Unbound Enchantment (Unbreakable Force Book 1) (8 page)

24

Aaric

W
hat was keeping Adaryn? Aaric thought with a frown. She had been gone for over two hours, and it was getting quite dark. He shrugged. She wouldn't be long now, he suspected. She wouldn't risk running into the Night Watch. He continued sketching some concept drawings of a new idea he had.

More time passed. Aaric stood and stretched before starting to pace the study. The city lamps were lit. “Hang it all,” he grumbled. “I'm going to go find her.”

He went down to the kitchen and was headed toward the entry when Adaryn burst through the door. She was soaked and muddy, her clothing torn, her hair in even more wild disarray than usual.

“I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, Aaric,” she was crying hysterically.

Aaric quickly stepped forward, taking her by the arms. “Are you all right? Are you hurt?” He peered worriedly at her.

Adaryn shook her head. “He's coming! It's all my fault, but please, help me! I don't want to be killed or taken away!”

“What?” Aaric frowned, confused by her distress. “Slow down, Adaryn. Who is coming to take you?”

“Kingsley!” she practically screamed, a wild light in her eyes. Aaric felt the blood drain from his face. He didn't know what she did or why, but he knew there was little time left for her.

He never hesitated in making his choice. He reached over and grabbed a couple of coats off the coat stand. He donned one himself and threw another around Adaryn's shoulders. “Pack some food, and hurry,” he said urgently.

Adaryn didn't need to be told twice. She grabbed a linen sack from the cupboard, packing bread and cheese at a frantic speed. Aaric sprinted up the stairs and into his study, snatching up his glider and a few essentials as well as some money. He thundered downstairs, finding Adaryn in the kitchen with the linen bag bulging with food. She had stopped crying, but her bright blue eyes were still large with worry.

“It's going to be fine,” Aaric said in what he hoped was a comforting manner. He took her by the hand, leading her out of doors. “Stay close. We have to hurry.”

The two went out into the night. The endless flow of people helped hide them as they hurried along, Adaryn following Aaric.

Aaric walked with purpose, guiding her surely down first one street and then another. A few times, some members of the Night Watch pushed through the crowd. They looked to be searching for something, but Aaric was always able to steer them clear of any encounters.

They walked for what felt like an eternity. While Aaric pushed them as fast as he dared without appearing suspicious, it didn't feel fast enough.

Eventually they reached it. They stood in front of a large chapel made of red brick. Its stained glass windows gleamed dully in the lamplight.

Adaryn spoke for the first time since they left the house. “Why are we here?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Aaric looked at her. Her eyes seemed to catch the lamplight and reflect it. Her face was pale and drawn; mud was smudged on her cheek.

“My mother used to come here on Sol Days,” Aaric said, looking up at the tall building. He walked forward, still holding Adaryn's hand. He held the glider tipped over his shoulder with his other.

Together they went into the church. It was dimly lit with a few torches and candles. There weren't many people in the church. They passed a few monks and a couple of patrons. Aaric sent a silent prayer to the heavens, thankful that the church was open at all hours.

After walking down several hallways that more or less looked the same, Aaric nudged Adaryn up a small flight of stairs that led into blackness. When Adaryn looked fearfully into the gloom, Aaric squeezed her hand in a reassuring manner. “When my mother was praying, I used to sneak off to play. I came up here a lot.” Adaryn nodded and climbed the stairs. Aaric followed closely, looking behind him to make sure they weren't seen.

The stairs led to a cramped attic space, and a small door from there led them onto the roof.

It was windy on the roof, and Adaryn's hair whipped about her face. “Why did you bring me here?” she asked. She looked over the edge. They were very close to the edge of the city wall. “Am I supposed to hide until Kingsley stops searching?”

Aaric knelt down and unfolded the glider. “I don't know about you, but I don't see Kingsley ever giving up. I brought you up here to escape. Kingsley will have alerted the Night Watch and almost certainly the gate-keepers as well.”

Adaryn shivered, wrapping her arms around herself. “If I can't escape through one of the gates, then how . . .?” Her eyes fell on the glider, and she stared at it as if seeing it for the first time.

“No,” she said, taking a step backward. “You-you don't plan to have me fly
that?
” The last word was a squeak. “You've never flown it yourself. I could fall to my death!”

