The Binding (Chronicles of Azaria #1) (31 page)

“Why Ornixa?” I asked, secretly glad she
’d done most of the legwork. Perhaps it would be worth putting up with her haughtiness, after all.

“Because that is the closest shrine,” Navinka answered. “Unless of course you
’d rather we went to Viens and needlessly retraced our steps?”

Not in the mood for the lady
’s sarcasm, I conceded with a nod.

We left the alcove. Ryan reached for my hand, but my
dizziness had resolved, so I didn’t take it. Old habits, and all that. Plus, I didn’t need to provoke Navinka’s wrath again. The ceiling carving loomed, but I kept my eyes on the floor. I didn’t want to look at it again. A few scholars glanced my way, though they lost interest as we headed outside. Even so, I drew my hood over, just in case.

The snow continued to drift in sheets, blanketing the city in a beautiful frosting. The cold was more refreshing than harsh, and washed away the last of my nausea. It also seemed to blow away my final doubts, as for the first time since leaving Lanaran, a new hope swelled within me. It could just have been relief that I
’d been given some moments curse-free—or the fact Navinka was keeping quiet—but the clouds of despair had definitely started to lift.

I had a plan—a real, concrete
plan
—and there was a good chance it might even work. It was no Goddess Jewel, admittedly, and I needed to be careful the Holy Runes wouldn’t put me at greater risk, but their potential was clear. Already they’d proved to offer protection from the Binding, so it wasn’t a stretch to believe that with their full power, I’d be able to fend the curse off entirely. I knew there was a long way to go, and travelling to the shrines in the middle of winter wasn’t the greatest idea, yet this was something I could hold onto. Little by little, piece by piece, I’d forge my shield of runes, and reclaim my heart as my own once more.

We arrived back at
The
Clockwork Falcon
. Most of the morning rush had died, leaving the foyer empty. I stamped my boots to clear the snow, then entered the hall. Adam was waiting near the reception area. He stood up as we approached. Navinka passed him without a second glance, dragging Ryan to the ratchet lift, but I hung back.

“Well?” Adam stepped towards me. “Did you find…” He stopped short, staring at me. “Whoa, what happened to your eyes?”

I let out a breath.

“It
’s a long story,” I said. “But to be honest, I think it’s a good omen.”

Adam raised an eyebrow.

“What do you mean?”

I licked my lips.

“There might be a way out of this, after all.”

Adam
’s eyes lit up.

“Really?!” His voice quivered with excitement. “How?”

Before I could offer an explanation, my stomach growled. Well, I
had
spent all morning in the library.

“Uh, why don
’t we discuss this over lunch?” I said. “Your treat, of course.”

Adam blinked. Quickly
, though, his confusion became a grin.

“
Whatever you found must be good if you’re cracking jokes again.” He draped his arm around me. “Good to have the old Eliza back.”

His words brought on a smile. I didn
’t think I’d ever be quite the same again, but he wasn’t far wrong. The curse had shaken me up so much, I’d lost myself in hopelessness and despair. Just like my sister had, all those years ago. Yet unlike her, I’d succeeded in finding another path. I didn’t have to be Bound to another through feelings that weren’t my own, nor be pushed towards a future I’d never chosen. And though I had no clue what dangers lay ahead, I wouldn’t let fear hold me back.

My Binding revolution had begun.

TO BE CONTINUED…

Read on for the opening chapters of the second book,
The Parting…

CHAPTER ONE

‘Though the darkness held her fear, she knew he would always be by her side…’

–
Tale of the Binding

Snow was falling gently, and I traced the flakes drifting past the window. They sparkled beneath a pink moon, like the embers of a spent firework, and I smiled. It was almost hypnotizing—why I’d taken to watching them—although it had yet to calm my restlessness. Surprising, given I was so tired from riding all day, but even the comfort of a bed couldn’t help me settle. I’d only managed to toss and turn, and enjoy Adam’s snoring as he lay sprawled on the floor in his sleeping bag.

