The Bonded: The Allseer Trilogy Book I (7 page)

Instead of fixating on the gap, she focused on the surrounding wall that remained. With a quick burst, she pushed against it, forcing it forward towards Garild. It reacted, glowing brighter, the threads coiling together in a strengthened bond. She pushed again and this time the wall bulged, the blue light intensifying until it was almost blinding. Garild recoiled, his hands covering his eyes. Though stunned, the gap in the wall still widened. She needed to remove him from her mind, but the only thing she could think to do was to force him out. Trying to keep a steady hold on her powers, she forced some of the threads forward, snaking them around Garild as he stood stunned. As gently as she could, she flung him backwards, feeling a wave of relief as the bond snapped, her mind suddenly her own again.

She turned her attention back to the wall, even as she heard Garild gasp, probably suffering the same sensation she had felt when she’d been pushed back. With the intruder gone, the darkening threads had ceased their advance and she was able to relax the wall, letting it sink back into its original shape. There was still the gap to contend with, an opening that couldn’t possibly withstand another attack. She drew in a breath, and focused on the outside edges of the wall, trying to draw the power of them down into the breach. The outer edge of the wall dimmed, while the rim of the gap glowed with renewed strength. Slowly, new threads began to appear, weaving their way back and forth across the gap.

The process slowed after a time and her vitality with it. She felt tired, her energy draining with each new thread she formed. She found it hard to maintain her focus, and once, several threads broke before they could form, her power wavering too much to keep up.

As she started in on a new section, the entire wall flickered, the blue light becoming unstable. Something caught her eye and she found Tomias standing outside the wall, watching the process with concern.

“You’ve done well, Kirheen, but you’re losing strength. Much more of this and you risk losing the whole wall. Once that happens, there won’t be a force capable of stopping someone from getting in. Give it a rest.”

“But I’m almost there. If I don’t fix it, the next time he attacks, I won’t be able to stop him.”

He frowned. “If the whole wall is gone, will it matter? Leave it be and let your mind rest. We’ll resume training once the breach is closed, but you need to let it repair on its own. Rushing it won’t fix anything.”

She hesitated, the sense of the gap filling her with unease. It was a weakness, an uncontrolled variable and she didn’t like leaving it open to anyone.
Just a couple more threads.
She gave a final burst of power, forming several new threads at once. Immediately she regretted it. There was a loud crack, and a section of the wall crumbled, sending a cascade of blue sparks shooting into the air. The rest of the wall flickered, and she stood helpless, terrified that one wrong move would send the rest of it crumbling down.

Tomias shook his head. “You really aren’t one to listen, are you? Very well.” Holding up his hands, he pressed them gently against the air where her wall had crumbled. There was a sudden surge of power and the broken section of wall began to heal at an alarming rate. In a matter of minutes, it was as if the damage had never been done. The gap filled in, shimmering once more with icy blue light. She felt herself being pulled and then she was back in the room, blinking rapidly as she adjusted to the light.

Garild looked pale, his brow covered in sweat and his eyes wide.

“You look terrible,” Kirheen said.

“I’m alright, Kirheen. Just feeling a little dizzy.” He put his hands up, covering his face as he tried to keep the world from spinning. “You aren't looking so good yourself.”

“I’m rather tired,” she admitted. Exhausted was more the word she should have used. She felt absolutely spent, her eyes heavy and her thoughts sluggish. The thought of training another minute was almost unbearable.

“You both did very well,” Tomias said with a friendly smile. “You’re catching on quickly. Just like anything else, it’ll take practice before you can use your powers without completely exhausting yourself every time. As you may have noticed Kirheen, some things such as blocking, take a surprising amount of energy. You need to learn to conserve your energy and work smarter.”

“What happens if you push too hard,” Kirheen asked, feeling guilty that she hadn’t listened to Tomias. It was a weakness of hers, and while she could recognize that, controlling it was something else entirely.

“Depends on how far you push it. Exhaustion is just the start. You push beyond that and you risk losing your mind, unable to ever get the wall back as it should be. I’ve also heard of some falling into a deep sleep, never to awaken. Not gone from this world, but not really alive either.” With that he reached out and flicked Kirheen hard on the cheek. Her hand flew up, and she gaped at him, eyes blazing with annoyance.

“What was that for,” she hissed.

