The Bound

by K. A. Linde

“A…Doma?” Maelia asked in surprise. “Like the ancient rulers who subjugated our people?”

  “The stories are a lie. Doma had magic, and the Dremylons killed them for it,” Cyrene said.

  “Wiped out the entire race of Doma,” Avoca continued. “Made it so that magic was just a myth in as much of the world as they could touch. We thought all Doma were extinct until Cyrene showed up in our woods.”

  “And you’re actually Leifs?” Ahlvie asked. “Like the creatures who steal children in the night?”

  “Myth,” Avoca said with a grin. “We used that as our own protection.”

  Maelia shook her head. “This is a lot to take in.”

  Cyrene nodded. “I know. I’m sorry to lay this at all of your feet. I’ve been dealing with it for a while, and I just wasn’t ready to share the information. I was too afraid of what I was, and I couldn’t accept the fact that this was reality. But…now, I know it to be true, and there’s no going back. I am Doma, and I need to learn to control my powers so that what you saw in Aurum doesn’t happen again.”

  Cyrene stood and stretched her legs while Maelia mulled over everything that had just been revealed. She knew Maelia would need time to process the truth. Cyrene certainly had. Orden was the only other person who didn’t know, but he acted as if he’d always known. It made her wonder about him more and more.

  “I’m just…going to get some air,” Cyrene said. She nodded her head at the lot of them and then left to give them all space.

  Avoca followed Cyrene above deck. Cyrene could sense her even though she couldn’t hear her silent footsteps.

  Magic flooded her fingertips as her emotions ran rampant, and she had to forcibly put a hold on it. There was so much there. It terrified her.

  What if I destroy everything in my path all over again? What if my emotions keep running away with me, and destruction falls on my friends rather than just my foes? What if I could never control it?

  “I am glad you finally got it all out in the open,” Avoca said.

  “It was time.”

  “They’ll still fight for you. They love you.”

  Cyrene nodded and clenched her hands. “Your mother was afraid of letting me leave for the very reason that happened back on the docks. I lost control,” she whispered. “I…killed people.”

  “You don’t know that,” Avoca said.

  Cyrene looked down and then up into her impossibly blue eyes. “Yes, I do. At the time, I wanted to believe that the silence after the blast was normal. I told myself, other heartbeats were out there, but once Dean pulled me out of it, the only heartbeat roaring in my ears was my own…and Dean’s. I couldn’t feel anything or anyone out there.”

  “You’re new to your powers. You could have tapped out at that point.”

  “I would have blacked out,” Cyrene insisted.

  Avoca shook her head and looked out at the flat ocean before them. It was in that serene place between lands where nothing existed but the sweet salty air and the endless blue depths below.

  “My first kill was a human,” Avoca whispered.

  “What?” Cyrene asked, stunned.

  “It was an accident. I thought I was better than my six team leader, and I wandered off in the wrong direction. Suddenly, I was trapped. I had triggered a bear trapper’s metal mechanism. It closed around my ankle, digging through the skin and touching the bone. It was the most excruciating pain I had ever felt in my life, and I had gone through extensive six team training.” Avoca didn’t meet Cyrene’s eyes, and she could tell Avoca was recalling that day. “The man came back for me, thinking I was his next meal ticket. When he saw me, he seemed surprised to see a human in his trap. He quickly went to work, removing the claw attached to my ankle, but I was scared. I was in so much pain. My emotions were high. Everything hurt and was blurry. I didn’t know what to do.”

  Cyrene swallowed. “What happened?”

  “My magic went wild. All my training fled my mind, and I was just out of control. Even though he had saved my life and freed me, my magic wasn’t honed enough to stop me from making a horrible mistake. That’s all it was. One horrible mistake. And then his life winked out of him.

  “I spent a good many years paying penance for that deed. I tried to quit the military and my magic, but my mother wouldn’t let me. You know what she said to me?”

  “What?”

  “‘This is a lesson, not a punishment. You do this man’s death a disservice by not learning how to use your magic properly.’”

