Forbidden Bond Read online

  They didn’t ask questions, just disappeared to do his bidding. What was it like, to have people who just obeyed you without question? Even though Brianna and her twin were accepted as the leaders of their village, there was still no way anyone would listen to them without voicing suggestions, adding ideas and even outright arguing with them. And she wouldn’t change that, even if she could. The older villagers had information and wisdom she and Mianna sometimes lacked.

  In a few minutes, the men were back with pickaxes. As soon as they began to swing them at the replacement panel, Brianna realised how impossible it would be to keep this a secret. In minutes, the sound of steel on stone echoing through the village had brought quite a crowd. And they were all incensed.

  “What does he think he’s doing, destroying our crypt? He’s no better than the trolls,” Rasell called out.

  “You should stop him, Brianna,” his wife added.

  More voices added to the first two, until Brianna could barely distinguish the words, especially over the sound of the picks.

  She turned to walk across to explain to them, but Lyall beat her to it. “No one is going to stop me from investigating this crypt. Return to your homes. There is nothing to see here.”

  Brianna hid a grin at the outraged expressions on the villager’s faces, and hurried across to where they stood, before they yelled at Lyall. “Please, I know this isn’t pleasant, but L… Prince Balen has a reason for his actions. The trolls broke into this grave, and we need to know why.”

  “Because they’re trolls and like to destroy everything in their path? What more reason do you need?” Corlin said stubbornly.

  “Perhaps,” Brianna agreed. “But what if there’s another reason? That last battle was different from all the others, and we need to know why.”

  Corlin eyed Lyall sideways. “What does he care? He’s just like them, wanting to take over our village.”

  Brianna glanced at Lyall, but he seemed unmoved by the villager’s words, then back at Corlin as he added, “And why are you siding with him?”

  She winced. To the villagers, her presence here and agreement with Lyall’s actions looked like a betrayal. And to some extent, maybe it was. But if Lyall could work out why the trolls attacked, and maybe stop them, the whole village would benefit. But how could she get them to understand that?

  The truth was, she couldn’t. Not without telling them a whole heap of things she’d rather not divulge. And even then, it was doubtful they would believe her. “I’m not siding with anyone,” she said flatly.

  “And no one here has a choice in it,” Lyall interrupted her. “I am in command here and I will do whatever I wish.. Return to your homes now, or I will call someone to escort you.”

  There were some mutters and under the breath curses, but to Brianna’s surprise, the villagers did disperse.

  “You didn’t need to threaten them,” she said quietly. “They weren’t going to stop you.”

  Lyall raised an eyebrow. “I’m surprised you let them talk back to you like that. Aren’t you supposed to be in charge of this village?”

  Brianna laughed. “I negotiate disputes when people disagree and make the final decision on village matters, but I’m not ‘in charge’. Mianna and I are more like spokespeople for the village. We don’t control them, we help them.”

  “That doesn’t work,” Lyall said flatly.

  “It might not for a military invasion, like the one you’re conducting, but for running a small village, it works just fine.”

  Lyall got her point. And he refused to respond. Instead, he turned back to watch the soldiers who were just breaking through the heavy stone. Pieces fell to the stone below, sending a loud boom through the graveyard. One that could surely be heard throughout the village. Brianna winced.

  Lyall stepped forwards eagerly, and despite her misgivings, Brianna couldn’t help but follow. They peered into the crypt, but it was too dark inside to see anything.

  “Bring some torches,” Lyall ordered.

  The mages just stared at him. “Torches, sir? We don’t have any.”

  It was Brianna’s turn to grin. Why would mages need torches when they could use magic? She headed to the edge of the graveyard and called out to one of the shadows she could see still watching from the nearest home. “Bring a lantern.”

  The curtain fell, and a few moments later, Sari hurried over to the fence and passed her the lantern. She couldn’t help but hiss, “This is wrong,” before she hurried away again. Brianna smiled, and turned and brought the lantern back to the group near the crypt.