It had been two days since we left Begara, the Scholar
’s City. Two days since we’d set out to break my Binding; the ancient spell that forced people to fall in love. While it sounded like a fairy-tale, it was more a curse, stirring untrue desires and punishing those who resisted. For almost two years I’d avoided it, until recently, when in a moment of madness I’d abandoned my safe haven and run into Ryan.

Binding myself to him.

Of course, that had only been the start of my troubles. Too afraid to tell the truth, I’d convinced him to take me on his travels, hoping I could free myself in the meantime. Our journey had me on a knife edge between false feelings and an actual need to keep close to him. However, after I’d confirmed the curse was truly unbreakable, my best friend Adam caught up, along with men sent by Ryan’s father. That was when I learnt Ryan’s horrifying secret.

He was already Bound, and through a legendary gemstone avoided the ill effects of separation from his first partner, Lady Navinka. Namely
the symptoms of Parting, the terrifying delirium that hailed the transformation into an Unbound; a lifeless shell without thoughts or feelings. This left me in an unrequited Binding, where I would face those consequences if I strayed from Ryan, while
he
did not.

Yet my hopes were rekindled in the form of the Holy Runes, a mystic language of uncertain power. I
’d stumbled across them by accident, and during our visit to Begara had learnt of their relevance to the Binding—and their potential to free me. Hence we were travelling to Ornixa. There we planned to explore its Goddess Shrine, where hopefully we would uncover more runes, and be a step closer to breaking my curse.

The window shimmered, and I caught my reflection. A pair of navy eyes shone back, their edges
still tinted gold. I frowned, reminded of my latest rune-reading. I hadn’t expected to find a symbol in the Begaran library, and certainly not the change in my eye colour that came with it. Whilst I’d been exposed to the Holy Runes before, this was the first time they’d affected an uninjured part of me. It left me wary. Even if the runes were my weapon against the Binding, what price would they demand in return? Was I messing with something beyond my control?

Adam snorted and rolled onto his side. His brown locks were messed up, and saliva pooled at the corner of his mouth. I drummed my fingers on the bed sheets, jealous he could lie there so blissfully. Judging from the moon, it was well past midnight, and I needed a proper rest for tomorrow
’s ride. Yet despite my heavy eyelids, something kept me from sinking into sleep.

I wouldn
’t be surprised if it was thanks to a certain curse.

A sigh escaped me, and I stood up. Sitting here admiring the snowflakes wasn
’t working. I needed a more potent sedative.

Tip-toeing across the floorboards—and cringing when one creaked loudly—I picked up my boots and slipped into the corridor. A brief walk might exhaust my mind.
‘Brief’ being the key word, as the
Black Fox
only had six rooms. Still, it was better than camping in the blizzard outside. We had Navinka to thank for that. Irked as I was that the lady had become the self-proclaimed leader of our trip, I had to admit she knew the East Pass well. I’d never have found the village of Bardwall by myself.

I eased down the stairs to the main hall. Everything was silent, tangled in shadows and moonlight. Flashes of that horrible night in Terent flickered past, and I shivered. I
’d only suffered Parting once, but the memory would last a lifetime. Those black tendrils, choking my breath and snapping my ribs as they dragged me into an abyss of nothingness…I never wanted to go through that again.

So long as I didn
’t step more than half a mile from Ryan, I wouldn’t.

By the time I passed the empty couches, I
’d come to the stable entrance. Well, might as well make a complete lap before heading back again. I stepped inside the heated stalls, greeted by the scent of hay and horses. Duke lay on my left, his head bowed, while Sandy remained standing, resting her cheek against the wall. However, I wasn’t alone in paying them a visit.

Ryan stood beside Cielo, stroking the white horse
’s neck. His sandy hair lay tousled, his shirt untucked and stretched taut across his shoulders. The dim candlelight played around his face, framing his thoughtful expression. Absently I licked my lips. Goddess, he looked handsome.

Cielo snorted, and Ryan spun around. My breath caught.

“Eliza?” His confusion turned to a smile. “Couldn’t sleep either, huh?”

I leant against a stall door, remembering to breathe again. The curse was as
crafty as ever. Better stay alert.

“No, not really,” I said, trying to act nonchalant. “I
’m surprised you’re down here this late. You’re normally out like a light.”