  Cyrene cringed.

  “It hurt at the time, but she was right. I’ve never lost control like that again, and I use my magic sparingly. Only when I’m at the extremes of my own physical prowess.”

  They stood in silence for a few moments before Cyrene placed her hand on Avoca’s arm. “Thank you,” she whispered.

  Avoca smiled. “I’m going to make sure everyone is all right below.”

  Cyrene nodded, and Avoca disappeared below deck. She knew that Avoca was right. She couldn’t blame herself for everything that had happened. She would carry it with her. Those nameless lives that she might have harmed in her quest. But she would use that as a reminder of how much worse it could be if she didn’t find Matilde and Vera.

  “Anything I can help you with?” Dean asked, sidling up next to her.

  Cyrene jumped. She hadn’t even heard his approach. He might have even more silent feet than Avoca. Or maybe he was just more familiar with the boat.

  “Help me with?” she inquired.

  “You were planning something in the captain’s quarters. Care to share?” Despite the serious question, he had a smile on his face.

  “We were just discussing the plans for when we get to Eleysia.”

  “What would you like to do when you get there?”

  Cyrene considered the question. “I’ve heard about these two women who work with people with magic. Matilde and Vera,” she said hopefully.

  Dean frowned. “I see. I’ve never heard of them before, but like I said, while we believe in magic being in everything, there aren’t actually people with magic in Eleysia.”

  Cyrene deflated. “I see.”

  “But, if I can help, I will.”

  This didn’t change anything. Just because he didn’t know people with magic didn’t mean Matilde and Vera weren’t there. Basille Selby had told her to go there…so these women must exist.

  “By the way, have you given more consideration to my offer?”

  “Yes.”

  “Yes, you’ve considered? Or yes…you’ll go?”

  “I’ll go.”

  Dean smiled that dazzling smile. All of a sudden, she was swept up into his arms, and he twirled her in a circle. She broke off into laughter and threw her arms around his neck to hold on, heedless of his shoulder. He gently placed her back on her feet. Her cheeks were flushed, and they were awfully close together. She cleared her throat and took a step back for propriety’s sake.

  “Sorry,” he apologized immediately. “I was just so…I’m glad.”

  “Me, too,” she told him. And not just because the palace would give her easy access to more resources, but because it would give her more access to him.

  Daufina leaned back in her quarters in the Byern castle. Home. It was so incredibly nice to be back home. Albion was beautiful and ancient, filled with everything she could ever want. It had been her home once. She had grown up there, and it was a treat to return there on procession from time to time. But she had been in Byern too long now to consider anything else as home.

  Now that Edric had given up his hunt for Cyrene, they could begin to move back to order. She would have her Affiliates and High Order to assist. She could plan strategy with the King. She could continue to help plan the Eos holiday. It was all at her leisure.

  That was wonderful, considering the tension and anxiety that had plagued the castle.

  There had been only one other death since Cyrene had disappeared. Jardana, however unfortunate, was the only one t
o have perished. No more clues were found. The investigation was coming to a close.

  Perhaps, one day…they would all know what had actually happened. Until then, they could get back to business as usual and pray to the Creator that nothing else happened like that again in their kingdom.

  A knock at the door drew her from her thoughts.

  “Come in,” she said softly.

  An Affiliate with strawberry-blonde hair hurried into the room, dipping a low curtsy. Daufina had seen her before. She was one of the Queen’s favorites. She had always trailed after Jardana and her friends. Adelas.

  “Consort,” Adelas said.

  “Please rise. What is the matter?”

  “It’s the Queen. She sent me to retrieve you promptly.”

  “Whatever for?”

  This was quite unlike Kaliana. If the Queen sent for her at all, it was through a servant with a letter. Nothing urgent. Nothing that anyone could gossip about.

  “She didn’t say. She just told me to get you at once.” Adelas looked frightened. “If I could be so bold, she was quite out of sorts. I haven’t seen her in such a mood since…” She bit her lip.

