Tales of the Bonded: Fire and Ice

By Julia O'Brien

Thais. A land of evil kings, of elves and men, of reathins and dragons, and a war that will change the future. To Zada, however, theres not much more to life than just getting by. Shes perfectly content to take things as they come and do her best to blend into her surroundings. Then she finds an egg, and her whole life changes. Bonded to a reathin named Salay and accompanied by a great Silver Wolf, Zada sets out to discover what her role is as a future leader of a Resistance, a Resistance whos goal is to overthrow the king and return the land to its rightful rule. Follow Zadas journey as she rises from a peasant to a leader and discovers what it means to walk in everything that she was called to be.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Dec 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781514435007

Julia O'Brien

Julia O’Brien was born in Sudbury, Ontario in 1997 and moved to a farm in Manitoba when she was 5. She was homeschooled her entire life, along with her four younger siblings. She started writing her first book when she was 12, and also writes poetry. When she was 14 years old she first started writing Tales of the Bonded: Salay during NaNoWriMo 2011 (National Novel Writing Month, in which people around the world commit to write a 50,000 word novel in 30 days). Since then, Tales of the Bonded has gone through numerous changes and the story has evolved and grown. Julia loves animals and has two horses, two dogs and a cat. She has graduated from highschool and plans on pursing a career in writing.

Book preview

PROLOGUE

W ill you read to me from the book about you and Salay again? A small girl ran over to her mother, carrying a large, leather bound book.

Her mother smiled at her and brushed a strand of dark hair back from her daughter's eyes, which were the same clear grey as her own. Of course, Amanda. She set aside the journal that she had been writing in and took the book from her daughter. She ran her hand over the words etched on the front: The Story of Zada, the Chosen One.

Could you start with telling us about how Thais was created? I like that story. This came from Maxim, the little girl's nine-year-old brother. The artistic one of the family, he was sitting on the floor with a pen and paper, busily drawing. While Amanda looked like her mother, Maxim had inherited his father's dark hair and blue eyes.

How about I tell you about Thais first, and then read to you of my adventures with Salay? Is that okay with you, Amanda? she asked, looking at the little girl, who nodded in agreement. What about you, Maxim? He nodded as well, a smile on his face. Both children loved stories.

The woman patted the couch, and the two children clambered up to sit next to her. After they had settled down, she began to speak. Her voice was soft and melodic, and she spoke the words from memory.

In the beginning, Elohim created a great world that He called Thais. He made mountains and trees, lakes and valleys, oceans and deserts. He looked upon Thais, and He was greatly pleased. He had made a great work, but there was something missing. There was no one else with which to share this great world that He had created. So on the day that Thais was made, Elohim opened up a Gap from another world and brought humans to this new world. Two of the people, Daniel and Amanda, were chosen to rule because of their wholehearted devotion to Him in the world from which they had been called. She paused to smile at the girl. That's who we named you after. She continued on with her story. "Daniel and Amanda ruled over everything--over the elves, over the animals, even over the reathins. Elohim told Daniel and Amanda that if they would rule wisely and always listen to him then everything would go well in Thais.

"Daniel and Amanda, instructed by Elohim, formed a special group, chosen for their wholehearted devotion to Him, to be the protectors of Griven. They were known as the Bonded. The Bonded were paired with a reathin, and were assigned a town or city to guard and teach the people the ways of Elohim.

"The name of the city in which the Bonded were trained was Griven. This city of the Bonded was known as the most peaceful place in the land, as it was protected by the Bonded, and because it was there that Elohim's spirit was most tangible. Many people in Thais travelled to Griven, desiring to draw closer to Elohim and learn His ways. Sometimes He even walked amongst those in Griven.

"As generations passed, jealousy crept into some of the people of Thais and began to undermine their unity with Elohim and each other. As evil spread throughout the land, people began to turn away from Elohim, and any who continued to go up to Griven for instruction in the ways of Elohim were taunted and persecuted by others. Over time two groups emerged--those who followed Elohim, and those who did not. Even some of the descendants of Daniel and Amanda fell away from Elohim. The most notable of these was Moran the First.