Tomias smirked. “That was for not listening to me. I get enough of that from Fenir. I don’t need it from you too. Next time I tell you not to push yourself, please don’t pretend that I don’t know what I’m talking about and do it anyways. I’ve been using these powers a lot longer than you have.”

She rubbed at her cheek. “Well, don’t worry. I think I learned my lesson.”

“I’m glad you’ve come to your senses. How are you feeling?”

“Terrible and slightly annoyed with you. I don’t think I’ll be able to move from this spot,” she yawned, melting into her seat. “I feel like I spent my day running around the whole of Sanctuary. Repeatedly.”

“To be expected. And you, Garild? Still feeling dizzy?”

He shook his head. “No, I’m alright now, just tired.”

“You both have an hour. I’d recommend getting a good nap in before we resume our training. It’ll be even harder next time, and I expect someone to win the game.” He smirked. “No pressure.”

Kirheen stifled another yawn. “What’ll you two do?”

Tomias glared at his bond mate. “Oh, I’m sure we can find something else to argue about while we wait for you.” Fenir grunted, shaking his head. He rose from his seat and stepped outside.

“We’re off to a good start. See! He’s already mad!” Tomias rose with a stretch, yawning loudly. “Take a nap you two, before you infect me with your exhaustion. I’ll wake you in an hour.”

Kirheen just waved her hand, too tired to speak any further. With the last bit of strength she could muster, she dragged herself to their room, flinging herself onto the bed. She didn’t even bother to slip under the covers, the cloying fog of sleep already too thick to ignore. She heard Garild plop down on his bed, heard the door click shut as Tomias stepped outside and then she drifted off into a dreamless sleep.

Tomias sighed heartily as he sank down on the steps next to Fenir. He ran his hands over his face, surprised to feel the prickle of hair on his normally clean shaven face. Had it really been so long? The week had flown by as he'd adapted his role to that of instructor. It had been quite a shift from his mundane duties, but he was starting to like it. “How do you think I’d look with a beard,” he asked Fenir.

“Ridiculous,”
Fenir scoffed.

“Really? I think I’d look rather dashing. I might just keep it.”

“Do as you wish. Just don’t expect me to claim any relation to you.”

“You always threaten me with that. A shame we look so similar. I don’t think you can claim otherwise.”

Fenir snorted, turning the conversation to other matters.
“How do you think they did?”

“Quite well, actually. Now if only I can keep Kirheen's curiosity in check, I think we’ll be okay.” Truth was, he was surprised how quickly they had both caught on. It normally took much longer before they could enter each other’s minds, let alone use their powers to start chipping away at each other. They’d done both, a sign that they had a decent feel for their powers. The late start to their training wouldn’t be so detrimental after all. “In any case, Nyson will be happy.”

“I suppose so. He’s pushing quite hard for results this time around. Could be dangerous.”

It was true. The incident with Herzin had agitated Nyson and caused a delay in training, something that he deemed unacceptable. He was expecting to see results and he wanted to see them soon, especially when it came to Kirheen. Despite what Tomias had told her, she didn’t have any predominant strengths. She wasn’t a natural blocker; she was a natural at everything. And such a person could be shaped, molded and trained to be whatever you needed them to be. It was precisely why Nyson was so interested in her, and why he would push Tomias and Fenir to train them as quickly as possible, no matter the cost.

While Tomias respected Nyson, he wasn’t about to go push them to the brink, especially not with Kirheen. She was too curious, too quick to find shortcuts and all too eager to take them. It was a dangerous situation to try and teach restraint to someone who had the potential to do so much more. He’d have to teach her control, before she accidentally hurt herself or others. If it meant taking longer with their training, then he was willing to face the consequences. He wouldn’t risk it.

“You think he’ll push for her to be on the Council,”
Fenir asked, face troubled.

Tomias frowned, his brow furrowed. “It seems likely, though I hate to think what would become of Garild if she is. Council status would dissolve their Bond, and unless Garild is strong enough, he'd spend the rest of his days making clothes and food for the rest of them. With how much Kirheen hates being Bonded, I’m sure she’d leap at the opportunity to be on her own if it were offered. She’s smart though. Hopefully she’ll figure out the truth sooner rather than later. Maybe it will convince her that being on the Council isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.”

“What truth is that?”

“That Nyson doesn't want them for anything but their powers, however big of a show he puts on. He just wants people that can be effective against the Darkness, people he can shape and mold to fit where he needs them.”