  “Yes?”

  “Since her last miscarriage.”

  That got Daufina right out of her chair. “I’ll come at once.”

  She hauled up her skirts and hurried after the young Affiliate. They took the shortest route. She was uncertain what was wrong with Kaliana and wanted to get to her as soon as possible.

  Daufina didn’t particularly care for the Queen—her duty was to Edric—but Kaliana wouldn’t have requested her if it wasn’t important.

  They made it to Kaliana’s chambers in quick order, and Daufina shooed Adelas away. Whatever Kaliana wanted to discuss with her, it was clear she wanted it to be in private.

  “Kaliana?” Daufina said, entering the chamber and closing the door behind her.

  No response returned. Daufina walked through the living quarters and toward the bedroom. She heard sobbing coming from the room. Daufina stood there for a moment, debating on whether to go in or not. She knocked gently, but the sobs just came louder.

  With a heavy sigh, she stepped into the bedroom and found Kaliana curled into a ball on the floor. She wore nothing but a cream shift. Her hair had fallen out of its careful bun at the nape of her neck. Her cheeks were red and splotchy. Her eyes were puffy and swollen. She looked so young and fragile. Daufina would never have even known it was Kaliana.

  “Whatever is the matter?” Daufina asked.

  Kaliana looked up at her and then burst into tears all over again.

  Daufina hurried over to her side and sank down to her level. “Are you hurt? Has someone hurt you? Kaliana, talk to me.”

  “I was late,” she whimpered.

  Daufina drew herself up with wide eyes. “You’re pregnant?” she asked hopefully.

  “Dear Creator, please let it not be so,” she sobbed. Her blue eyes searched Daufina’s, and then she leaned her head between her knees, starting to cry all over again.

  “What is this, Kaliana? Why are you crying? A baby is a blessing. Edric will want to hear at once.”

  “No!” she shrieked. “No. He…he can’t know.”

  Daufina had a horrible feeling come over her. “Why? Why can’t your husband know of this joyous occasion?”

  “Oh, Daufina, how can I ever look at him again?”

  Daufina’s stomach flipped. She didn’t know what Kaliana was talking about. But she didn’t like the sound of it.

  She grabbed ahold of Kaliana’s shoulders and stared her dead in the eyes. “Tell me. Everything.”

  “I’m late,” she repeated.

  “You said that.”

  “I’m a month late,” she whispered morosely.

  “A month,” Daufina said softly.

  “I thought it was a mistake. That I was just under stress. I thought this month, when we were back home, things would be different. I would bleed once more,” she cried. “But it is not the case.”

  “You’ve been pregnant for more than a month,” Daufina said. “You’re sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “I…I sent Edric to your chambers. He’s seen you, hasn’t he? Been with you?” Daufina asked.

  Kaliana nodded. “He was too late, Daufina. I begged him before that. Begged him. Like a whore,” she cried. “And he would not see me. Refused to see me. He loved her so much that he couldn’t even look at me. His own wife!”

  “So, you did something about it,” Daufina said, realizing the horror of what she was witnessing.

  “I had to. I thought…”

  “You did not think.”

  “Daufina,” Kaliana said. Her eyes begged, pleaded, with her. “Help me.”

  Daufina shook her head. She couldn’t do this. It was treason. What Kaliana had done was treason. Helping her would be worse.

  “Who was it? Who did this?” Daufina asked.

  Kaliana shook her head. “You can’t know.”

  “I won’t help you unless you tell me.”

  “No!” Kaliana cried. “Is it not shame enough that I am pregnant? With my luck…the baby will miscarry anyway, and this will all be for naught. But I cannot tell you.”

  Daufina pinched the bridge of her nose and closed her eyes. How could this possibly be happening?

  “You will tell Edric now. Whether or not the baby survives the pregnancy. If you hide from him, it will look suspicious. You have to glow with the knowledge that you hold the future King of Byern in your womb. Do you understand me?”

  Kaliana nodded.

