His tasks were so varied, with no string of congruence between them, that it left me feeling off-kilter each time I completed another obscure translation. Perhaps, though, that was his goal.
I’d start the day with a few Bonding ceremonies before making my rounds to check up on already Life Bonded couples while adding information to my growing collection of notes and observations. It was really miraculous what the Life Bond could do, and I was discovering more each day. Ben and Asha were still my primary subjects, and I trusted the results from their Bond the most because their Life Bond was administered when Ben was sick. There was no ulterior motive in their Bonding—Asha, while coerced to Bond, did so freely and without any personal vain motivations. She saw Ben dying and wanted to help, a completely altruistic action, and their Bond flourished because of it.
Not only did they share a life source and could heal each other when sick or injured, but Asha acted as Ben’s Vessel. Whilethat was her designation originally, I had a niggling sensation that it might not matter for a Life Bond if the Vessel was born a Vessel or a Mage. It was a theory I wanted to test out, but didn’t want to alert Lord d’Refan to my musings. So I started a journal with all of my deepest thoughts and kept it on my person at all times, fearing the information falling into the wrong hands, especially with the new, unpredicted side effects.
Recently, they were able to feel each other’s emotions and hear each other’s thoughts. They couldn’t communicate through their Bond—yet—but I had a feeling it was only a matter of time.
The other Life Bonded pairs, however, were not experiencing the same effects. Yes, they shared a life source, but it was in constant flux—one side of the Bond was always unfairly pulling rather than sharing equally. The Vessels also reported that it was painful when a Mage drew from them, like the magic was being ripped from their soul unwillingly. It left them feeling exhausted with faint external bruising, especially if a Mage drew a lot of power or drew too quickly.
The Mages also reported, albeit begrudgingly, that pulling from their Life Bonded Vessel took a concentrated effort. Like the magic was constantly evading their reach, and it took a heavy amount of willpower to forcibly pull magic from their Vessel.
The thought obviously concerned me, but I had yet to tell Lord d’Refan. The longer I stayed in his presence, the more it became obvious that he didn’t necessarily care about the aftereffects of Bonding. He was creating an army of Life Bonds—for what, I still hadn’t discerned.
That, more than anything, alarmed me.
I’d pulled Ben and Asha into my room shortly after they Bonded under the guise of a private lunch to impress upon them the importance of keeping the effects of their Bond a secret from the other Mages and Vessels, but from Lord d’Refan especially. They had to pretend that they encountered the sameproblems as everyone else because I feared what would happen if he discovered that the Forced Life Bonds weren’t behaving the same way as Ben and Asha’s.
After my time with the Bonded, I was generally called away to do some sort of translation—usually an annal or extremely old tome—before I was whisked away again to translate children’s books or random research notes. Sometimes Lord d’Refan insisted I teach the acolytes more complex runes and Bonds, which was a futile effort.
Blood Magic was not something that could just be taught to anyone. I’d tried back in Isrun before I left. Some grasped it better than others, but replicating the more complex runes was simply lost on most people.
By the time I was finished with my translations and teaching, I was exhausted and frustrated—too worn out and my mind too muddled to even attempt my own research. So I often found myself leaving the manor and walking, barefoot, to the administration building.
While my contract with the General had technically ended when he stayed in Hestin, I still tried to keep his missives as organized as possible. It was a relatively mindless task that allowed my body to operate on memory while I puzzled out my own research.
By the time I left the administration building each night, the sky was pitch-black, the streets completely empty.
I’d return to my room, jump over piles of books and notes, before collapsing, often still clothed, on my enormous bed in the other room. I’d wake a few hours later and repeat the whole process.
I was tired and completely uninspired.
More than once, I felt the compulsion to leave Vespera and return to Isrun, where my life was simpler and distinctly my own.
But every time I felt the urge to leave, something pulled me back. Sometimes I could identify the pull—the need to discover Lord d’Refan’s motives and plans, my concern for Ellowyn, the strangeness of the Life Bonds. Other times, it was an indescribable feeling. A whisper in the back of my mind that told me I needed to stay.
I’d never ignored my instincts before and I wasn’t going to start now, even if the drive to flee was high.
My hand stroking Cotton’s fur grew heavy and stilled as sleep finally rose to claim me, but I was jolted from my much-needed nap by a loud rap on my door.
“Rune Master.” The strong, authoritative voice of one of the Mages on guard in this wing of the house carried through my door.
I sighed loudly.
Maybe if I just ignore him, he’ll go away.
“Rune Master!” Another aggressive rap on my door and a barked order had Cotton hissing as he jumped from my lap and scurried into the bedroom, undoubtedly going to continue his nap on one of the many pillows that adorned the bed.
Lucky bastard.
I stretched my arms above my head, relishing in the squeeze of my shoulders and pops in my back before pushing myself out of the armchair.
“Rune Master! If you don’t open the door this instant, I will open it myself!” the Mage barked, and I grumbled as I picked my way across the floor.
“I’m coming, I’m coming.”
I unlocked the door before cracking it open and slipping into the hallway. I never let anyone else see what was inside my room. Not only was it my private space, but I really didn’t want them to see the catastrophic mess. Or find something lying in the open to report back to Lord d’Refan.
“Can I help you?” I asked, my voice raspy with sleep as I shut the door behind me.