  Lyall took it off her and stepped inside first and Brianna didn’t object. The idea of walking into the grave was a little… creepy.

  Not creepy enough that she wasn’t interested though, and since Lyall wasn’t struck down for his desecration, she followed him inside.

  He held up the torch and its light reflected off the polished interior walls. Inside there was not one, but two skeletons, each on a raised dais on either side of the small space. They were arranged neatly, their hands resting on their chests and their heads turned towards each other. Brianna was quite surprised that they were undisturbed. The trolls had been in here and taken something. She had expected more destruction.

  “Husband and wife?” Lyall guessed.

  Brianna looked more closely, and shook her head. “They’re both female, see the wider pelvis? I guess they’re twins.”

  Lyall nodded slowly. “That makes sense. And explains why they have such an elaborate resting place. But it doesn’t explain what the trolls wanted.” He looked around the room as though expecting to find an answer written on the walls. But unlike those outside, these were bare.

  Careful not to touch them, Brianna examined the two skeletons. Though years had rotted away the flesh, the cool dry conditions of the crypt had persevered scraps of the material they had been dressed in. It looked like white silk. Brianna looked from one to the other and a realisation came to her. “It was their wedding day. They were both brides.”

  Lyall raised an eyebrow. “What makes you say that?”

  “They’re wearing white and that’s reserved for weddings. They died on their wedding day.”

  Lyall frowned. “Where is their husband then?”

  “Maybe they were interrupted before the ceremony was completed, or maybe their husband didn’t die. I don’t know.”

  “So what were the trolls after then?”

  There was nothing else in the tiny crypt. No shelves or benches on which anything could have sat. Only the untouched skeletons. Brianna bent over the closer one, a glint of something catching her eye. “Bring the lantern here.”

  Obediently, Lyall moved the light closer, over her head. There it was. Hidden under the skeletal fingers was something shiny. Brianna was hesitant to touch the body, but curiosity overcame her caution, and she gently lifted up the fingers to reveal a perfect, heart shaped blue jewel. Her breath caught.

  Lyall whistled. “That’s some gem,” he said.

  Brianna hesitated and picked it up to examine it more closely. As soon as she touched the gem, colours whirled around her, blocking out the walls of the crypt. They swirled so fast that she couldn’t make them out. She was outside the crypt, looking down at it, but it was different, all covered in colourful paintings, and there was snow. Then she was again staring at the gem in her hand.

  “It can’t be what the trolls were after though, since they left it here…” Lyall’s voice sounded faint. He paused, staring at her oddly. “Brianna?” he asked softly.

  She couldn’t tear her eyes away from the gem. What had she seen?

  Lyall reached out his hand towards the gem, but Brianna snatched it away. “No,” she said, though she had no idea why.

  He frowned. “Let me see it,” he demanded. “What is it?”

  Brianna shook her head. “Nothing, it’s just a gem.” She couldn’t give it to him. Not now. Not when she was pretty sure it had overcome whatever barrier surrounded and protected
her village. That had to be what the swirls of colour were.

  Though he was still frowning, Lyall didn’t push her. Instead, he turned to the other skeleton and examined the hands under the lantern light, moving them carefully. “This one doesn’t have one. Could that be what the trolls were after?”

  It made sense. If this gem could access magic through the shield, then it would be very powerful to anyone who could use it. Did that mean…? “I think they could be your mages, Lyall.” The words were out before she could stop herself.

  “The trolls?” Lyall frowned. “Impossible. The other mages were human.”

  It did seem impossible, but there was no other explanation for what she held in her hands. Not that it was really an explanation, more like a whole new set of questions. Brianna hesitated as Lyall stared at her, a frown creasing her brow.

  Could she trust him? Was there really a chance he could free her village from the threat of the trolls?

  Was it worth the risk?

  Brianna held out the gem to him, her hands shaking. “Then explain this,” she said.

