The Bonded: The Allseer Trilogy Book I (13 page)

The Temple of Gathering had been cleared, the tables and chairs removed leaving a long hall alive with excited murmurs. The Bonded stood to either side of the hall, clustered together in nervous bundles. Kirheen swallowed hard, eyes drifting across those standing next to and across from her. This was it. This is what they had been training so hard for.

Waiting was unbearable. At the front of the hall she could see the instructors, looking about as wound up as their students. She caught Tomias’ eyes and he gave her a reassuring smile. Even Fenir, normally so proficient at ignoring them, took a moment to bow his head.

Herzin stood at the back of the room, watching them like a hawk. Her posture was rigid, her face devoid of a smile as she scanned over them. When her eyes drifted to the side of the room Kirheen occupied, she looked away quickly, not wanting to meet those hateful emeralds the old woman called eyes.

Garild was a mouse at her side, standing slightly behind her shoulder as he surveyed the hall. She could hear the shuffling of his hands twisting together nervously and it set her on edge. She gritted her teeth together, trying to block the urge to whip around and force his hands apart.

The group of instructors parted, clearing a path for the Union Master. He stepped confidently towards the back of the room where Herzin stood, a scroll in hand. The two took a moment to deliberate about the contents and then he turned towards them. The room fell silent, all eyes glued to the man that held the key to the start of the battles.

“I apologize for the delay. I know this is a time of great anxiety for you all and I’m sorry to delay the ease of such. Thank you for being patient. The Union Battle is the first of its kind and we’re very excited to see the results of all your hard work. You’ve all grown so much these winter months. It is an honor to be able to stand before you all and know that the future of our kind rests in your hands.

The rules of this battle have been explained to you by your instructors. We stand firmly by the rules we’ve established for this. Anyone found breaking these rules will face punishment befitting the crime. Do not bring shame to your Bond. With that said, let us announce our first battle.”

The room grew still, not a lung drawing breath while the seconds ticked by agonizingly slow. “Vienna and Daris, please step forward.”

There was a collective woosh of air as everyone resumed breathing. Vienna looked to Daris and smirked, her eyes revealing secrets that only her bond mate could understand. They wore dark red robes, their symbol that of a wolf standing on the top of a cliff, a full moon hovering behind it. She took his hand, locking her fingers within his, and crossed from the side of the room opposite Kirheen to stand before the Union Master. They stood tall and proud, fearsome predators waiting for their prey.

“Tyrin and Bell, please step forward.”

Bell jumped when their names were called, her brows knitting together in frustration. She brought her hands to her lips, shaking her head in disbelief. Her bond mate, Tyrin, stroked her long blonde hair and whispered softly in her ear. She gathered her courage and allowed Tyrin to lead her to the front of the room. Blue robes clashed with red, their symbol that of two gentle feather fish forming a circle. A meal for a wolf.

“You will have 20 minutes to figure out the card held by your opponent. Any battle going beyond the 20 minutes will have the victor decided based on the skill shown. Please, turn your backs to one another and Herzin will come by with a card.”

They did as they were told and Herzin drew a deck of cards, similar to the ones they had used in practice so long ago. She drew a card off the top of the deck and showed it to Vienna and Daris. They nodded, stowing the image away. Bell and Tyrin were next and they too memorized their card.

The two groups took up a position opposite of each other. Bell and Tyrin opted to sit on the floor, legs crossed under them but Vienna and Daris remained standing, their fingers interlaced. The contrast was startling. Where Vienna and Daris looked absolutely sure of themselves, Tyrin and Bell looked as though they’d already lost. Kirheen was glad she wasn’t in their position.

“Let the battle begin.”

As she was taught, Kirheen let her mind drift, floating out to latch on to the mental struggle happening on the other end of the room. It had taken quite a bit of practice learning how to be a spectator without actually entering the mind of another. She was glad to have learned it though so she could see the battles as they took place.

Kirheen had never been close enough to either group to pick up on their particular skills. At first, nothing happened between them. The connection remained at a standstill with neither party vying for dominance. There was a slight glimmer and then her vision was filled with a beautiful moonlit field, tall grass swaying in a gentle breeze. The moon was large in the sky above, much larger than she’d ever seen it look before. It was a beautiful sight to behold and she was saddened by the arrival of Bell and Tyrin at the edge of the field, drawing her attention away from the moon.

Shifting her gaze, she could see an object floating on the opposite side of the field. It was thin and rectangular and she realized it was Vienna and Daris’ card.
“Intentional bait,”
Garild commented in her mind. She almost jumped, not expecting his voice with her attention so focused on the battle.

“Geez, a little warning next time would be great,”
she chided.
“It sure seems like bait though. Quite the bold move.”

“This is Vienna and Daris we’re talking about.”

“True.”

Bell pointed towards the card, whispering to Tyrin as she did. They entered the field cautiously, their steps light, eyes alert for signs of traps. Each step through the tall grass set Kirheen on edge. Anything could lurk in the shadows, could be stalking them and watching with hungry eyes. As they passed through the field unharmed, they became less cautious, their steps a little bolder. It was just what Vienna was wanting. At that moment, a large hawk dove from the sky above, claws extended towards its target. It latched on to the back of Bells head, claws digging into her hair. She screamed, flailing about wildly trying to get the bird out of her hair. Each attempt led to the bird pecking and soon her pale blonde hair was streaked with blood. 

Tyrin shifted gears, gathering strength and pushing strongly against the illusion. It shattered, breaking apart into dust that was blown away with the wind. Bell lay on the ground sobbing, holding her bloodied hands in front of her face.

“Bell, it's not real. Come on.” Tyrin knelt down next to her, trying to coax her back to her feet. It took several precious minutes but the rest of the illusion shattered and Bell regained control of herself once more, no longer feeling the phantom pain that had been there a moment before.

