The Undine's Tear

Chapter 3: BONDED [Part 1]

Osaze looked between them, fear in his eyes, then turned back to Calandra. "Redeemed. That's what the queen did to me before, right? Is that what you mean by 'help'?" He clutched Calandra's arm. "Please don't do it again, Calandra. I—I think I would rather die than have that happen again."

As soon as Osaze touched her, a wave of desperation and fear crashed through her. She put her hands to her ears as though she could physically block out the sudden onslaught of emotion. Is it happening already? Is this the Madness?

When Osaze's hand fell from her arm, the emotions subsided. She slowly lowered her hands, staring at the boy. Those feelings . . . they had all come from him? Why had she felt them so strongly? Did it have something to do with the Heartstone?

"It's okay, Osaze. It doesn't hurt, does it?"

He shook his head and buried it in his hands. "That would be better. It's worse than anything you can imagine."

Calandra stared at him, stricken. As a rule, undines treated every living thing with respect. She had always been told that Redemption meant saving the men from themselves, cleansing them of impurities they could not purge on their own. But how could it be right to do something to these men that they hated so much?

Calandra's natural instinct was to reassure Osaze as she would any other frightened creature. Humming a lullaby and projecting calm, she took his hand and looked into his eyes.

This time, she was prepared for the emotions, though it took her a moment to organize and funnel their intensity into her opal Tear pendant. That wasn't what actually happened, but it was the mind trick she used to reduce the flow so she could remain herself while she touched him. After a few minutes, Osaze's pulse slowed against her thumb and his panic receded.

Tanni shook her head. "I'm still amazed every time I watch you do that."

Calandra smirked at the praise. "You'll get it eventually. It only requires spirit to work."

Tanni snorted. "Maybe. Is that what you meant by 'help'?"

Calandra glanced at her friend, then back at Osaze. "No. But I've changed my mind about that. I don't think I could Redeem him, even if I could figure out the Song. Not now." She squeezed his hand, and he gave her a small, grateful smile.

How she'd missed his smile.

Tanni pressed her lips together in disapproval, regarding him with distaste and a trace of fear. "If you don't, he will be found out. We could be exiled or worse, and he'll just be Redeemed again anyway. Assuming he hasn't done something that would earn him the death sentence by that point."

Osaze frowned at Tanni. "Like what?"

Tanni glared at him. "Like disobeying an order. Or neglecting your duties. Or being aggressive. Or showing any emotion whatsoever. Under Redemption, those would be impossible, so anyone who does them is considered a threat and an aberration. Which is why the best thing would be to Redeem you again, immediately. Anything else would risk your life and our freedom. Besides, men are dangerous." She paused, her expression softening to uncertainty. "Aren't you?"

Osaze frowned. "I don't feel dangerous. I've never wanted to hurt anyone. Why would anyone think I'm dangerous?" His eyes widened. "Did I do something I don't remember?"

Calandra shook her head. "I don't think so. It's just the way we've done things since forever. You grew up here, you should remember that. But anyway, we still don't know how. And we're not doing it, so that's that."

Tanni frowned at Calandra, then stared up at the domed ceiling of the antechamber. "There's got to be a solution. There's just got to be. Think, Tanni."