’s not fond of the snow,” I said.
“Actually, I think he misses you.” He made to grasp my hand, but I shoved my arms beneath my cloak. He sighed. “I know I do.”
I scratched Cielo’s ears, unsure what to say. With tiredness fuddling my brain, I didn’t want the curse to twist my words. Ryan watched me for a moment, before he tugged Cielo’s bridle and headed for the stables.
Adam crouched by the water trough, scrubbing down Duke. I made to walk over and help, when Ryan halted. Our shoulders rubbed, and the curse jumped to attention. My legs swayed, and I caught myself on Cielo’s flank before I’d hit the ground.
“What’s the matter?” Ryan dropped the reins, reaching for me. I shook my head, and backed against the stall door. Goddess, talk about déjà vu.
“Nothing, it’s just the spell.”
Ryan’s brows narrowed.
“It never made you flinch before.” His voice softened. “Has the Binding made you that afraid of me?”
I wrung my hands beneath my cloak.
“I’m not afraid of you,” I said. “I’m afraid of what the curse might do. It’s changing tactics so much, I can’t keep up. Don’t take it personally.”
Ryan sighed. He turned around and busied himself unbuckling Cielo’s saddle. I scowled. Why couldn’t that stubborn idiot see I was only trying to protect myself? Not just from the curse’s punishments, either. I was still wary of its false desire, which remained as strong as ever. For someone who’d experienced the Binding’s effects first hand, he could at least be a little sympathetic.
An irked sigh broke through the stalls.
“Must you always take so long?” Navinka leant against the doorpost. “Enough with your meandering.”
I bit my lip, resisting the temptation to mention it was her fiancé causing the delay. It would only set her off, and Ryan didn’t need any more reason to be upset.
Once his lordship finished, Adam handed me a saddle bag, and we stepped into the snow again. Navinka pounced, wrapping her arm around Ryan. Stabbing pains shot through my stomach, and I pressed the bag into my belly. Ugh, why did the curse bully me so much? Its mood swings could rival Navinka’s.
“Come,” Navinka said. “Ria has prepared suitable accommodation for us.”
The ‘suitable accommodation’ turned out to be a log cabin beside the woods. I was surprised Navinka hadn’t tried harder to get a separate place for herself and Ryan, but perhaps even she couldn’t talk the villagers into loaning further lodging.
She led us into the lounge, where a fire blazed in the hearth. The place was pretty empty, sparing only a single mattress and some wooden chairs. Navinka lost no time in placing her bag on the bed. I snorted to myself. No prizes for guessing who’d be demoted to the sleeping bags tonight.
Yawning, I dumped my bag and flopped into a chair. We’d been riding for hours, and I was as frosted as the icicles in the tunnel. The fire melted through the cold, and my eyes half-closed. Finally, a proper chance to catch up on my sleep…
A hand pinched my shoulder.
“Plenty of time to laze about later,” Navinka said. “You should unpack and prepare the sleeping bags.”
I bit back a hiss. Really, when she wouldn’t even be using them, what gave her the right to boss me around? Before I could say exactly where she could stick those sleeping bags, Adam stormed over.
“Leave her alone!” He threw his pack aside. “Can’t you see how tired she is? I’ll do it.”
Navinka scoffed, and took a seat beside the fire.
“We all rode for as long as she did. I see no reason why she cannot perform her share of the work,” she said. “I made the arrangements to stay, and you and Ryan attended the horses. It is her turn now.”
I grabbed Adam’s arm, cutting off the retort on his lips.
“Adam, it’s fine.” I forced myself to my feet, not missing Navinka’s triumphant smirk. I knew she wouldn’t budge for the rest of the evening, yet if this would spare me a night of her endless moaning, it’d be worth it.
I reached for the nearest pack and began unfastening the clips. Adam settled beside me, doing the same with his own bag.
“She’s too much,” he growled under his breath. “Spoilt good-for-nothing little witch!”
“You’ve really taken to her, haven’t you?” I teased, unfolding a sleeping bag.
“Who does she think she is?” Adam grumbled. “She orders you around like I’m not even here to share the work!” He tossed his empty bag aside. “She needs some lessons in humility.”
“She’s only doing it because of Ryan,” I said, glancing to the fire. Navinka and Ryan sorted through their own things, their shoulders touching. An ache flickered in my chest, and I took a sharp breath to fight it down. “Making a point about my place in all this.”
“Like she hasn’t been shoving it in our faces enough already,” Adam mumbled. “If she should get angry at anything, it should be the Binding.”
“How could she? The spell’s the reason she got together with Ryan in the first place.”
Adam’s lip curled.
“Oh yeah, and she’d never dare speak a word against him.” He opened and closed his fist. “Never mind he was the one who abandoned her. It’s his fault you got Bound, anyway…”
A chair scraped from the fire. Navinka was staring at me. Great, what did her Royal Frostiness want now?
“Eliza,” she said, “I left my hair brush in the compartment on Sandy’s saddle. Could you fetch it, please? The rest of us will go for the meal Ria prepared. You can meet us at her house. It’s opposite the stables.”
Adam bristled. I thought he was going to throw something. Before he could voice his opinion—or come across any sharp objects—I snatched his wrist. He didn’t need to stoke this further. Flashing a sweet smile to Navinka, I led him outside.
The freezing temperature cut through my cloak and jacket, and I shivered. Adam curled his arm around me, protecting me from the falling snow.
“Better?” he asked.
“Much.” I rested my cheek on his chest. “Sorry to drag you out like this. But you’ve got to learn to control that temper.”
Adam huffed. “I’m not going to stand by and let her pick on you.”
“Adam, we’ve got no choice right now,” I said. “She’ll run straight back to Ryan’s father if we get on her nerves.” I poked him in the ribs. “So you better watch you
r mouth.”
“While she gets to shoot hers off any time she likes?” Adam shook his head. “I don’t know how you can tolerate her. Especially when you’ve got the Binding to deal with as well.”
I sighed. “I’ve managed so far.” Another yawn escaped, and I blinked. “Look, let’s just find her stupid brush and get it over with. Even she has to sleep sometime, and she can’t moan then.”
I made towards the stables, but Adam held firm.
“What?”
“Why don’t we let our dear princess wait on us for a change?” he said, a grin spreading. “Let’s go for a walk.”
“In this weather?”
“You could always listen to Navinka whine for the rest of the evening,” Adam said. He held a hand to his cheek, pretending to be abashed. “‘Oh, don’t you dare breathe, Eliza, you know it’ll spoil my hair, which takes forty virgin maidens to braid under a pink moon.’” His deep voice was so far from Navinka’s subtle tones, I burst out laughing. His grin broadened. “So what d’ya say?”
I smiled. Despite the cold, it would be nice to rest my ears from the lady’s constant whinging. I didn’t want to face Ryan at the moment, either. A little time to ourselves would be perfect.
“Okay, lead on.”
About the author
Sam Dogra is a junior doctor working in the NHS in England. Between reviewing patients, taking blood and getting grilled by consultants, she also writes fantasy fiction and is a fantasy artist. Chronicles of Azaria is her first novel series. Her favourite authors include J.K. Rowling, Philip Pullman, Garth Nix, Cornelia Funke, Julia Golding, Mark Robson, Alison Croggon and Alison Goodman.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank the following people for their encouragement and support:
