Excerpt: The Risten: Beginnings

Bloodbound:

Taylin had watched most of the others fail in their task. Only five had successfully gotten their children out. The rest hadn't even made it to the children in the first place. They had fallen trying. He heard their shrieking when they landed, and heard even more clearly the silences afterwards. At least they didn't get to the children first he kept repeating to himself, though it was a cold comfort. This seemed such a waste...

And then it was his turn. As Kit had said, the ropes were fraying. There was no way that they'd hold any weight for much longer at all. He closed his eyes and considered the situation. Even if he accomplished his task, and there was no doubt in his mind that he would, fourteen children would fall to their deaths. He couldn't see that as a pass, no matter what Evison would say, and he damned her for putting him in this situation.

But he placed his dominant hand on his Battle-harp and began to play, a long and slow and coaxing melody. He felt the Power build within him, strong and sweet and cool. This wouldn't be nearly so hard as she seemed to think it would be. He stepped towards the children, his music quickening to a light, fast patter of a tune, and then he was stepping on air. But he did not falter. His power bolstered his steps, and he did not fall.

The children huddled in the rickety platform watched him with wide eyes. They seemed too terrified even to cry. He knew, from watching the others, that they were in some sort of paralyzed state, unable to move. Again, he cursed Kit for doing this to them. He was going to be exhausted after this mess.

He picked up the child with his name, carefully in one hand, never stopping his playing, and walked back to the other side of the pit. Then he turned around and studied the platform for a moment longer. He still hadn't stopped playing.

“Silvani, you've passed, you can stop,” Evison said coolly.

“No, I haven't,” Taylin answered, suddenly certain. He continued to play, as he spoke, and began walking back across the pit. He didn't look down, didn't dare see what sort of horrors awaited him if he fell.

“Silvani!” He heard her call, but he ignored her, focused on his playing and his task. He would not be responsible for the deaths of fourteen children. He refused.

And so, thirteen more times he walked across that pit, his playing never faltering though his steps were beginning to do so. The near-constant drain on his Power of not only keeping himself aloft, but keeping those ropes from breaking, was likely going to be the death of him. But he would not give in.

He turned back for the fourteenth child, and took one shaky step over the pit. He would not be responsible... He would not...

He dropped to one knee, the blood rushing through his ears. This wasn't going to work. He'd never be able to make it over. To continue was to invite death upon himself. But that one last child... He forced himself to his feet, took another faltering step, then another, until he'd finally made it to the other side. His vision was funneled and covered with a silvery haze.

He knelt by the little girl's side and lifted her in a shaking arm. His entire body ached with the strain, his head pounded with the effort. He could feel something wet and sticky on his face, probably blood from the strain, but he would not stop now. He only had a few more steps to take and besides, now he could let up on some of it. As soon as he stepped from the platform, the ropes snapped and some of the strain on his Power eased.

He continued across the pit, faltering only once more, and once he'd safely reached the other side, he collapsed. He stared dimly up at the sky, and decided that yes, he would in fact kill Evison for this. He'd never felt so utterly exhausted in his life, and he had no doubt that he'd be forced to compete in the duel as well, for that was undoubtedly what they'd be doing.

“You senseless idiot,” Evison murmured, but it was oddly affectionate. “And why didn't you other five help him?” She added, archly.

“What the hell are you talking about? We accomplished our tasks!” He heard one of the others grumble.

“Did you?” She asked. “You accomplished the task I set before you. But each of you had the Power to do as Taylin did, at least for one of the other children. And yet, you were content to merely scrape by, and sacrifice innocent people to death because of your laziness. Do you truly believe that I would tolerate a Second like that? No, Silvani is the only one who passed this test.” Her voice was cold and cruel.

“What about you?” Taylin demanded suddenly, and all eyes were on him once more. He struggled to his feet, body trembling with the effort, and glared at the woman before him, who claimed to want to save lives.

“What about me?” She asked, one eyebrow raising.

“You claim to want to make the world a better place. You say that you're tired of the senseless sacrifice of innocent lives, and yet, this task you designed for us would have killed those children! Innocents, all of them, and you would have sentenced them to death!” His voice was strained and choked, and he imagined he made quite the fierce image with his bloodstained face.

Kit stormed forwards, her black robes swirling dramatically. “Are you questioning me, Silvani?” She demanded, getting up in his face. Her eyes crackled with fury.

“Yes, I am. You tell us why we should serve a monster like you! These children did nothing, and you would have killed them!” Taylin roared back, refusing to back down.

And then... the irritating little chit smiled and skipped back. “What children?” She asked, easily.

Taylin froze. “What children?” He echoed, eyes narrowing.

She flicked her fingers, and the children turned into nothing more than sacks of potatoes. “What children?” She repeated, her smile growing.

They had seemed to be paralyzed. They neither moved nor spoke. Their muscles had been entirely unresponsive, and they'd been almost curled in on themselves. Taylin had assumed it to be fear.

“You...” He fell silent, considering. “You fucking bitch,” he finally whispered.