Soulbound (The Return of the Elves Book 1)

by Bethany Adams

  The door opened before she could gather her courage. With a wince, Arlyn dropped her hand, but Selia only gave a gentle smile. “Please, do come in. There is no need to stand there fretting. I will do my best to ensure nothing bad happens to you or your home while you are learning to control your powers.”

  Arlyn frowned. “How did you know?”

  “Your shielding falters when you experience strong emotion. That is one of the first things we will work on.”

  Arlyn followed her teacher into the room and shut the door. Iren sat in a chair next to the window, his feet kicking restlessly, as Selia led her to the other two chairs surrounding a small table. Arlyn forced herself to sit, though she was as antsy as Iren. “Are you sure you want your son here? If I am dangerous, it might be best for him to be elsewhere.”

  “May I call you Arlyn?” At her nod, Selia continued. “As you may call me Selia.” She leaned forward. “Anyway, Arlyn, I hope I have not frightened you with my quick arrival. Your situation is serious but not so dire that we should fear for our lives.”

  Arlyn gripped the arm of her chair. “Everyone seems so concerned.”

  “If you pulled in that much energy, then lost control, you could level much of the estate.” Without even looking, Selia tapped a hand on her son’s legs until he stilled. “As could Iren, here. It isn’t a matter of power. The problem is knowing how to keep it contained.”

  Arlyn swallowed against the knot in her throat. Level the estate? “I don’t feel especially powerful.”

  Selia smiled again. “I doubt you pull in as much as you could. Or maybe you do not even notice anymore. Mages start learning early as a matter of necessity. Perhaps you formed your own methods before you were old enough to understand.”

  Arlyn thought back to her childhood. The way the world had always seemed to glow with power. “Maybe.”

  “In any case, it is not sheer power that most concerns me about you. It is the ease with which you have used it. That in your fear for your bonded you could do a type of magic you likely did not even think possible? Quite remarkable.”

  “Not to mention painful.”

  “Doubtless,” Selia agreed. “In the normal course of things, you would have been taught how to use your magic in stages. But what you did blasted everything open at once. The healer must have done a remarkable job, as did your father in shielding you, or there would likely be strange happenings around you.”

  Arlyn’s heart skipped a beat. “I have no idea what they did.”

  “I suppose the first thing I should do is test you to see what types of magical channels you have, how well they have healed, and how much power you possess.” She turned to frown at her son. “Iren, stop squirming. If you want something to do, then observe how I test Arlyn. But do not do anything yourself.”

  The boy perked up at his mother’s suggestion, but Arlyn stiffened. It didn’t sound like a pleasant process. “What do I do?”

  “Just relax. Your father dropped the shielding he had on you, but I still need to worry about your normal defenses. The calmer you are, the better.” Selia studied her a moment. “Though if you have learned to communicate telepathically, then try this—when you sense my presence, allow me in as though we were going to speak.”

  Arlyn took several deep breaths and let her hands fall lax into her lap. Her stomach still churned, but she closed her eyes. After a moment, her teacher’s energies brushed against her own, and Arlyn let Selia through. When Selia’s thoughts touched hers briefly in reassurance, no actual connection happened between their minds. Only a strange sort of buzzing in her head, almost like a tickle.

  Shivering, Arlyn dug her fingers into her leg to keep from pushing back against the maddening sensation. But before she started squirming in her seat like Iren, the odd humming stopped, and her teacher’s presence receded. She opened her eyes to find Selia and Iren staring at her. “What? That bad?”

  “Not bad, precisely.” Selia shook her head. “Your channels are well healed from the teleportation incident, and you are only a little above average in power. But I noticed several odd things about your energy patterns and the types of talents you possess. Most of them are remarkably similar to mine and Iren’s, so much so that I wonder how closely you might be related. But I did not recognize a couple of those talents. And I can identify every type of magic on every branch, even if I can’t use it myself.”