Aaric looked at her. “It's risking this or risking Kingsley,” he said quietly. That silenced her.

Adaryn gulped and nodded. “Anything is better than Kingsley.” She turned briskly and picked up the glider. She hefted it with both hands. “It's lighter than I expected.”

Aaric walked her to the edge of the roof. Looking down, they were several hundred yards from the edge of the wall but were substantially higher. Aaric gently took the glider from Adaryn.

“You hold it like this and stand like this,” he said, demonstrating for her. “You need to get a running start and leap. The glider should take you well over the gate and into the field. The woods are only a few miles north. You will see them once you're closer.”

“What about you?” Adaryn turned to face him. Her expression was unreadable. “You are going to stay here.” It wasn't a question.

Aaric stared. “Are you crazy? I'm not going to leave you alone in a situation like this. And I want my glider back,” he added, grinning when Adaryn rolled her eyes. “I will leave by the gate and come find you.”

“How will you find me?” she asked.

Aaric tapped his brace, reminding her of the tracking device. Adaryn turned toward the city wall, took a deep breath, and ran, holding the glider tightly. She leapt into the air, her hair streaming out behind her. Aaric felt his throat constrict as she hurtled into the air. He would never forgive himself if something happened to her.

The glider's wings caught the air, and she flew. She was
flying
! Aaric felt like his heart was soaring as high as Adaryn. She floated through the air as if she were weightless, easily passing over the city wall, several yards over. Then the night swallowed her up, and she was lost from view.

25

Aaric

A
aric hurried down the stairs, bumping into a startled monk at the bottom. Aaric muttered a breathless apology and ran on. He was soon outside, racing down the streets at a breakneck pace, ignoring the shouts of the Night Watch as they spotted him. He approached the north gate and forced himself to a walk, his heart still pounding.

One of the guards peered at him in the dark, holding his torch up to see him better. “Mr. Wright?” he asked uncertainly. “Is that you?”

Aaric smiled, hoping it didn't look too false in the damp gloom. “The one and only,” he said, spreading his arms out in a friendly gesture. “I need to go through the city gates.”

The guards shifted a little uncertainly, and the first guard spoke again. “I'm not sure I can do that, sir. Lord Kingsley has said your slave is dangerous and on the loose. He said . . .” Here the guard swallowed nervously. “. . . That you might try to protect her. If we find her, we're supposed to bring her to him.”

Aaric didn't have to pretend to be angry. The thought of Kingsley getting his wretched hands on Adaryn was enough to make his blood steam. “I am well aware of that.” He motioned to the gates. “It might surprise you to know that my slave has stolen my latest invention, my flying device. She almost certainly used it to escape. I aim to retrieve my glider at all costs.” He looked levelly at the guard and continued. “If Kingsley can catch her, he can have her.”

The guards exchanged looks. Aaric passed them a few silvers. “This flying machine is very important to me. If I lose it, a vast amount of work will be undone, and I may have to blame you in part for its loss. I
must
find it.”

The guard seemed to reach a decision and nodded. “Very well,” he said, pocketing the silver, but added, “I will be sure to tell Lord Kingsley which gate you took.”

“As you should,” Aaric said and strode through the gate with more confidence than he felt.

He forced himself to walk without urgency. Despite the chill in the air, he could feel sweat dampening his shirt. It was a tremendous stroke of luck that Kingsley hadn't been there. He was almost sure the man would have insisted on accompanying him.

The gates closed with a dull clang, and Aaric bolted. He looked down at his brace. The arrow pointed north, and it was that direction he ran. He ran until his breath came in painful gasps and he could no longer run. Then he walked, quickly at first, then a slow plod. He refused to stop, even for a moment. He was exhausted, and he was terrified Kingsley would find Adaryn first. That fear drove him on, and he traveled throughout the night.

It started raining again, and he was soaked within minutes. Aaric entered the forest sometime in the night. Stumbling through the mud and damp vegetation slowed his pace further. He rarely entered the woods, and he was a complete stranger to them.

Dawn crept into the horizon, wet and frigid. The rain during the night had faded to a drizzle. Aaric was shivering from the cold but stumbled doggedly on. He must find her—he must!

Cresting the top of a small rise, Aaric stood for a moment to catch his breath. He looked down at a clearing in the woods. It was dim in the early morning light, but he saw a lone figure standing in the center of the clearing. Adaryn.

