The Bonded: The Allseer Trilogy Book I (14 page)

Nyson called for the battle to start and Kirheen let her mind drift, feeling the rippling tension between the two teams. She latched on to that tension, focusing until the battlefield came into view. From the start, it was hard to tell whether there was a manipulator present. The battle was reminiscent of earlier days when all she saw was a wall. As their powers had advanced, so too had their surroundings. It was odd to see it stripped back to something so basic.

The formidable wall was tall and gray, surface worn smooth. Green patches of moss clung to the surface, creating bursts of color that contrasted starkly with the otherwise bland surroundings. Tegan and Irena appeared before the wall, taking stock of their surroundings. Tegan looked frightened, his shoulders hunched as he swayed his head from side to side, watching for anything that might jump out at them. After the last battle they all witnessed, Kirheen couldn’t blame him.

Irena didn’t seem phased in the slightest. She approached the wall confidently, hand rising to press flat against the wall. She closed her eyes and lowered her head and the wall rippled around her fingertips. After a moment, she stepped back, pointing to the left. “We need to head that way,” she said, her voice icy. She stepped past Tegan, bumping him with her shoulder as she moved past. It seemed she planned on winning the battle with or without his help. He slinked behind her, head bowed. Had he been a dog, his tail would have been tucked between his legs as he sulked.

They traveled for a time, Irena checking for traps as they moved. The wall changed very little, maintaining the smooth, moss covered surface before they came upon a change so subtle that it was almost unnoticeable. A small section of the wall curved inwards, thinner than the rest of the wall around it. A weak spot.

“Tegan, if you think you can handle it, break through here.”

Tegan nodded, stepping up to the wall. He shook his thin arms, trying to relax himself enough to focus on the task at hand. He held a hand out in front of him and closed his eyes, applying force to the wall. As he attacked, Irena focused on the same part of the wall. As the wall crumbled, there was a slight shimmer in the air and the wall reappeared, courtesy of Irena. It was an illusion, made to mimic the wall that had been. To the person being attacked, it would seem like the wall was still there, allowing them to enter without being noticed.

They stepped through and found themselves in a land of rolling hills and trees. In the distance, a card floated above the hill before them and standing in front of it was Ian. Isa was nowhere to be seen. Irena glanced around, her expression masked. If she was concerned, she did a good job hiding it. Tegan stood slightly behind her, peering around her shoulder at their opponent.

Ian smirked, waving at them from across the clearing. “Are you going to come take this card or do I need to bring it to you?”

Irena grimaced in disgust, hissing through her teeth as she glared at Ian. She drew in her power and then placed her hands on the ground. Thin vines burst from the grass around Ian’s feet and wrapped around his legs, effectively pinning him in place. His eyes widened in surprise but he didn’t let it break his concentration. 

“Tegan, now!”

Tegan nodded, running around her and towards Ian, building his power as he went. When he was close enough, he flung his power forward with all the strength he could muster, knowing for sure the force would kick Ian out of the match. He smiled as the power blasted forth but it left his face as soon as his power hit an invisible wall, rebounding the energy and knocking him off of his feet. The force was enough to roll past him and it hit Irena, forcing her back.

“Tegan! What was that, you fool!?”

“It wasn’t my fault! You didn’t sense it either!”

Though still tangled, Ian laughed. “Really should have checked that first,” he chided.

Irena was furious. “Guess I need to do this myself.” She stood, stomping across the clearing and approaching the invisible wall. Before she could reach it, she collided with another wall. It was so unexpected that she stumbled backwards, losing her footing and hitting the ground with a thump. The wall had moved and she was none too happy about it. Ian couldn’t help himself and he threw his head back, laughing heartily.

“Oh, that was priceless,” he laughed, wiping tears from his eyes.

“You’ll pay for that!”

“Give it your best shot!”

She stood, glaring at the space she’d collided with. She directed a burst of power towards the wall but before she could fully release it, there was a loud scraping sound from behind her, like rocks sliding down a hillside. She turned, her anger melting into fear as she watched the wall behind them getting closer. Her attention diverted, Ian pushed against the outer wall, driving Tegan towards her. 