"Moran was young when he came to the throne, but he already knew what he wanted to do. Driven by hatred of Elohim and his Followers, as well as the Bonded, he led those loyal to him into a war against the Followers of Elohim. This war began in his own city of Tarmar as Moran executed the Bonded guarding Tarmar and created laws that prohibited anyone from worshipping Elohim.

"Having crushed all resistance within Tarmar, Moran continued his plan, conquering all the towns, villages and lands surrounding his capital. He pressed his attack on many fronts in order to draw out the Bonded and divide their forces in the hope of being able to conquer the city of Griven. He knew that with Griven in his power, the Bonded would be unable to continue the war against him.

"As the loss of life mounted on both sides, the Bonded were struck with a hard blow. Their leader had fallen in battle, and their numbers were dwindling.

"Upon hearing of the death of the leader and seeing that Griven was left nearly defenseless, Moran concentrated on attacking the great city and quickly overcame it. He slaughtered all the inhabitants and burned the city to the ground.

With such a great loss of life on both sides and devastation throughout all the lands, the war soon came to an end, although Moran never gave up his desire to rid Thais of both the Followers and the Bonded. He then began to raise for himself an empire that was not based on following Elohim, and as an act of defiance against Elohim and his Followers, he called this empire Griven. The Empire of Griven was made up of the capital of Tarmar, as well as the lands of all those that had subjected themselves to him. He replaced the Bonded with his own men, mounted on dragons.

But mother, where did the dragons come from? Amanda asked.

Before Moran had inherited the throne, he had already begun to plot the downfall of Griven. He had sought out reathins who were not Bonded and lived independent of man in a seemingly cunning plan to harness the power and ability of the reathins. These reathins, although not Bonded, would not ally themselves with the enemies of Griven. Since these reathins would not join their ranks, Moran came up with another plan. He stole reathin eggs to hatch for himself.

How did he get the eggs away from the reathins? Maxim asked. Reathins are so big and scary, I don't see how Moran could take their eggs away.

Ah, that is a whole other story. I do not have time to tell you now, but I will sometime. The woman smiled. That is a very good question though, Maxim. She tousled his dark hair before going on.

"When these reathins hatched, they were not taught any of the ways of Elohim and were not made known of their purpose. Because of this, these reathins were not as intelligent as the Bonded, and did not have the ability to breathe ice or use telepathy. They grew into large, lumbering creatures, mindless and bloodthirsty. Moran was dismayed, for he had hoped to use the abilities of the reathins to his advantage. These reathins soon came to be called dragons.

"After the death of Moran the First, his son, Moran the Second, came to the throne. Unlike his father, he did not have a passion to see the Followers exiled from the land. He let them live on in the Empire of Griven, although they were oppressed and persecuted at every opportunity. They were not allowed to attain any position of influence in the land, and to meet together to worship Elohim was punishable by death.

"When Moran the Third became king, he was even less passionate than his predecessors. As long as the Followers did not actively go against him, he was willing to turn a blind eye to their activities.

By the time Moran the Fourth came to the throne, the laws that Moran the First had implemented were no longer being enforced. Followers were meeting together, preaching in the streets, and even becoming confidants of the king. The lands were flourishing, and even the poorest of the people were satisfied. The lands outside Griven thrived. No longer being persecuted, the Followers in those lands embraced their freedom and focused on building a fortune for themselves and their families. These Followers, blessed by Elohim, excelled in all that they did. Their land was fertile, they invented new things, and in everything they did they prospered. As time passed, they forgot about their earlier desire to restore to the land of Griven the knowledge of Elohim and return the Bonded to their rightful place.

Maxim spoke up. And what happened to the Bonded?

She smiled. "I'm glad you asked. The Bonded had founded another city, this one hidden in the mountains. There they trained the next generations of Bonded. People from across Thais journeyed there. Some stayed only a short while to encounter the presence of Elohim, while others made homes in the city and the valley surrounding it.

