Page 19 of Twisted Bonds

Centaurs swarm the area, looking for any illegal trespassers in or out of the portals.

The Third shifts to his cat form, taking the lead to scout our path as my feet pound a breakneck speed through the forest floor.

Let’s hope The Keepers of the Portals don’t remember our scent, but if they do, we’ll be ready.

eight

Mira

“If you inspect it closely, you’ll pick out specks of a material that seem to sparkle. It’s more brilliant in the daylight, of course, but the flickering light of the torches can actually help you spot them down here.”

I lean closer to examine the thin line of red rocks between two layers of thicker sandstone. I bob and weave, trying to glimpse this sparkle Callum so passionately describes as a half-smile forms on my lips. He’s right about one thing. Time moves strangely down here. I don’t know if he’s been talking for twenty minutes or two hours.

The last time I was taken prisoner, I was in a tall tower where I could see the light of day when he opened my cell door at least. I let out a gruff hum, partly about the sparkle still unseen before me, but mostly because I’ve been taken prisoner twice in Illuemera. It’s not like I’ve been here for very long. Just a couple of months, probably. But maybe longer? I’m not entirely sure now that I think about it. I’ve either been running like a fugitive or stuck in a cell the whole time. What does that say about me?

After a thorough investigation of my cell, it was clear my escape would not be a Shawshank Redemption moment where I tunnel through the wall. I appreciate Callum’s presence, though. So, I let him take me on a journey over time discussing each layer in our shared wall, starting from the bottom. Some of it is admittedly very interesting, but mostly I like the distraction. Besides, I can tell he’s bursting at the seams to share it with me. It’s endearing in a way, how he shares his passion with me. Infectious even.

“Do you see it?” he asks with the genuine excitement of a young boy showing off his rock collection.

Before I can answer, the sound of boots clouds the hallway. The guards approach Callum’s cell and I hear the scraping of trays being exchanged. Dinner time, then.

But when two guards approach my door empty-handed, an uneasy knot forms in my stomach. The shorter one sports a set of fresh bruises around his eye and cut along his brow. If that’s how Tairyn treats those who work for him, I can only imagine what he has in store for me. The guard produces a key from his breast pocket.

The metallic song of the key sliding into the lock echoes in the narrow hallway, reverberating against my bones. I push myself away from the wall, moving towards the center of my cell as every muscle in my body tightens like a coiled spring.

A wave of cold fear washes over me, chilling my bones more than the damp stone ever could. The taller guard, a burly figure with a gnarled scar running across his cheek, grins menacingly at me.

“Where’s my dinner?” I try to sound nonchalant, but my voice trembles slightly.

“You’re to dine upstairs tonight.” He doesn’t sound too pleased with that. The big one gestures for me to step out of the cell and follow them. I hesitate, but what choice do I really have? Besides, maybe I can get an idea of the layout of this place.

I raise my chin like a princess being escorted by her royal guard, falling in step between them. In the other cell, I hear Callum shuffle out of sight as we pass his door.

Straight. Stairs. First door on the left. Long hallway. Stairs by a huge tapestry.

I focus so intently on the directions; I don’t even take in the eerie quiet haunting this rocky structure. By the fifth set of stairs, I know there’s no way I’ll remember all of this. Not in one trip at least. I finally let my eyes wander to the opulent wall dressings and plush rugs. The higher we climb, the richer the trappings become.

Then I’m standing in front of an oversized double door. The dark wood has eight panels, each with unique etchings depicting different scenes. Crowds of people watch an execution in one. A woman shoving a man into a well in another.

The guards shove the doors open, revealing another room carved into the rocks, yet a roaring fire crackles on the far wall. The warmth hits me first, followed by the subtle scent of smoke and fresh roasted meats which are laid out along a long table. My eyes brush over the spread where cheeses and fruits are piled high before seeking out Tairyn.

He’s leaning against a floor to ceiling wall of bookshelves, a book open in one hand as if casually reading a passage before our meal. My eyes narrow as I step into the room. No normal person reads standing up. He must want me to see him reading then, but why?

The doors slam shut behind, and as if drawing his attention his gaze falls on me.

“Please, come in.” He shuts the book in his with a graceful flick of his wrist before it disappears with a swirl of purple Chroma. My brow flicks in surprise despite myself. I’ve never seen someone use Chroma like he does. My own magic is stunted by the shield around me, but the part of me that yearns to learn more is intrigued.

My arms cross my chest, tightening as if to steel myself.

“Tell me what happened to Sunder and Bobble.”

The demand comes out before I can even consider what tactic might be best. Sunder is rubbing off on me. Tairyn’s lip purse just slightly in displeasure before his casual manner returns. He gestures for me to take a seat at the small table set for two.

“I have no interest in them, so I left them where they lay.”

My stomach plummets at his words. Left them where they lay? “Dead?” The word is a whisper, my voice barely audible even to my own ears.

Tairyn shrugs as he moves to the table, pulling out a chair. He eases into it with an air of nonchalance that boils my blood. “I didn’t check their pulses.” His eyes twinkle with amusement, matching the grin playing on his lips. The blood drains from my face, my jaw going slack as the air in my lungs still. Before I can say anything, his smile falls just slightly, and he continues. “But no, I do not believe they are dead, Vessel.”

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