They stood between the two walls, frantically searching for a way out. The illusion she had created had been destroyed, the hole in the wall restored. It would take too much to break through it again and breaking through the invisible wall would mean facing Ian. Their options were limited.

“Break the invisible wall, Tegan,” Irena demanded.

Tegan shook his head. “It’s over, Irena. We’ve lost this one. We’re going to be crushed!”

“Quit being a sniveling brat and break down that wall! Now!”

“And what do you plan to do after that,” he questioned. “Ian isn’t completely helpless there and Isa still has plenty of energy left. We’re done.”

Irena stepped forward, her hand reaching out to grasp the front of his robe. She pulled him close, crystal eyes alive with fury. “This isn’t over. You break that wall and you do it now.”

Tegan looked at her with sad eyes and shook his head. “We forfeit,” he said loudly. Irena was about to hit him when he broke focus, leaving her behind as the walls pressed closer. She hissed, glaring at Isa floating over the wall creeping ever closer.

“This isn’t over,” she threatened and she too broke focus. The room shimmered back into view and everyone stared forward, watching Irena in shock. Irena looked straight ahead, her eyes distant. Tegan looked at the floor, shame and sadness making him seem even smaller than usual. She rose quietly, bowing once to her opponents before walking away. Tegan rose and chased after her, reaching out and grabbing her sleeve with an apology on his lips. She spun around and lashed out, the flat of her palm connecting with his face with a snap. It was a sharp, painful sound and Tegan staggered back, holding a hand to his face.

“You’re a fool, Tegan,” she spat, turning on her heels and fleeing the room. Her instructor Harkin followed her out, grumbling to himself as he went. Tegan stood silent, hand still pressed to his cheek, his brown eyes welling with tears. “I’m sorry,” he whispered to the space where Irena had stood.

Isa had risen from her spot on the floor and she approached him kindly, wrapping her arm around his shoulders and pulling him close. She coaxed him over to the side of the room, staying with him as Ian accepted their victory.

The Union Master leaned over and whispered to Herzin. She gave a curt nod and marched across the hall, stepping outside to presumably deal with Irena. Such a display was apt to get her punished. Kirheen couldn’t help but feel bad for Tegan. He really wasn’t cut out for such things. He was too timid, his heart too soft to use his powers in such a way. She’d never understand why they’d bonded them together. Doing so had made a breeding ground for conflict and it affected all aspects of their relationship.

“The winner of this battle is Isa and Ian. Congratulations to you both,” Nyson said, his voice lacking any cheer. “Please take the next five minutes to prepare before the next battle. I hope I don’t have to remind you that your bond is paramount to winning these battles. If you turn against each other, your hopes of winning are diminished greatly. You cannot do this alone. Let this be a lesson to you.”

Nyson stepped towards the front door, patting Ian on the shoulder kindly as he passed. The conversation in the room instantly turned to the battle they’d just witnessed and speculative words were exchanged, though quietly enough to not upset Tegan. Tomias and Fenir took the moment to weave their way towards them.

“These have been rough,” Tomias sighed, rubbing the stubble on his chin.  He looked down at Kirheen, giving her a half-hearted smile. “I suppose watching these hasn’t exactly helped you feel any better about what’s to come.”

“Not exactly,” Kirheen admitted, frowning as she looked over to Burk and Abby. They stood on the far side of the room, lounging against the wall comfortably. When Burk caught her eye, he lifted a hand and waved. There were only a few groups left, the chance for their names to be called greater than ever. “I thought I was nervous before but…”

“Don’t fret. I’ve been watching the battles closely. You’re far more cohesive than what I’ve been seeing. You and Garild work well together. Abby and Burk shouldn’t give you much trouble.”

“You sound so sure,” Kirheen grimaced.

“Oh, I’m not. Doesn’t mean I can’t pretend.”

“That’s reassuring,” Garild said. “I’m getting more nervous by the minute.”

Fenir was eyeing their opponents.
“He’s right. I wouldn't be too worried.”

“Way to bash the other Bonded,” Kirheen chided. Fenir smirked and turned his attention back to them.

“You’re both going to do fine. Enjoy the next few minutes while you can. I think you’re up next.”