Looking down at the slim slip of a woman, Aaric smiled. Adaryn had brought confusion and chaos into his small, sheltered world and had torn down the walls of reserve he had built around himself. She was unrefined, outspoken, and not at all a proper city lady. She was utterly and completely perfect for him. Aaric felt his breath catch as she turned to look at him, then found himself running down the slope to meet her, his weariness forgotten. Adaryn was life.

26

Adaryn

I
felt my pulse quicken as I watched Aaric run down the slope to reach me. I took a step forward, feeling uncertain. What did it mean, the stirring I felt in my heart, the butterflies in my stomach at the mere sight of him? I only had a moment to ponder before Aaric swept me up in a crushing embrace. He buried his face in my shoulder.

“I thought Kingsley would find you,” he said, still hugging me tightly. “I wasn't sure I'd find you in time.”

“I'm all right,” I managed to gasp. “You're the first person I've seen since leaving the city.”

Aaric released me, stepping back to look into my face anxiously. “Are you sure you're all right?” he asked. “Did you land safely? Did you hurt yourself traveling at night?”

I tried not to smirk. “I'm one of the nomads, Aaric,” I said, arching an eyebrow. “The forest is home to me.” I motioned a little off to the side. “I have your glider.” I felt a pang in my chest when I thought of him leaving but didn't let it show. “You'll be happy to note it's still in one piece.”

“Hang the glider,” Aaric said irritably. “It doesn't matter.”

I stared, thunderstruck. “You don't care about your glider?” I managed to ask. “Your inventions are your whole world!”

“They
were
my whole world,” he corrected gently, looking down at me. My heart fluttered, and warmth rushed through my body. Did he mean . . .?

“I had a lot of time to think as I ran after you,” Aaric said, a small smile on his lips. “I realized that who I thought I was, what I thought was important, isn't anymore.”

He took my hands in his, squeezing them gently. “There is only one thing I care about now.” He slid a small key out of his brace. My mind raced, and my heart started to thump painfully in my chest.

Deftly and gently, Aaric raised the key to my neck and slipped it into its lock, freeing me. The collar came off in his hands. He dropped it on the ground.

“You were never meant to be bound,” he said, his eyes shining with emotion. “And I hope you will forgive me for ever thinking that you could be. You're meant to be free, Adaryn. You and your enchantments.”

I felt myself start to shake. This was my moment to run, to escape, but I couldn't move.
Can't or won't?
I asked myself.

Aaric put his forehead against mine, his fingers moving up to tangle in my hair.

“I'll be an outcast among my people,” he breathed. “But I would rather be an outcast to them than to live a day without you, Adaryn. I love you.” He brought his lips to mine, kissing me with the passion he usually reserved for his projects.

In that moment I knew. I loved him, too. I wasn't sure when it happened, but I felt I was as much a part of him as I was of the forest. He was life to me. I kissed him back eagerly, my hands caressing his face.

Aaric's kiss grew more intense and his arms dropped to encircle my waist, drawing me against him. My skin prickled at his touch.

Too soon, he loosed me from his embrace, holding my arm steady as I swayed a little, trying to catch my balance. His quiet laugh warmed my face, but I smiled back. His hair was standing on end, his clothes were wet and muddy, but as he smiled at me, I decided that there was no one as beautiful as him. I was sure of it.

I grew sober as I thought of the consequences of our actions. Aaric's people would shun him for certain. And I wasn't confident that my people would want him either. I would be an outcast by being with him. Aaric's face grew serious, and I realized I had spoken aloud.

“I wouldn't have you separate yourself from your family,” he started to say. I silenced him by placing a finger on his lips.

“For better or for worse, Aaric,
you
are my family now. I will go where you go.” I smiled. I felt loss at the thought of leaving my clan behind, but I had made my choice. “We'll be outcasts together,” I said, then grinned. “It'll be fun, teaching you the ways of a barbarian.”

Aaric's eyes widened with alarm. He put his hand up in a defensive gesture. “Hold on, there. I didn't say we'd go and live in the woods.”

I laughed and tugged him down an old and familiar deer path. I didn't know what would happen to us, if our lives would be full of bliss or of misery, but one thing I did know—we would live and experience it together.