They strategized for a moment before moving on, creeping through the tall grass with far more caution in light of the attack. It wasn’t enough. The grass took on an unnatural sway behind them and Kirheen gasped when she spotted Daris, tailing them with delicate steps. His movements were slow and deliberate as he hunted his prey, his steps mimicking theirs as he pushed his way through the field.

A hawk screeched in the night sky but Tyrin was prepared. He pushed against the illusion and it was at that moment that Daris moved against him. Before the energy Tyrin had created could dissipate, he blocked it, turning it back on its creator with ease. The force knocked Tyrin hard enough to break his concentration and the link was broken, effectively taking him out of the match. Bell was left alone, and by the look on her face, she was terrified of the thought. Daris had circled around and now stood before her, his sweat slicked skin glowing in the moonlight. His expression was smug, his eyes as black as the night.

“You should yield, girl,” Daris said smoothly, creeping closer to her. She shook her head, her blonde hair swirling in the breeze.

“I won’t,” she said but her lip quivered as he approached.

“You’re out here all alone, with no one to protect you now. What do you hope to accomplish? You’re nothing without your bond mate.”

It was sickening watching him toy with her mind. It made Kirheen angry.

“You think she’ll yield?”

“I don’t know that she has a choice,”
Kirheen said, feeling the fear that radiated in the air around Bell.
“She’s too scared.”

Daris smirked, pushing against her lightly. She took the blow, falling back a few steps. “You want the card, you’ll have to go get it. It’s so far away and your just one girl. You think you can make it before I tear you apart?”

Daris struck out again with his powers, a teasing blow that forced her back. He struck out again but this time, she redirected the blow, adding a burst of her own power that he hadn’t been expecting. It hit him hard, throwing him back onto the ground with a satisfying thud. She leapt over him, running through the grass as fast as her legs would take her. It was her only hope, to reach the card before Vienna could catch her.

Her breath came out in great gasps as she frantically wove through the field, strands of grass lashing against her face and hands as she ran. At one point a root came ripping out of the ground but she jumped, barely clearing it.

She was almost to the card, could see the blank back of it bobbing in the horizon. Her legs carried her ever forward, over obstacles and traps, each one deftly deflected or dodged. Kirheen could scarcely believe when she burst through into the clearing where the card rested, her face sweaty but triumphant. She reached up, hand grasping the edge of the card when two wolves burst from the field, eyes glowing and menacing.

“Did you really think it would be so easy,” Vienna said, her voice coming from the smaller of the two wolves. It was massive, it’s earthy brown fur sleek and glistening. The other wolf was even bigger and black as the sky above. It was a deadly shadow, eyes red, fangs dripping with anticipation.

“You should have yielded,” he growled, padding forward.

Bell took a deep breath, turning her attention back to the card. She tore at the edge, flipped it around and gasped. It was blank.The growls grew louder behind her, the snapping of fangs filling her with fear. There was no time to yield. The wolves descended upon her and as their fangs sunk into her flesh, her concentration broke and she came back to reality with a scream, startling everyone in the room.

Tyrin reached over, wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. He held her until the fear dissipated, casting a venomous glare at Vienna and Daris.

“The winner of this round is Vienna and Daris,” Nyson called, his face emotionless. There were a few scattered cheers, but for the most part, everyone was far too shook up to celebrate the victory.  Any of them could be next and with what they’d just seen, Kirheen was no longer sure they wanted to be. They’d seen one of their fellow Bonded toyed with, torn apart and spat out, a fate they now all faced.

“That was brutal,” Garild whispered, watching Bell and Tyrin as they sulked from the room. Their instructor, Verin, fell into step with them, anger clouding his face. “It didn’t even seem like that had a chance.”

“Brutal may have been an understatement, Garild. This…this isn’t good.”

“That was a wonderful first battle. I hope all of you were paying close attention. Your battle could be next. Use this time to take notes and learn what you can from the things you’ve just witnessed. In these battles, knowledge is power,” Nyson explained. While his words broke the tension in the room, it did nothing to ease the feeling of dread that crept up her spine, filling her with doubt and making her considering fleeing.  Her legs tingled, urging her to run.

“Stay calm, girl. You’re further along than Bell and Tyrin. You’re better equipped for this. Stay focused,”
Fenir said, an edge of warning in his voice.
“Don’t you even think about running out of here. I will drag you back.”

“Alright, alright,”
she said sheepishly. A sharp nudge from Garild and she turned back to the front of the room where Nyson was about to announce the next battle. Her heart plummeted into her stomach, and she reached out, grabbing his hand. He squeezed it tightly.

“Isa and Ian, please step forward.”

Isa let out a little gasp, her hands flying to her mouth. She glanced around, uncertain whether it was their name that was called. Ian gave her a nod and they stepped to the center of the room. While Isa positively bounced with excitement, Ian remained cool and calm, his arms crossed over his chest while he waited for the next set of names. Kirheen let out a relieved sigh and dropped her hand from Garild’s, feeling a wave of embarrassment that she’d felt the need to hold it at all.

“Irena and Tegan, please step forward.”

Irena marched to the center of the room, Tegan slogging along behind her. From the look of it, the two had already been squabbling. Irena wouldn’t even acknowledge her bond mate, her arms folded over her chest and her lips firmly set. He looked like a mouse next to her with his frail frame and he fidgeted, casting uncomfortable glances at those staring at them.

The teams received their cards and both opted to sit for the battle. Irena eyed her opponents with obvious distaste and Ian returned her expression, wrinkling his nose as if he smelled something bad. The reaction from Irena almost made Kirheen giggle.