  Arlyn gripped her hands together. “So you can’t teach me.”

  “I did not say that. But until I can figure out what those talents are, we will need to use greater caution.” Selia gave her son a frustrated look as he started bouncing in his seat. “What is the matter?”

  “Does she have space magic? Can we circle the planet?”

  Arlyn laughed at the blank look on her teacher’s face. “Humans don’t use magic for that, just technology. In fact, most humans think magic is a myth.”

  “Most?” Selia’s eyes narrowed.

  “A few religions believe in it still, but it is different than true magic. There is rarely an effect you can see, like fire, or lightning, or teleportation.” Arlyn frowned, struggling to put her thoughts into words. “A lot of modern paganism revolves around using your will to make changes in the world around you, but it is subtle. Like putting all of your energy toward a goal until it becomes reality. Sometimes it is as much about altering the flow of what already exists than in creating something new.”

  “Perhaps that is it,” Selia whispered, and a sudden grin split her face. “How interesting. I was not aware such a thing as human magic existed. Do you have any of these pagans in your human ancestry?”

  Arlyn laughed. “Much of it is religious, not genetic, though I suppose the talent for the magical part might run in the family.”

  “Genetic?” Iren asked, brow furrowed.

  “Part of your bloodline,” Arlyn answered. “Anyway, I’m not sure. My mother was psychic, sort of like a seer, but that’s all I’ve ever heard.”

  “Well, I suppose we will find out as we work. What you were saying about using your will—that sounds similar to what happened when you teleported. While elves certainly use their will to do magic, we almost always need to know what the result should be. But you wished yourself and the others to safety without knowing how, and your magic found what was needed to make that happen. Accomplishing the goal without knowing the path? Now that is fascinating.”

  Lyr relaxed his fingers where they clenched on the pen and scrawled out his command. By Emora, if Lady Alarele couldn’t find a way to make House Nari behave, he was going to have to go down there himself. Holding a summer solstice festival a handbreadth from the border they shared with House Amar after pointedly not inviting them? He dropped the pen to rub a tired hand across his eyes. At least the feud was petty.

  Petty but annoying.

  When the door opened, Lyr sagged against his chair in relief. He would welcome almost any distraction not involving bloodshed. But the solemn look in his mother’s eyes as she approached, a heavy book clasped against her chest, had him questioning that thought almost at once. He shot a glance at the window and the moons riding high. She must have been deep into research to work so late.

  “Good, you are still here,” she said as she hurried up to his desk. “Well, not good. I hope you aren’t working too hard.”

  Lyr smiled up at his mother. “I’m a little behind. But I am rested enough.”

  Her return smile was strained as she set the book on his desk and opened it to the page she’d marked. “Rest may soon be in short supply. I finally found something.”

  “Wonderful,” he answered, his voice dry.

  “I couldn’t locate any records of the underhill experiencing this type of energy poisoning before.” Lynia ran her finger along a line of text. “But in this report, there is mention of a spell devised by a mage student that caused the same effect. Not on Earth. On Moranaia, about seven thousand years ago.”

  Lyr turned the book, reading the report for himself
. Then his curse broke through the silence. “The source is here. Or from here. But why?”

  “A good question.”

  His fingers tapped on the surface of his desk as he considered the problem. “Could you do a bit more research for me?”

  Lynia smiled. “Of course.”

  “Search through the records of those who have traveled to Earth or been exiled there and narrow down those with the ability to do such a spell.”

  “The exiles should be easy, but mere visitors are much more numerous.” She settled a finger over her lips as she considered the problem. “It might take a day or two.”

  “The Sidhe have waited this long. That is more than soon enough.”

  With another smile, his mother leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. “Get some rest. I’ll not see you as drained as Kai.”

  “I’m nowhere near that far gone.” Lyr grinned. “But a good reminder, nonetheless. One more report, then I’ll go to bed. I promise.”

  “See that you do.”