Kirheen went to punch his arm playfully and he jumped back out of the way, walking away to take his place among the other instructors. Kirheen shook her head as he did, smiling to herself.

“Good luck to you both. Remember, work together and you can take down anyone you face next.”

“Thank you, Tomias.” She watched him walk away, feeling her stomach twist anxiously as his comforting presence faded away. She turned back to Garild, shrugging uncertainly. “You ready for this?”

“I think so. I mean, what could possibly go wrong,” he laughed nervously.

“Yeah,” she agreed, trying to smile despite the knot that had developed in her throat. “What could go wrong?”

“Kirheen and Garild, please step forward.” Garild locked eyes with Kirheen as the realization of what was happening crashed over them. She shrugged her shoulders, masking her nerves but he could see it all below the surface. Her eyes lost their luster, a sign she was retreating into the safety of her mind.

Win or lose was all they could do now. He felt sick, his stomach churning, sweat beading on his brow. He wiped it away with his sleeve, licking at his salt tinged lips nervously. He followed Kirheen across the room, his feet dragging across the floor, the full scrutiny of the other Bonded pelting his back as he went.

He kept his eyes on Kirheen, on the graceful curve of her neck, now visible with her hair pulled back away from her face. She glanced over her shoulder, making sure he was still following and he nodded. They came to a halt in front of Nyson and Herzin and waited for the names they knew would be called. Kirheen purposely kept her eyes down, not wanting to cast them upon Herzin. He couldn’t blame her for that. He had a hard time looking at her himself. Seeing her filled him with an uncharacteristic rage. He’d never forgive her for making Kirheen feel so vulnerable…so helpless.

“Abby and Burk, please step forward.”

And there it was. Even knowing ahead of time, it was still hard to hear their names called.  Burk and Abby looked excited, all smiles and bouncing steps as they took their place next to them. Their robes were a dark sage green, their symbol emblazoned on the back in cream. They shared the symbol of a beautiful stag standing in a forest of wraith wood trees, long blades of grass around its feet. Burk leaned over, nudging Garild lightly.

“We look forward to facing you both. This will be fun!” Burk smiled, his grin nearly consuming his face. They truly were happy about the pairing, and he could only guess it was because they knew what to expect. Garild tried to return the smile but found he didn’t possess the strength. 

Kirheen shifted uncomfortably.
“Did it really have to be them? Tomias has me so worried about this matchup...I could punch him right about now.”

“Well, if we’re lucky, we’ve thrown them off a bit. If not, I guess we’re in for a good fight.”

“I suppose. Go after them fast. Let’s play on our territory.”

Garild had planned on it all along. If he was lucky, neither of them would be a manipulator and he could shape the field to their advantage. Being able to fight on familiar ground would make it an easy battle if everything went according to plan.

“The battle may begin when you’re ready.”

Burk and Abby took a moment to get settled and then nodded, alerting them that they were ready. “Good luck to you both,” Abby said, flashing them a quick smile before closing her eyes and bowing her head forward.

Garild did the same, closing his eyes and focusing his power to conjure his illusion. He pushed against them, grabbing Burk and Abby and pulling them into the forest he’d created. It worked flawlessly and he sighed with relief.

“Oh ho, so you were bluffing,” Burk laughed, surveying the forest that materialized around them. “Thought we might have been going crazy when you said you were something else. Tricksters, both of you.”

“That was clever,” Abby chimed in, sticking close to her bond mate. They moved cautiously, taking small steps and watching their surroundings with sharp eyes. “A forest may not have been your best choice. This is what we've been training in for weeks.”

As if to prove her point, she deftly avoided the traps that had been laid for them, side skirting around a covered pit and avoiding a bundle of vines intended to reach out and pin them in place. Garild hadn’t expected her to see through his traps so well. He needed a distraction.

Burk stepped forward, a branch cracking loudly under his feet. At that moment, a flock of birds burst from the trees, flying over head with a flurry of wings and screeches. It startled them both and just as he had hoped, Abby took a cautious step back, planting her foot right on a trap. Her foot flew out from under her and she was hoisted up, suspended in the air high above Burk. She spun helplessly, looking around for a way out. “Burk, you’re going to have to conjure something to get me down or I’m stuck here.”