  Setting the lantern down on the floor, Lyall took the gem gently from her. Then he gasped. “It’s channelling magic through the shield!”

  “If the trolls took the other one…”

  Lyall’s eyes widened. “The only reason they would need it is to be able to use magic themselves. Which means they are mages.”

  Brianna nodded. “They must be.”

  Lyall shook his head. “But the other mages were humans, I’m sure of it.”

  “I don’t know,” Brianna said. “It’s the only explanation that makes sense.” Then she remembered something. “When I first picked up the gem, I could see outside, and the paintings on the walls. Perhaps they explain something more?”

  Lyall frowned. “You could see outside?”

  Brianna just nodded. Lyall glanced at her one more time, then, leaving the lantern on the floor, he headed outside and looked at the first panel. “You were right,” he said softly, “It’s a wedding. It’s beautiful.”

  All Brianna could see was a blank wall with a few flecks of paint. She reached out and put her hand over Lyall’s, touching the gem through his fingers. For a moment, the wall in front of her shimmered, then it took shape.

  She’d been right. The first picture showed a wedding, the two blonde twins dressed in elaborate white gowns, with flower garlands on their heads, both holding the hands of the man between them. But while the woman on the left looked happy and radiant, the one on the right had tears on her cheeks.

  Brianna glanced at Lyall and a frown etched across his face. Together, they moved onto the next panel. Here, words spilled from the left woman’s mouth, a poem of love and forever as she stared at the man. But Brianna’s attention was held by the other woman, who stood beside them, still a picture of misery. She had all Brianna’s sympathy.

  In the next panel, the now married couple stared as the second twin fled the scene, her hands over her face. They frowned at her retreating back.

  “Why is she leaving?” Lyall’s question sounded rhetorical, but Brianna answered it anyway.

  “Because she doesn’t want to marry the same man her twin does.” Following the second twin’s escape, she could see something else in the picture. She pointed. “I think she might be in love with that man.”

  “What are you both talking about?” Urster asked suspiciously.

  They both turned to him and spoke at the same time. “The pictures on the panels.”

  Urster frowned. “There’s nothing there, it’s all faded.”

  This time, Brianna let Lyall answer. He opened a gap between his hand and Brianna’s and showed the stone to Urster. “We found this in the crypt and it somehow breaks through the magic barrier. The magic allows us to see the picture clearly.”

  “Then keep it away from her, if it lets her use magic.” Urster didn’t even bother to hide his distrust. “She’s probably just waiting for a chance for you to be distracted so she can wrest control from you. Remember, since you’re only bonded to one twin, she’s more powerful than you.”

  His words hurt, but she couldn’t blame him.

  Lyall though, laughed. “Brianna is not going to hurt me.”

  Urster’s scowl deepened. “That’s just what she wants you to think. You’re a fool for a pretty face, Lyall.”

  Lyall stared at Urster for a moment, his face taut. Then he turned to Brianna deliberately, and handed her the gem. He smiled down at her, and Brianna’s heart warmed at the fact that he trusted her so completely.

  Then he turned back to Urster. “Do we need to have this out again?”

  Urster glanced back and forth between her and Lyall, his face a picture of uncertainty. He clearly thought she would attack Lyall any minute, and he wasn’t sure which threat was worse, her, or his superior’s clear displeasure.

  When she made no move to attack anyone, he made his choice. “No, sir. Of course not.” And he stepped back.

  Lyall watched him for a few more moments, then nodded, and turned back to Brianna. “Shall we look at the next one?”

  She nodded, and Lyall’s hand closed over hers again as they stepped towards the next panel.

  The two twins stood facing each other, anger on their faces. Each one held the hand of a different man. Around them, a circle of people, dressed in their best, waved their fists.

  “What’s going to happen?” Brianna asked softly.

  Lyall just moved towards the next panel, around the corner now. Brianna followed, just as eager to know. Had the villagers accepted the girl’s choice of two separate husbands? Somehow, she doubted it.