"Moran the Fourth saw the prosperity of those lands outside Griven, and he saw that everywhere they went the Followers of Elohim prospered. This did not please him, for he wanted their bounty. Consumed by greed, he began taxing the people greatly so that all but the elite in society were plunged into poverty. All of a sudden, he became aware of how many Followers were in positions of authority in Griven. This troubled him, for if ever an uprising were to occur, the Followers, and even those sympathetic to their cause, would use their power to give Griven over to others. Moran quietly began weeding out all of those who did not follow him wholeheartedly. Some were killed in unfortunate hunting accidents, some were ruined when their crops or homes burned to the ground, others were dismissed on account of stolen items found on them, and still others simply disappeared, never to be heard from again. Of course, each time one of these 'accidents' occurred, Moran had someone who was wholeheartedly devoted to him and his cause ready to stand up and take their place. He continued to persecute the Followers, and by the end of his reign they were once again forced to meet in secret.

"That was when the Resistance started. A small group of Followers, trained by the Bonded and full of zeal for the restoration of Griven, started an underground network. Followers from across the whole of Thais joined the Resistance for one reason--they wanted all the lands of Thais to be one with Elohim again.

"The elves, who, as you will remember, are immortal, told the Resistance of a prophecy--a prophecy given in the days of Moran the First. It said that in time, one would arise to lead the Resistance to victory against Moran and his empire. This Chosen One would be the eldest daughter of a leader of the Resistance. She would be Bonded to a reathin, and they would embark on a journey together to find their destiny. Though their path would be fraught with difficulty, they would never be alone. A primary task of the Resistance was to ensure that the Chosen One be guarded and mentored at all times, but that she not be told of her destiny. She had to find it out herself.

"So, through the remainder of the reign of Moran the Fourth and into the reign of his son, Moran the Fifth, the members of the Resistance continued to wait.

"When Moran the Fifth received the crown, he continued in his father's ways. Moran the Fourth had poisoned his son's mind against Elohim, the Bonded and the Followers, so that Moran the Fifth was driven by a hatred that ran deep. Moran the Fifth once again enforced the laws created by Moran the First. Anyone who was suspected of being a Follower could be arrested. People who preached in the streets were condemned as heretics, and even those who met in secret had to be wary of spies in their midst. By this, Moran hoped to break the back of the Resistance. However, all he did was set the souls of the Followers on fire with a desire to see the all lands of Thais at one with Elohim once more.

Through all of this, the Followers had waited for the Chosen One to arise. As the years stretched on, they began to despair that the prophecy wouldn't come to pass in their time. But one day, the joyous news was passed around- the leaders of the Resistance had given birth to their first child, a little girl. And everyone knew that in time, this baby would be responsible for the rise and fall of many.

She smiled and opened the book. And that is where I come in.

1

Zada

T he thud of hoof beats on the hard packed trail echoed in the darkness as a lone rider, clothed in black, astride a great horse, broke out from a dark forest path into a wide moonlit meadow. The horse was breathing heavily, its flanks stained with sweat, as it leaped over a fallen tree in a single bound. The rider glanced back over his shoulder, his left hand at his sword. Go on, Ajax, go on he urged the horse, leaning close to the beast's ear. Behind them came the thunder of more hoof beats as three more riders came crashing into the meadow. It was clear that they were pursuing the lone rider. Suddenly the sky lit up with a red flame as a dragon, eyes glowing in the moonlight, appeared above the trees. The rider wrenched the horse to the side just in time as the fire scorched the ground near them. Flames leaped up from the dead grass, and the horses behind them reared and refused to go near the flames. The dragon hissed again, and again the horse and rider dodged just in time. This time the stallion stumbled, nearly unseating his rider. Come Ajax, we are nearly there the rider murmured into his mount's ear. So close to safety. Just don't give up on me now.

As though comprehending his rider's words, the horse mustered what was left of his strength and charged forward, making haste across the clearing. In the woods on the other side, they would find safety, for that was their destination: Evareseiné, the city of the elves. Once they reached the woods the dragon could not pursue them any longer, and both the horse and rider knew the woods better than their enemies. They would be able to flee to safety--if only they could make it across the clearing!

Suddenly the dragon swooped in, diving down with the intention of grabbing its quarry in its massive claws. The rider pulled hard on the reins--the horse reared and screamed--the dragon flew low over them and struck the rider with his tail, knocking him off the stallion. He recovered quickly, rolling and jumping to his feet as the three riders rushed upon him. He leaped forward, drawing his sword. With a clash and flurry of blades, the fight was on.