“If he asked, would you try to convince her? Do you think you even could?”

He shrugged. “Could I? Yes. Do I want to? No. I don’t entirely care for the art of manipulation, despite the fact that I’m damn good at it. It just doesn’t feel right, changing a mind like that. She’s still a child and one that might be a little too headstrong to be part of the Council!”

Fenir grunted.
“Age is a funny thing here. She's older than she looks. I'd say she probably isn' t too far behind us in age. Quit making it sound like we're old, brother.”

“Gah, I know! Sometimes I forget. Damn if I don’t feel it though. I swear by next year I’ll need a cane.” They were only in their 23rd year, still young themselves. Having been Bonded since birth, their powers had come naturally to them. Following the incident that had cost Fenir his voice, their powers had grown exponentially. The constant need to communicate mentally had brought them closer, made them stronger. The accident had been both a blessing and a curse.

His mind drifted back to that day. They had been so young, two scrawny pale twins with powers they had yet to master. They had been attending a meeting with Nyson to discuss their future participation in the Council when an ashen haired woman had burst through the door, her face contorted in rage. She'd flung all she had at Nyson, every ounce of power mashed into one desperate blow. It was a true testament to the power of their leader that he had been able to divert the amount of power hurtling towards him. Unfortunately, it had cost Fenir. The dissipated energy had flung outwards away from Nyson, speeding in their direction. Fenir had pushed him away, saving him from a blast that surely would have killed him. Though he survived the blast, Fenir' voice did not. Something had shifted inside his head, blocking him from speaking and he'd never been the same.

The woman was exiled, set loose in a world overrun by the Darkness. The fear of watching her be hauled away, flailing while she howled like an animal was still something that haunted him at night.

“After all this time, brother? What’s done is done.”

Tomias huffed, shoulders sagging. “Sometimes I hate that you can read my thoughts. But, I do think of that moment, brother. I think I always will. What happened to you wasn’t right and it wasn't fair.”

“I don't regret what happened. If things had been any different it would just be me sitting here today. That blast would have killed you and you know it. Besides, being this way affords me certain… benefits.”

“Like being able to scare children with a glance? I must admit, your infamous glare has become downright terrifying.”

Fenir smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. It was a look he saw so rarely these days, and most of the time only when Trista was present. He’d always had an affinity for the bright eyed healer, a small spark of light in his dreary world. Tomias could understand the allure. She was beautiful, even when streaked with plant paste and smelling of skunk bloom. He even allowed himself harmless flirting, something his brother found entirely frustrating. Regardless, he knew that it was one person that Fenir truly treasured. It wasn’t something he’d just take from him, even if the occasion arose.

As if manifesting from his thoughts, he watched as Trista made her way across the clearing. Her long red hair was loose around her shoulders, a rare and beautiful sight. Her face was bright and clear, free from the soot that had marred it before. She smiled sweetly as she approached. Fenir returned the smile, his features softening. He could feel the sudden rush of anticipation coming from his brother and he blocked it away, trying not to let it infect him.

“Good afternoon,” Tomias called, giving a slight wave of his hand. “How are you faring on this fine day?”

She snorted, setting a basket down between them. “I, unlike you, have been positively busy this morning.”

Tomias scoffed. “But you look so clean and fresh, very unlike the hard working lady we both love.”

She rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You’re looking positively lazy. In fact,” she bent down, inspecting his face. She grabbed his chin between finger and thumb, brushing over his stubble. “So much so, you’ve apparently completely given up on shaving.”

He could feel a wave of jealousy washing over him. This too he tried to block out, but it seared against his walls like an inferno. “Hey, now! I happen to like the new look. I was thinking a nice beard would suit me just fine.”

“You do that and Fenir will officially be more handsome than you,” she joked, turning towards his brother. “And how are you today, Fenir?”

He shrugged, giving her his best crooked smile. It frustrated him that he couldn’t speak to her. His thoughts remained locked away, unable to be shared. Trista, unlike everyone else around her, didn’t have any special powers. She wasn't born with them. What she did have was an affinity for plants, the hands of a healer and a kind nature that earned her admiration from all that met her.

Despite not being able to communicate, she was always kind to Fenir. She never left him out of conversations, even if it meant sounding like she was talking to herself. Tomias tried to help when he could, but he always felt strange speaking for his brother, as if his words were something he wasn’t quite meant to hear, let alone speak, especially not when it came to speaking to Trista.