  His smile lingered after she was gone, even when faced with another petty dispute. If House Anar planted their crops over the border one more time… Lyr ran a hand through his hair, then lifted his pen. Energy poisoning or no, his work wouldn’t wait. His people deserved no less.

  Even when they were acting like iron-cursed idiots.

  Arlyn flipped onto her stomach, her arm stretched across the mattress. Her body was heavy with exhaustion, but her mind refused to still. How many hours had she tossed and turned since leaving Selia? Did she even want to know? Her sigh warmed the pillow beneath her cheek. One pleasant spot in an otherwise cold bed.

  Dammit, it wasn’t the same without Kai.

  She ran her hand along the empty space where he’d lain. For God’s sake, he’d been unconscious when she slipped into bed the night before. It wasn’t as if they’d really slept together. But just his presence had been a silent comfort, a balm she hadn’t realized she needed. Not even the thought of visiting the sacred tree again filled the hole of his absence.

  Arlyn pounded a fist against his pillow, then pushed herself to sitting. With a groan, she dropped her head to her knees. She didn’t even know him. Did she? They had spent much of the day together as he’d helped her get ready for the presentation and her teacher’s arrival. She knew the curve his lips made when he teased her. The gleam in his eyes as he’d offered bad suggestions for her speech to make her laugh.

  His mouth moving over hers.

  Groaning again, Arlyn flopped back onto the bed. It was going to be a long, long night.

  Arlyn glared at the cup of tea in her hand and wished it was coffee. Too bad she couldn’t transmute it as easily as she’d transported them back to the estate. But no. No matter how hard she stared, the herbal tea gleamed back at her, unchanged in the morning light. What use was magic if she couldn’t will herself some caffeine?

  Her father entered, then drew up short a few paces from his seat. His brow rose. “What are you doing?”

  “Trying to make coffee.”

  She was certain the sound he smothered was a laugh. Her glare turned on him, and he lifted his hands in surrender. “Sorry. According to Lady Selia’s report, you don’t have the ability to transmute. Good thing. I’d rather not be turned into coffee, myself.”

  His wry comment had drawn a chuckle before she processed the rest of his words. “She is giving you reports on me?”

  “Relax,” Lyr answered as he took his seat. “I receive progress reports on all apprentices. Though I admit yours made it to the top of the pile.”

  She couldn’t help squirming. “Did I make an A?”

  He paused to look it her, syrup plopping from the fruit he’d just dipped into the bowl. “What?”

  “High marks. Good grades.” Arlyn huffed at his blank look. “Was it a good report?”

  “Ah, I think I see.” His eyes cleared of confusion as he lifted the fruit and took a bite. She tried not to squirm again at the wait as he chewed. “Learning requires both success and failure. It isn’t a matter of grading. You’ll apprentice until you’ve mastered what you need to know.”

  “But what did she say?”

  Lyr smiled at the fingers she tapped on the table. Arlyn jerked her hands into her lap as he met her gaze. “Lady Selia detailed what she found when she tested you. That is all.”

  Arlyn glared down at her tea again. “She didn’t even tell me that.”

  “I doubt she will until she finishes shielding the workroom I’ve provided for your practice. The less you know, the less you can accidentally manifest.”

  “Not fair.”

  “If you’d believed you could really turn that into coffee, would you have put more energy into it? Even untrained?”

  Her breath made ripples in the tea. “As tired as I am? Probably.”

  “Tired?” Lyr frowned. “Have you not restored your reserves? You shouldn’t have used much yesterday. We don’t really need to sleep otherwise.”

  “Maybe it’s the human in me.”

  Before he could answer, Kai strode in, looking so rested she had to grip her hands together to keep from smacking him as he leaned over her chair. It seemed he hadn’t lost any sleep over her absence. Then he placed another cup in front of her before dropping into the seat beside her. She frowned down at it a moment before meeting his amused gaze.