He made quick work of the three riders, who were not nearly his equal in swordsmanship, then cast his head around. The dragon was high above him but swiftly drawing nearer, and on foot he had no chance of escape. His horse and the enemy's horses had all disappeared from sight. He whistled once, a high and shrill noise, and out of the dark the sound of hoof beats came toward him. His stallion, eyes rolling white, had not fled but stayed near his rider. The man threw himself upon the horse, ignoring the pain from his injuries as he urged the stallion on. The dragon drew closer, the noise of his wings filling the air. With one final push the stallion burst into the woods, flames licking the ground beneath his hooves. Praise Elohim, the rider whispered. He slowed the horse, patting his mount's neck. Ajax, you are truly a gift from above.

It was a weary pair who arrived in Evareseiné later that night. They were met by two cloaked figures at the large double doors of a great house. One led the stallion away, and the other bowed low to the rider. Lord Galahad and Lady Tyra wish to see you at once, if you are able, said the person, noting the rider's ill state. Should you wish to recover awhile--

No, my news is important and cannot wait, the rider said urgently, his voice low and deep. Bring me to Tyra and Galahad. And please, if I might ask for the nearest physician.

Of course. The rider followed the woman down a dimly lit corridor into a large room. Seated at a table were two people, a man and a woman. The woman was tall and elegant, the man stocky and strong.

Tyra, Galahad, said the rider, bowing down and wincing as he did so.

Put aside the formalities, my friend, Galahad said, coming over to embrace the rider very carefully so as not to cause him any more pain. You are among friends now and we have no need of such trivialities.

What news? Tyra asked, ushering the rider into a seat by the table and pouring him a glass of water from the carafe there. What news is there that would cause the Resistance to risk the life of their greatest fighter by making the journey from Endor alone in such times? It is obviously a matter of haste and import, but what it could be I cannot fathom. Has the war begun? Her expression was one of concern.

No my lady, it is much more important than that, the rider said. He paused to drink deeply from his water cup, aware of the elves' eyes on him. I bring news from the Resistance in Travenhall. They have decided that now is the time. The girl is ready.

Tyra clutched her husband's arm in a rare display of surprise. Praise Elohim, she said reverently. You mean it has begun?

The rider nodded. Yes. I have come to tell you that it is time to set the plan in motion. The Resistance asks that you alert everyone involved that the time has come. We must take Zada from her aunt and uncle's home and begin her training in earnest. She is ready, and not a moment too soon.

*   *   *

And I'll take some oranges, Rolen. The speaker was a slender girl, dressed in peasant's garb, wearing a kerchief over her dark brown hair. Her grey eyes were kind, but held a hint of sadness. At seventeen years of age, Zada was in charge of doing much of the shopping for the family with whom she lived. With work-hardened hands, she passed several copper coins to the stall owner.

The old man handed her a sack of oranges from his fruit stand in return. There you are, lass.

Thank you Rolen, Zada said, smiling ever so faintly at the old man. You have the best fruit in all of Travenhall.

Rolen laughed, his voice cracking with age. That's what you always say, Zada. But I thank you.

Zada nodded. I'd better be off; Aunt Marlene wants me to help her with the mare. She's due to foal any time, and while she's an excellent mother, she has a penchant for difficult births. To make matters worse, it appears she may be having twins, which makes for twice the work and risk. I have to get the goat home too. I bought him from Kylian, she said, gesturing at the spotted kid goat held in her left arm. Every once in a while he tried to chew on her hair, and Zada had to push his nose away.

Zada was not always such a chatty person, but Rolen was elderly and his wife had passed away a few years ago and he seemed starved for company. He lived on his own and sold fruit from his little stand; she always made a point of stopping and talking with him for a few minutes.

Rolen chuckled. Okay, Zada. Just don't you work too hard. Ever since your aunt and uncle took you in you've been working more than anyone in that family, your uncle Marcus included.

Zada glanced around nervously. Don't let anyone hear you say that or I'll get it for sure. I'd better go. Aunt Marlene is probably shrieking her head off. You know how she hates it when I dawdle, she said, making a face that showed clearly her opinion of Aunt Marlene's nagging.