Burk shook his head. “I’d love to get you down, dear, but I have a feeling that trap was on purpose. In fact, if I had to guess,” he paused, pushing out with his powers towards a nearby bush. Kirheen jumped backwards, narrowly avoiding the blast. As she landed, she looked up, glaring at her opponent. “I’d say Kirheen was waiting to ambush me. Nice try!”

From the pocket of her robe Kirheen drew a card. She showed the blank back to Burk, smiling as she dashed off into the trees. Burk cursed, glancing up to his bond mate and then back to the path Kirheen had cut through the trees. 

Abby shouted from above. “You so much as think about it and I will personally beat you over the head with this branch I’m hanging from. You get me down and we both go after her.”

“Alright, alright.” Burk concentrated, forcing his own illusion into existence. A small dagger appeared in Abby’s hands and she reached up quickly, cutting at the rope. It gave way with a sharp snap and she fell, hitting the ground with a thump. The air was forced from her lungs and she sat for a moment trying to catch her breath. Burk coaxed her to her feet, brushing leaves and dirt from her robes as she rose. The fall had shattered the illusion and the dagger had disappeared. “So, guess we need to be more careful.”

“Apparently,” Abby coughed, pushing her braid back over her shoulder. She closed her eyes, letting her powers flow outwards until she picked up on Kirheen. “She’s not that far away. Let’s get her.”

They were far more cautious in their approach and the few traps Garild laid for them were avoided or deflected entirely. They were no longer playing around.
“Be careful, Kirheen. They are coming for you.”

“I sense them. I’ll be careful.”

Kirheen skidded into a clearing, a flurry of leaves rising as she came to a halt.
“I’m going to set the trap, Garild.”
She bent down, placing the card on the ground in front of her. She placed her hands to either side of the card and let her powers trickle from her fingers. There was a burst of light and then a tree began to form around the card. It sprang upwards, the card pulled and twisted into the bark of the tree until it sat nestled within the glowing, translucent bark. It would give them valuable time to defend if either of their opponents tried to get to it.

Nodding her approval, Kirheen ran into the trees, remaining close to the trap but out of sight. She projected her powers outwards, hoping to attract the attention of her opponents. Abby and Burk took the bait and a moment later, they burst into the clearing.

“Now that is an odd looking tree, isn’t it,” Abby asked, taking a moment to catch her breath. She had her hands resting on her hips and she peered up at the tree, eyes squinting. Burk took stock of the clearing, making sure they were alone and then he too looked up.

“It is odd.”

“And obviously a trap.”

“Why do you say that,” Burk questioned. Before she answered he saw it, the card sitting in the center of the tree high above them. “Ah. A bit inconvenient, I’d say. Well, get to choppin’ Abby!”

Abby rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Well, what do you say? Trap?”

“Seems a bit obvious. Then again, considering the work it would take to get to it, it could be the real thing.”

“Or it could be a trap.”

“Or, yes, it could be a trap. You sense her?”

Abby nodded, tilting her head to the right. “She’s close. I can feel her power.”

Burk glanced over his shoulder. “We’ve got two options. Go after the card here or go after Kirheen. So, the tree. Trap or no trap?”

“I’ve got a bad feeling about this. This feels like a trap. It’s too…there. I don’t trust it.”

“I’m thinking that’s exactly what she wants us to think.”

“This isn’t helping,” Abby sighed. “Try to break it.”

Burk grunted, stepping up to the tree. He placed his hands on the cool bark, feeling the smoothness of it beneath his fingertips. He pressed against the tree and grinned with satisfaction as the tree fractured, splintering and cracking with terrifying ferocity. He stepped back and waited for the card to fall.

At that moment, Kirheen burst through the trees, catching Burk off guard and pushing him to the side. He fell, landing on a patch of ground that gave way beneath him. He very quickly found himself in a dark pit, cut off from the battle above.

Kirheen rebounded back just in time, narrowly missing a powerful blast from Abby. They circled each other, both watching, muscles tense and ready for action. Abby chanced a glance towards the card that lay nearby and Kirheen smiled. “You’re on your own Abby! You really want to go for it?”