“Is Kirheen feeling better,” she asked, drawing him away from his thoughts.

“All back to her fiery self! She is…” He stopped suddenly, sniffing the air. “What in the name of the Allseer, Trista?” He turned towards the basket; a basket that had suddenly began to emit the most delicious of smells. She smiled, brushing her hair back behind her ear.

“Wraith blossom cakes,” she said, bending down and opening the basket. She removed a white cloth from the top, revealing a pile of round golden cakes, their spongy middle speckled with blue. “Wraith blossom is a wonderful flower. It helps with mental clarity. I thought it might help with training today.”

Tomias frowned. “You mean, I have to share?” He made to reach into the basket but she slapped his hand away.

Trista returned his frown. “I know how you are around stuff like this! Hands off until Garild and Kirheen have some.”

“Fine, fine. Not like I wanted them anyways,” he huffed. “I’ll have you know, I promised them a whole hour of sleep so they could feel rejuvenated and prepared to take on another round of mind games. If I wake them now, they may just kill me.”

Trista turned on him, hands on her hips. “I’m sure they wouldn’t mind something to eat! With this kind of training they'll always be hungry!”

“Well, do
you
want to go wake them? If you truly insist, but I must warn you fair lady, it’s a dark and dangerous place in there. I wouldn’t want you to get hurt.”

“Then Fenir will just have to accompany me on this most dangerous of quests,” she turned, about sending Fenir into a panic. He whipped his hand back away from the edge of the basket, hoping she hadn’t seen. If she had, she pretended not to. “Will you join me?”

She held out her arm and Fenir rose from the steps, linking his arm with hers. Before they slipped through the door, Fenir took the opportunity to sneer at his brother. Tomias merely chuckled, leaning back until he was sprawled out on the porch. The midday sun beat down on him, warding him against the chill that had slowly begun to creep into Sanctuary. Soon, the trees would be bare, leaving behind nothing but a glowing blanket of leaves. And once those faded, the trees would fall dark.

The winter months always seemed unusually dreary because of it. He took comfort in the glow of the trees, that icy blue light that seemed to mimic the moon itself. He always felt uneasy when the trees stopped shining, as if somehow they protected them from the Darkness beyond the walls. If even there was such a thing to protect them from.

It was a thought that often filtered into his mind, no matter how hard he tried to lock it away. There were so many secrets, so many things Nyson wasn’t willing to tell. Sometimes he wondered if the Darkness really existed at all, or if it was just a tall tale, something to keep them within the confines of Sanctuary. He’d heard plenty of stories, sure, but he’d seen little to no evidence that there was anything outside the walls that would hurt them. Despite his doubt, it wasn’t something he was willing to figure out himself. If the Darkness did exist, he didn’t want to face it alone.

And certainly not in the dead of winter.

The click of the door disrupted his thoughts. He leaned his head back, watching as a very bedraggled Kirheen stumbled through the door. She was followed by Garild, his mouth stretched wide in a yawn.

Kirheen stopped a few steps away from him, looking down through bleary eyes. “What are you doing down there,” she asked slowly.

“Just taking a moment to relax. Did either of you get any rest?”

Garild plopped down on the stairs, pouting as he rubbed at his eyes. “That didn’t feel like an hour,” he complained.

“And I know just who to blame for that,” Tomias sighed, earning a cold stare from Trista as she stepped out the door. “But at least she has something to bribe you with.”

“What smells so good,” Kirheen asked, sniffing the air.

“That would be the bribe.”

Trista rested her hand on Kirheen’s back, urging her to sit down. She did so, taking a seat next to Garild. Satisfied, Trista opened the basket, the scent of the warm cakes wafting into the air. Tomias tried to ignore the rumble of his stomach as the smell hit him once again.

“Here is one for you,” Trista smiled, handing Garild a cake. “Try not to eat it too quick.”

He thanked her, taking the cake in his hand as if it were something delicate that would crumble if he moved too quickly. He sniffed at it and took a bite off the edge. “This is delicious,” he exclaimed and then bit into the moist cake in earnest, finishing it off in two large bites.

Kirheen was handed one next, and she stared at it, taking it all in before she stuffed it in her mouth. She didn’t even bother to savor it. “Thank you, Trista. That was really delicious!”