Bonds that Burn and Bind

Chapter 7 Part 2

Crash!

Orin tackled me to the ground.

"What the hells!" I said as I struggled to get away from him.

"Do you have her?" Lief called.

"I do!" Orin panted, like he had been running hard over a long distance. Then I took in my surroundings and stopped struggling.

We were right outside Ashwood Manor's gates, on the dusty road that slithered its way through plowed fields and the small cottages of the common folk who worked and tended the lands my father owned.

Daen and Lief appeared above us.
"How did we get here?" I asked. Seconds ago, we were in the blacksmith's workshop.

"The important question is how are you not out of breath?" Lief asked, bracing his hands on his knees. "You took off running like a lunatic— we had to chase you down."

"I did?"

"Yes!" All three men answered in unison.

"I don't remember," I said and cringed as the throbbing against my temples reignited with a vengeance as the wailing that had dulled somewhat began picking up in volume.

"I don't think you were yourself," Daen said, crouching beside me. "How do you feel?"
"My head hurts," I said, leaning back against Orin's chest as he pulled me tighter against him, not caring whether or not I should be trying to protest his touch.

"We should get you back to the house," Daen said, straightening.

"Yes," I agreed.

I took the hands offered by my brothers while Orin gripped me under my arms and pushed me up from behind. The voices increased in volume as I stood, and the world lost clarity again.
Hands grabbed at my arms and legs, lifting me into the air.

"What are you doing! Put me down!" I demanded and began thrashing against them.

"And she's back," Lief drawled from my feet, which he had wrapped both arms around.
"Do not let go of her!" Orin commanded from behind me.

"Wasn't planning on it, your Royal Highness."
I stilled, my breath coming out in short gasps not from fear but from physical exertion. My surroundings had shifted once again. Gnarled arms of trees reached upwards as if to claw the moon from the sky, and a wall of ever-present blue mist was visible in the near distance.

Shit.

"We're close to No-Land. "I said.

"Damn, Val's right!" Lief said, looking towards the mist that seemed to be omitting its own light. "We won't be able to follow if she goes through it."

"Cut this damn ring off me now, before that happens!" I said through gritted teeth.

"Okay," Orin relented. "But with what?"

"I have a knife," Lief replied.

"Where's Daem?" I asked sometime later while Lief positioned my hand on a boulder, serving as our makeshift surgery. Lief removed a pocket knife from his trousers and flipped it open. Its blade gleamed like a shattered piece of the moon.
The voices had quieted now somewhat, but they had once again become loud enough to pull me under their control. That time, I had been able to warn the boys and had come to with them, pinning me against the mossy forest floor, less than a yard away from No-Land's border.

"The second time you took off," Lief said, cutting a strip of fabric from his tunic. "He went back to inform Father and gather horses and men.

"And to inform my guards of where I am," Orin added.

"Was that necessary?" I asked. Too much gossip already swirled around me, and now even more would join it. Surely, the entire manor was awake now with the commotion that probably caused.
"My guards would have noticed I was gone, and  caused a bigger stir than if they did not know where I was."

"And father would kill us if we didn't get him. Plus you're fast when you're possessed."
I nodded my head reluctantly, now understanding their reasoning but still not liking it.

"Ready when you are," Lief said, gripping my hand tightly.

"Ready," I said.

"On three, one...two...three.."

A howl pierced the air, and I jerked in terror I wasn't sure was my own. I hissed at the searing pain.

" I thought you were ready?" Lief asked as warm blood gushed from my finger he nicked.

"I was..."I began, then trailed off. Quiet, no voices chanting or wailing. I looked down —my fingers on my left hand were now bare.

"It's gone!" I exclaimed."

Orin grabbed my hand but kept his other arm around my waist. His breath tickled my ear as he mumbled a string of words—nothing except a stir of desire for him.

"Is the curse gone too?" I asked.

"It appears so," Orin said, sounding a bit perplexed.

I let out a long exhale of relief. "Thank you, Father Sky! Mother Earth!" I said, and my eyes darted around the dark forest. "We shouldn't linger here long."

"I agree," Lief said. "Nothing good happens in the woods at night."

Orin released my waist and moved to my side, gripping my arm, as Lief skillfully wrapped my hand in cloth.

"You can let go now," I said, looking at Orin's hand.

"No, we do not know why it released you so suddenly."

I nodded, pretending I was letting his hand linger for that reason.