Abby pushed forward, shooting a blast of power at Kirheen. Kirheen threw up her hands, blocking the power and diverting it to either side, but there was enough force behind it to push her back despite her efforts.

“So, you’re the pusher,” Kirheen noted with a smile. “And here I thought Burk was the muscle of your little duo.”

Another blast rolled towards her and this one Kirheen flung back at her, pushing the blast back with an added burst of her own. Abby rolled to the side, narrowly missing the blow and flung a smaller one at Kirheen. She side stepped easily and went to fling herself forward when a hand wrapped around her leg and pulled hard. She flailed her arms wildly, desperately trying to remain upright. It was too late to recover and she tumbled back, falling back into the pit designed to hold Burk.

She hit the ground hard and the force of her fall was almost enough to break her concentration. She steadied her focus, patching up her walls as best she could. Staggering to her feet, she readied herself for a hit, glancing up quickly to see how she’d found herself in such a predicament.

“Kirheen, he’s a manipulator! Be careful!”

Burk smiled as he climbed up over the edge of the pit using a ladder he’d conjured. He shattered his creation as soon as he was clear, turning back to wave at Kirheen. She glared up at him as he stalked away from the edge, presumably to pick up the card that lay at the top. Abby gave him a high five and together they approached the card.

“Well, that wasn’t so bad,” Abby said, bending down to pick it up. She flipped it over and Kirheen heard her bristle with anger. “Burk, she still has the card!”

Flinging himself around, he leaped back towards the pit and was about to jump back in when he realized Kirheen was nowhere to be found. “She’s gone, Abby.”

Abby looked over the lip of the pit, her face falling into a frown. “I can’t sense her either. We better get to finding her, now.”

“I’ll make that easy for you,” Kirheen said from behind them and she pushed forward with all she had left. The blast hit them both, sending them flying into the pit. The fall broke Abby, forcing her out of the match and nearly did the same to her bond mate.

He lay at the bottom of the pit, looking up at the trees above. “That was clever, Kirheen. Real clever. And painful. Thank you for that.”

“You give up, Burk,” she asked with a smile, staring down at him from over the edge.

“Oh, I don’t know. I think I’ll sit here a while. It’s quite nice down here, actually.”

Garild approached the pit, no longer in danger. He glanced over the edge and Burk waved at him casually. “Never took you for a manipulator,” Garild said. “That nearly won you the match.”

“Yes, it was so close. But here I am, doomed to rest in this pit forever.” He sighed, propping himself up with an elbow. “I suppose there is nothing left to do but the inevitable. We…I forfeit.”

Garild pushed them from his mind, shattering the illusionary forest. He felt exhaustion wash over him, coating every inch of his being in fatigue. Despite it, he managed to feel an immense sense of joy and he looked at Kirheen with a look of utter disbelief.

“Kirheen and Garild, you have won this battle.”

Her face lit up, a mirror of the dumbfounded joy he felt, and she lurched towards him, wrapping him in her arms excitedly. Garild returned her hug, feeling elated at the closeness. A grin broke across his face and despite his best effort, he couldn’t make it go away. They’d actually won!

“Alright you two. I suppose you’ve earned some praise. That was very well played,” Burk said, clapping him on the shoulder. “You both did well.”

“Thank you, Burk! You gave us quite the challenge.”

“Not enough of one, I’m afraid,” Abby said with a smile. She was quickly blocked out of view by Tomias and Fenir and Garild let himself be ushered from the room, the cheers of the other Bonded waning as they stepped outside. Having won their battle, they were free to rest until the next match, something Garild wasn’t apt to deny, despite his excitement.

As his excitement left him, the full weight of his exhaustion hit like a ton of bricks. His shoulders slumped and his eyes grew heavy, muscles relaxing until they felt heavy and lifeless. Kirheen too seemed to be feeling the after effects of using so much power in such a short amount of time. Her eyes fluttered rapidly, as if she could somehow blink away the tiredness she felt.

“That was close, but incredibly well played. I find myself feeling quite proud,” Tomias said, his excitement bubbling just below the surface. His eyes twinkled and Garild could only imagine he was already scheming to rub their victory in Grants face the first chance he got.