Ryan
’s smile dimmed. He rubbed Cielo’s nose.

“Actually, you
’d be surprised. Sleeping used to be a big problem for me. Especially back in the manor.”

I blinked, forgetting my smouldering cheeks.

“Really?”

Ryan nodded. His green eyes were distant. He hesitated, unsure whether to continue, but then he found his voice again.

“I just…” He sighed. “I was always forced to act like someone I wasn’t, to be the ‘noble heir’ my Father wanted. Every night I’d lie awake, filled with guilt because I couldn’t live up to his expectations.” He clenched his fists. “After Mother died, it became unbearable. I’d get nightmares. So I’d take Cielo out star-gazing to find some peace.” He scratched Cielo’s ears. “I hoped he might calm me down tonight, too.”

I sat on a hay bale, intrigued. Ryan had never spoken much about life at home. I could see why; he
’d been downright miserable there. A somewhat humbling revelation, considering I’d lied about having a troubled past of my own. No wonder he’d been so sympathetic with me in the Galgiza forest.

“I see,” I said. “
That must’ve been tough.”

“It was lonely,” Ryan replied. “Cielo was the only real friend I had. I wouldn
’t have coped without him.”

“He
’s better company than some people I know,” I said. Cielo grunted in approval, and Ryan laughed. “How long have you two been together, anyway?”

“Father bought him when I was fourteen. He was only a foal then.” He nudged Cielo with his elbow. “When he grew big enough to ride, I spent almost all my time with him. He became my escape.”

“Escape?”

“From home.” Ryan
’s expression hardened. “I’d go riding any chance I got, just to get away. It was the only time I was ever happy. That angered Father, so he ordered Aronzo to accompany me whenever I went.” He chuckled softly. “Though that didn’t stop me ditching him sometimes.”

I nodded, though my memory of the dark-haired servant of Lord Glenford wasn
’t nearly as cheerful. He had almost drowned me in Lake Breska, after all.

“It was also a good way to keep away from others when in my Binding time,” Ryan went on. “Even Father couldn
’t argue with that.” A wry smile crossed his lips, and he fingered his necklace. “Of course, I never counted on running into someone.”

A dark thought stirred, and the words escaped me before I could think.

“Neither did I.”

I
’d spoken quietly, but from the way Ryan tensed, I knew he’d heard me. An awkward silence descended, and I folded my hands in my lap. I hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings, but the circumstances around my Binding remained a sensitive subject. Especially since the spell only affected
me
. It was a bit much for Ryan to speak so casually about it.

“Um, so…” I fumbled for a change of topic. “You must
’ve seen a lot of Azaria on your travels.”

Ryan blinked, brought back to the present.

“Oh, well…sort of,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’ve mostly been on the South Road. This is the first time I’ve come to the East Pass. I’ve not visited Estovan or the Greywater Canal, either.”

“It
’s more than me,” I said, seizing onto the distraction. “Before I met you I’d never been further than Bane, and Begara was about as exotic as it got.”

Ryan smirked. He abandoned Cielo and sat beside me. The Binding purred, but I ignored it.

“Jealous of my exploits, Eliza?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Oh please,” I scoffed, though it was light-hearted. “The whole
‘wandering vagabond’ thing never appealed to me. I was more than content helping Father with his clinics.” A more painful thought crept up, and I let out a wistful sigh. “Though that was never going to last, anyway.”

Ryan looked puzzled.

“What do you mean?”

I twirled a finger into a curl of my hair.
It was my turn to give up some history.

“It
’s complicated.” I began to play with the dials on the iasometer, which was still strapped to my forearm. My ‘keepsake’ from home. “Since I was little, I dreamed I’d study in Begara and become a healer like my father. After my sister became Bound, though, Mother wouldn’t let me travel alone. She was scared something might happen.” I swallowed, bitterness swelling to the surface. “Father let me assist him, but without a formal education, there was only so much I could do. Then Adam joined the Guardsmen, and I was pretty much on my own. When Mother started nagging me to settle down, I couldn’t deal with it anymore.”

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.