Page 77 of Wings of Ebony
“With this Bind, I eternally vow,” he says.
I look to tech and he shrugs, nodding at me. “W-with this Bind, I eternally vow.”
“To mind my work with fervor and allegiance.”
“T-to mind my work with fervor and allegiance.”
“And whatever cause thine Wisest might deem.”
I don’t even know this man?! “I…” Tech nods for me to go on. “A-and whatever cause thine Wisest might deem,” I say, shoving the words between my teeth.
“To uphold the pillars upon which we’ve been built.”
“To uphold the pillars upon which we’ve been built.”
“Benevolence. Generosity is quite important here.”
“Benevolence,” I say.
“Duty. We Ghizoni do what’s required of us.” He levels his gaze at me. “Whateveris required… for the good of Ghizon.”
I nod. “D-duty.”
“And fidelity.” He lifts his chin, eyes glaring down at me. “And we areunyieldingly…loyal.”
“F-fidelity.”
He studies me for a moment. “Tech, you may initiate the bond.”
The next few minutes are a haze of agony. One minute I’m sitting while Tech’s holding the hot stones to the insides of my wrists, apologizing every few seconds. And the next minute my insides are a crescendo of sharp pangs.
“AH!” My skin screams like it’s being fried in hot grease. Everything’s black, there’s so much pain I can’t see. “Make it stop!”
“Almost, Rue. Hang in there.” Tech presses harder and the skin underneath splits open. I gasp and brace for the pain of my wrists splitting open, but it never comes. A swell of cool seeps into my veins, winding its way through me like it’s looking, searching for something. Within seconds, the magic douses every simmering part of me like sand tossed on a fire.
I blink the world back into focus and sit up straighter.
I don’t know if my skin feels better or if I’m just numb. But the burning has stopped, and my wrists are sore but normal. Round stones sit fused to the insides of my wrists like little half moons. The edges around the onyx where my skin meets the stones are swollen and puckered like stitches that’ve come out too soon. I rub a thumb across one but it doesn’t hurt. Thank goodness.
Tech offers me a hand to steady myself, but I don’t need it so I don’t take it. On my feet, everyone’s staring at me, their expressions haunted with disbelief.
“What?” I ask.
“Y-your bandages… I-I… y-you…” Tech points at my wrists, his arms full of bandages I apparently don’t need. “Th-there’s no blood.”
The puckering that was just there is gone, and smooth skin meets the onyx.Wow, he wasn’t kidding.
“I don’t… it’s not even irritated.” He stares half flabbergasted,half intrigued. “I’ve never seen skin take to magic so quickly.”
The Chancellor storms out.
What’s his problem?
“H-how do you feel?” Tech asks. The General rubs his thin layer of beard, studying me. HowdoI feel? I can feel a hum of the magic nestled inside me comfortably, like it’s sitting there waiting… listening… ready. I crack my neck.
“Fine,” I say. “Better than I have in a while actually. Thanks.” I pat Tech on the shoulder and see myself out.
It’s been a couple of weeks since the Chancellor affixed onyx to my wrists, and between getting moved into Bri’s dorm, learning the ropes here—basic stuff, like where to eat, finding a place to shower—I’m just now picking up my books. My arms are heavy like I’m carrying a pile of bricks as I push open my room door.