  “No one else will know, and if the time comes and the baby chooses to be born after all, then we will say it is premature. I am betraying my King and my country for this. So, you must do everything I say from now on. Everything.”

  “I will,” Kaliana said, clutching Daufina’s hands.

  “He might not even suspect if it is premature since you have never carried a baby to term. But you must act the part and never give away to anyone that the baby could be anyone else’s.”

  “How will I face him?”

  Daufina shook her head and stood. She reached down and helped Kaliana to her feet. “Like a queen.”

  The island was bigger than Cyrene had envisioned.

  Eleysia’s capital city was built on an island due west of the Sea of Firth through which they had just sailed. It was isolated from the rest of the world by an outcropping of volcanic islands around it and enormously dangerous rocks on all other banks. Only Eleysian sea vessels could navigate the waters, and their sailors were the most adept in the entire world.

  Now that Cyrene was getting a good look at the surroundings, she understood why.

  “That’s part of the reason we leave at night,” Dean said, coming up beside her.

  “Why?”

  “If we can navigate these waters at night, then less foreign vessels will be able to learn the passageways through the rocks. Plus, the Creator blesses us with safe passages each year. That’s why the city is traditionally named the Bride of the Sea.”

  Cyrene let her gaze drift back to the island. “I like that. The Bride of the Sea.”

  Their vessel slid through the water and around the gaping rock formations in the dim light of the setting sun. They glided so smooth and precise that Cyrene was certain they would have been able to turn the ship on a pence.

  “How do foreign merchants get into port?” Cyrene asked in confusion. “They could end up tossed on the rocks with one wrong turn.”

  “Ah. Well, foreigners may only enter into First Harbor.” He sheepishly looked at her. “Your party will be one of the few delegations not to have to do that. We’re entering through the Fifth, the royal docks. But, usually, foreigners always enter and exit through the same pathway.”

  Cyrene nodded, marveling at the complex structure to their economic system. She would think it would deter merchants from traveling these waters, but she knew Eleysia was the wealthiest country in Emporia. Their dyes w
ere the richest in the world, and it was a huge import into Aurum for their weaving. Not to mention the fact that Eleysia excelled in glassblowing and weaponry. They specialized in pearls of all colors from the darkest black to the softest creamy white. Vineyards were nurtured on and off the islands, and Eleysian wine was a rare delicacy.

  Just as the sun winked out from the sky, their ship docked in the harbor. No one in her party had anything, except the clothes on their backs and whatever they’d had with them on the night of the party in Aurum. Everything they had been traveling with had been packed up and placed on a trade ship bound for Eleysia in the days leading up to the ball. Cyrene wasn’t sure if the ship would come into port with all of their belongings or not. Ahlvie and Orden had agreed to stake out First Harbor where the merchant was most likely to show.

  In the meantime, they had to find lodging on the scarce money they had between them. It would be enough for a few nights in an inn in the less reputable part of the city, but Ahlvie had sworn, he could significantly increase the sum if given a hand at dice.

  Cyrene rolled her eyes at the remembered eagerness in his eyes.

  “What?” Dean asked.

  “Nothing. I was thinking about something else.”

  “I see. Are you sure your other friends won’t come with you to the palace?”

  “Oh no. They have business elsewhere. Just Affiliate Maelia is planning to come with me,” she said, using her title for emphasis.

  “Two Affiliates in the palace,” Dean said with a sharp shake of his head. “Never expected that.”

  “When was the last time Byern sent ambassadors to Eleysia?” she asked curiously.

  Dean laughed. “The last time they were sent or the last time they were accepted? Because that King of yours sends them all the time, trying to convince us that it’s diplomacy.”

  Dean’s face darkened, and Cyrene winced.

  “But I haven’t seen one in the palace in…years. Not since I was a kid, I think. I was young enough that the woman gave me a truffle of some sort from your marketplace back home.”

  “That was nice of her.”

  “It turns out, I’m allergic to chocolate.”

  Cyrene’s mouth dropped open. “She couldn’t have known that!”