Chapter 27
Rowan
Caelan left me at the doors to the library, my lips still tingling from his goodbye kiss and my heart still fluttering from the feelings that kiss evoked.
I spent the remainder of my afternoon researching the prophecy and hunting high and low for something that resembled a dictionary or encyclopaedia.
But the search had yielded nothing, and the meaning of “raised amidst glamour” still remained undeciphered.
I was beginning to think Caelan was right and I was just overthinking it, so instead I turned my attention to a book I’d discovered quite by accident.
One that mentioned soul bonds. The text hinted at concepts I was somewhat familiar with: telepathic links and physical resonance – where those bonded could feel warmth or tingling in each other’s presence – however, there were other aspects that left me uncertain.
I wanted to ask Aenan about them, so wrote them on a piece of parchment.
What particularly intrigued me, though, was the mention of a bonding ceremony.
Marriage? Unfortunately, the text didn’t elaborate on what it truly meant, and I found myself once again wishing for something akin to a fae version of an internet search engine.
I added it to my growing list of questions to ask Aenan, and decided now was as good a time as any.
For once, he was not in his study. Instead, after pulling on the twin bond, I found him down some stairs in what had to be a gym.
Or maybe a training room was a more accurate description.
It had hay-stuffed bags that resembled people and targets painted onto wooden slates.
There was a sack hanging from the ceiling that I could only assume was the medieval version of a punching bag.
When I entered, Aenan was practising throwing a knife at a wooden block.
It was surprisingly relaxing listening to the whoosh of air, then the solid thud of the blade when it hit the target.
I stood quietly, not wishing to disturb him.
The room intrigued me, though, and my gaze swept around, taking in the high windows and the walls lined with weapons.
I had not been to the lower levels yet, not entirely comfortable in places where I couldn’t see the sky, but the high ceilings made me feel quite at ease.
I looked at the weapons on display, noting the different types.
Aenan heaved a sigh and turned to me. “Why must you always think so loud?” Collecting his knife from the board, he approached. “You are welcome to use the room whenever you want. I’m happy to teach you the bow as well.”
I smiled at him tight lipped, trying to contain my laughter. A vision of him standing in the rain yesterday swept through my mind.
His eyes narrowed and he frowned. “I don’t know why me standing in the rain is amusing to you, but I assure you it is not something I have done recently or am likely to do any time soon. Now why are you thinking that?”
I tried desperately hard not to broadcast my thoughts in that moment, thinking instead of rainbows and lollipops, which only made him frown harder. Giving up, I started laughing.
“Caelan told me you had to stand in the rain after I kicked you out yesterday.”
He rolled his eyes and walked away to retrieve a cloth to wipe down his knife. “I did not. I went to the stables. Then when that wasn’t far enough away, I went for a ride. I was halfway to town before I couldn’t hear you anymore, so had to spend a few hours at the tavern before coming home again.”
“So, you did get wet?” It had been torrential when we had come in from our ride. He only glared at me some more. By the time I stopped laughing, there were tears in my eyes. “It really worked that far away?”
“Yes. I was surprised myself. I thought the stables would have been sufficient, but I made it all the way to the Woods of Sprite. That’s got to be at least two or three miles.”
“I guess that’s good to know, then,” I said, wondering if it would be the same with Caelan.
“So, I’m certain you didn’t seek me out to tease me about your inability to close off your thoughts…” He smirked. “What can I help you with today, little sister?”
Oh, right. My attention flicked back to him. “I was wanting to pick your brain.” He looked alarmed suddenly, and I realised my word choice was poor. “Sorry,” I giggled. “It’s only an expression. It means I wanted to ask your thoughts on something.”
“Oh, thank the gods.”
I laughed again. He seemed to do that a lot. Make me laugh. Maybe it was a sibling thing. “How much do you know about mate bonds?”
“Ah, so Caelan has told you, then. I wondered how long it would take. Not long, it seems.”
I glared at him. You could have said something.
A vision of him with his hands up in surrender appeared in my mind. It wasn’t my truth to tell.
I decided he was right and let it go.