  “What’s this?”

  “Something to perk you up.” His lips twisted into a smile. “I could sense how much you needed it.”

  Arlyn lifted the cup and sniffed. The blend reminded her of black tea and peppermint. She took a long drink and savored the warmth as it slid down her throat. Only after half of it was gone did she look up at him again. “You seem to have passed the night well enough.”

  “After Lial got angry enough to force me under.” The humor dropped from Kai’s face. “I’m sorry you didn’t sleep well.”

  With a shrug, Arlyn looked away. “I’ll live.”

  “Do you think you are up for some training?”

  Her gaze shot back to Kai. “Training for what?”

  “I want to see what you can do.” He smirked. “Then maybe you won’t have to worry about me treating you like a damsel in distress.”

  “Maybe?”

  He mirrored her shrug, but a teasing gleam had entered his eyes. “I suppose it depends on what you can do.”

  Lyr cleared his throat, and Arlyn blushed. She’d forgotten he was even there. She pulled her gaze from Kai’s to focus on her father. Though he lifted a brow, he didn’t comment on the exchange. “That’s a good idea,” Lyr said. “I can’t get away this morning, or I’d come, too. Sword and bow, I’m thinking.”

  Arlyn finished off the last of her tea, then stood. “Fine. I’ll get my things.”

  Arlyn stopped short at the sight of Iren sitting on the low stone wall separating the practice field from the gardens. He gave a cheerful wave, then returned to watching a couple of her father’s soldiers practicing with their swords. The smile she’d given the boy dropped when she followed his gaze. These soldiers moved with a speed, grace, and skill that had nerves dancing through her gut. Human fighters looked like children playing with wooden sticks in comparison.

  Swallowing hard, she glanced at Kai. “Maybe I won’t practice.”

  “Why are you so nervous?”

  “Let’s just say I’m glad I never tried to use my blade. I would’ve been dead in seconds.”

  He pulled her toward a small stone building at the edge of the field. “Well, come on. The sooner I test you, the sooner I’ll know how much you need to learn.”

  “Kai, stop.” She jerked her arm out of his grasp. “I really hate being laughed at. Maybe we should come back when the field is empty.”

  “This from the woman who demanded a bow so she could charge after an assassin?” He frowned back at her. “Seriously, Arlyn, I don’t think anyone is going to laugh at you. Most elves, especially here, where there are a few of us who have been to Earth recently, wouldn�
�t expect a human to know what to do with a sword at all. They’ll be impressed if you can even hold it properly.”

  “That’s a condescending way to try to comfort me,” she said with a huff, though she did give up and follow him.

  Kai shrugged. “It wasn’t intended to be. You must admit sword work is hardly common in the human world these days.”

  Remembering the scorn she had often gotten for her strange hobbies, she could not disagree. “Fine. I’ll show you what I know. But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Kai led her into the small building and turned toward the right side. The place was filled with shelves, each stacked full of weapons and armor, a surprising array considering how few soldiers she had seen so far. “Who uses all of this?”

  Brows lifting, he glanced at her. “Lyr’s warriors, of course. You have the key to this estate and should be able to find out how many there are and where they’re located.”

  She paused, concentrating on her inner map for a moment, and gasped at what she found. They were everywhere—some in the barracks, a few in towers scattered around the estate, others perched in trees along the gardens—and she had not noticed any of them. “Why are there so many?”

  “Your father is three down from the king on this branch, Arlyn, and he also guards one of the nine sacred trees. Even when we’re at peace, this place is heavily protected.” He stopped before a wall stacked with swords and gestured. “Now, pick one you’ll be comfortable using. There are several sizes and weights here.”

  Arlyn sorted through quite a few before finding one similar in size to her own. She held her choice up to the light and examined it carefully, amazed by the workmanship. It was a magnificent blade, well-weighted and beautifully engraved along the hilt with trailing vines. Her brows raised. “This is a practice sword?”