  And her doubts were confirmed. The next scene showed the villagers trying to pull apart the second twin and her man as they held each other’s hands tightly. Brianna glanced at the first twin who was frowning.

  Lyall hurried her on. There were only two scenes on the back of the crypt, but the next one was even more disturbing than the first. The second twin held up her hands and lightning flew from them towards the first twin and her husband. Brianna’s hand flew to her mouth.

  Their hands clasped around the gem, Brianna and Lyall hurried around the corner to the next panel.

  In this one, all hell broke loose. Lightning flew in all directions from both sets of twins and some of the onlookers. The magic filled the entire panel right to the edges. How far had it gone? Could it possibly be the source of all the stories of people randomly killed by magic so many years ago? Was this Lyall’s ‘Great War’? It took a minute to sort through the confusion, but Brianna’s gaze was drawn to the first twin’s husband who was encased by some sort of shield, that the lightning bounced off. The second twin shoved her partner behind her as they tried to escape into the trees.

  They weren’t going to make it. Brianna’s eyes slid to the next panel, where the twins both hurled lightning directly at each other, anger in their eyes. Lyall’s grip tightened on hers and both of them stepped towards the next panel, knowing what they would see.

  Both twins lay on the grass, blood staining their white dresses. The two men stood behind them, and the villagers stared at all of them. The lightning was gone, though dark clouds rolled overhead.

  There were two more panels, one on this side, and another at the front, and Brianna dreaded what they would find. The twins had killed each other over men, how much worse could it get?

  A lot worse apparently. The next panel showed the two men, now facing each other, hands raised in anger. No magic was thrown here, but Brianna didn’t think it was far below the surface. The villagers arrayed themselves evenly behind the men, choosing sides.

  Brianna hardly dared look at the final panel but the need to know drove her steps. She and Lyall stared together.

  Magic flew across the image, and beyond. Within the image, the two men faced each other. One of them, the first one, had claimed both twin bodies and the second tried to push past him. But the first held up his fist, and Brianna could see what the second
man, focused on the body of his beloved, could not. Slowly, starting at the back of the villagers on that man’s side, their colour and shape was changing. The actual outcome wasn’t clear from the images, but it was enough for Brianna to be sure.

  “He turned them into the trolls.” Her voice was hushed by horror.

  Lyall’s lips were tight. “They are the mages then. And the war between them was started by....”

  “… a stupid law that won’t allow people to make their own choices,” Brianna finished.

  Lyall pulled his eyes from the picture to stare at her. “But why did they fall in love with different men, if the law clearly forbids it?”

  Brianna raised an eyebrow at him. “Uh, because they aren’t the same person. Twins may look the same, but that doesn’t mean they are the same underneath. Mianna and I are different people. She likes to stay home and sew and knit, while I’d rather be out riding or practicing sword-fighting. Why would we fall in love with the same man?”

  Lyall stared at her for a few moments, then nodded. “Perhaps it is good that we haven’t had any twins born on Isla de Magi in years. It seems that their confrontations can get a little… messy.”

  Brianna laughed. “They can. But Mianna and I usually don’t throw lightning at each other!”

  “I’m glad to hear it.”

  Lyall turned back to the panel and stared at it again. “This man is my many times great grandfather,” he said softly. “The King’s lineage started from the man who won the great war.”

  Brianna looked at the other, and frowned. “Well, I’m not a troll, so I don’t think I’m descended from this man. Where did my people come from?”

  Lyall frowned for a minute. “I don’t think you’re from either side. I wonder…” He walked around the panels again, checking each one. Then he stopped. “Where is the other panel that stood next to this one? That grey one isn’t the original, is it?”

  “No, of course not. The original was destroyed by the trolls, we couldn’t repair it. But the pieces are at the stonesmiths, waiting to be recycled.”

  “Lead the way,” Lyall said.