“Anyway, ask your questions, sister, and I will see what I know.” I pulled out my list and he rolled his eyes again. “She has a list… Of course she does.” He wandered over to one of the wooden benches that lined the walls and took a seat, so I followed him.
“One of the books I was reading mentioned a ceremony,” I said, my finger tracing the question on the page. “What does that mean? Is it like marriage?”
He turned his head, regarding me with a serious expression. “Yes. And no. From what I understand, marriage is what humans do when they want to spend the rest of their lives together, but it can be broken?”
I nodded at his raised eyebrow.
“A mate bond is forever,” he said. “There is no breaking it. Well, not unless you are a god. Once you perform the ceremony, it only enhances that bond. Enhances the love and the desire you have for your mate. You will have this need to be with them – this want – and would grow ill if you were away from them for too long.”
My heart raced at the intensity of his words. This wasn’t just a simple ceremony; it was a commitment that would last a lifetime. One that would affect me physically, not just emotionally.
“It is something that is taken very seriously. The only way to break it is for one of you to die, and even then it is not really broken, because the mate would die also. It ties your souls together forever, so the bonding ceremony is an important one, presided over by one of our elders. The words spoken are symbolic.”
I didn’t know what to feel about being bound to someone for all of eternity… Trepidation, maybe? Apprehension? Anxiety. A fluttery feeling arose within my chest.
“And if you don’t have a bonding ceremony… What happens then?” I asked. My voice shook slightly, so I took a deep breath to try to calm myself.
“I guess you would just go on as you are now. I’ve never met someone who did not want to complete the ceremony. The benefits far outweigh any negatives. Though I can’t really see any negatives.”
“What benefits? The abilities you receive? I read about some of them already.”
“No, not just that. But yes, you are likely to have additional abilities to those you have now. They are different for everyone. What I’m talking about is the connection that comes from sharing your soul with another.
It is similar to what you and I have with our twin bond, but more intimate with a mate.
Everything you do will be with them in mind and vice versa.
You would literally die for them, so their absolute pleasure and happiness is what you want, and what they want for you. ”
“That sounds a little intense and claustrophobic, to be honest,” I admitted.
He laughed. “I’m not explaining it right, then.
Honestly, it is the most natural thing in the world, and the bonded I have met always appear exceptionally happy.
More so than those with no bond.” I mustn’t have looked convinced, because he added, “There is an elder in Reverran who performs the ceremonies. She would know more about the bond than anyone else. Would you like to speak with her? I can take you to see her in a few days’ time. ”
A smile spread across my face. “I would like that,” I said.
Two days later, I found myself standing on a pretty stone path leading up to a weathered cottage.
It was located on the edge of the village, surrounded by gnarled trees.
Caelan, Orick, and Aenan stood nearby, deliberating on who should remain on watch while I visited the elder within.
Having no strong opinion on the matter myself, I’d already dismounted Gertie and was headed up the path, eyeing the approaching rain clouds, when the front door creaked open and out stepped a wrinkled crone.
“Ye can all leave,” she said, waving the men away. “The girl will be all right with me. No harm will come to her.”
“Eudora, a pleasure as always,” Aenan said, leaping off his horse and strolling towards her. Taking her hand in his, he bowed his head.
Eudora smirked at him. “You always were a smooth one, Master Wyndaryn, but you can leave now. Aelyra will be just fine with me.”
Startled, I wondered how she knew my name – my real name.
She knows all, Caelan said, speaking in my head. She is a wise woman.
I smiled at him in acknowledgement.
Aenan remounted his horse. “We will return soon, Rowan,” he said. “Do not leave without us.” The three of them, along with Gertie, set off down the road, though Caelan did hang back a little, glancing at me from over his shoulder.
I turned back to my host, giving her a small smile when I noticed her regarding me shrewdly.
“You have many questions,” she said mysteriously. Before signalling me to follow her.
I looked back to where the men had been, but only dust remained to show anyone had been there. With no other choice, I followed Eudora into the house.
Entering the cottage was like stepping into another world. A feeling of relaxation settled over me, like a cloak of lightness and peace had been draped across my shoulders..