Rolen watched as the girl hurried away, goat under one arm and the sack of fruit under the other. Zada had come to live in Travenhall five years previously, and had worked her way into the hearts of many of the village folk. She was a queer one, some said. But with her family history, it was no wonder.

*   *   *

Zada hurried along, talking quietly to the little goat that she had promptly named Sammy. Animals never scolded her, nor told her that her feelings were unreasonable. They never even offered advice. These were just some of the many reasons Zada preferred animals to humans.

It was getting dark as Zada walked along the wooded path. For such a little thing you sure weigh a lot, Sammy, she muttered, shifting so that the goat was held in her right arm and the fruit in her left. As she drew closer to the house, she heard her aunt calling to her.

Zada! Hurry up you lazy child. The mare is beginning to foal!

The volume of her aunt's voice increasing as she continued to scold caused Zada to grimace and break into a jog. After she had locked the goat in a stall for the night, she ran over to the barn, where she quickly grabbed an apron and some old rags. It promised to be a long night.

*   *   *

Zada groaned as she rolled over in her bed. The sun shone brightly, birds chirped and cows bawled. It had been a long night. It was late when she and Aunt Marlene had retired, leaving the mare nursing her twin foals. It had been a hard birth, but the long legged black colts had been worth it.

Zada arose, and dressed hurriedly in a faded blue dress. She looked around her little attic room. It was the smallest room in the old log house, and besides being the hottest in summer and coldest in winter, the roof leaked horribly and the wooden floor creaked. However, when Zada had asked if she could make some repairs, Aunt Marlene had refused.

This was only one of the ways her aunt and uncle had made it clear to her that she was not to be treated like a member of the family. Zada knew that her aunt and uncle had never liked her parents, and that view was reinforced by all of the stories whispered about them.

Aunt Marlene had never shown any affection toward Zada, and Zada had never sought to be loved by her. Even her cousins, Nelly and Miranda, treated her as a servant. In turn, Zada treated them with a cold disdain that made it quite clear what she thought of them.

As for her uncle Marcus, she liked him even less than she liked Aunt Marlene. Marcus always called her the child as though she were the cat or the dog. But Zada stopped those thoughts there. She would not spend her time thinking about all of the ways her aunt, uncle and cousins had wronged her. Otherwise, if she dwelt on it too long, she would become exactly like them: bitter and angry. That was a lesson her mother had taught her early on. Her mother Elisabeth, so beautiful and quiet, but with a zest for life that Zada had never seen rivaled. And her father Walter--tall, stern, yet loving. She had never seen anyone enjoy his work as much as Father had. He had taught school, and had been in such high demand as a teacher that he had travelled from village to village, teaching and training new teachers. She had been twelve when they had died, and had lived with her aunt and uncle ever since.

Wrenching herself back to the present, Zada walked downstairs. The worn stairs creaked beneath her feet. She spotted a note on the table, written in Aunt Marlene's thick print.

Zada

I'm off to the village market with the girls, so feed the animals and do the chores. I let you sleep in since we had such a late night, but that means you will have less time to get your work done, so get at it right away.

Leftover breakfast is on the table. We will be home by supper, so have something ready for us to eat, and remember to bring food to your uncle in the field at lunch. Don't dawdle.

Remember to check on the ewes and the mare. Move the cows to the south pasture.

Aunt Marlene

Zada sighed as she looked at the list of chores. She hated cooking for them. At least she had a whole day on her own, which was a rare occurrence. Although, if Aunt Marlene had her way Zada would be doing chores the whole time.

Zada quickly ate breakfast--a small bowl of dry porridge, a glass of milk and an apple. She saved a second apple for later, putting it in the pouch of her apron. Then she set about her chores.

After nearly three hours of feeding animals, gathering eggs, milking the goat and two cows, and washing the breakfast dishes, Zada prepared to move the cows to the south pasture. The south pasture was a larger pasture on the south corner of their land, and Zada moved the cows between the north and south pastures every month when the grass was grazed down. It was not a difficult chore, although it was time consuming, as the cows were never eager to leave the pasture or walk down the little dirt path through the forest. It would take a good hour to get them there, and by the time she got home, she would have to bring her uncle his lunch.

At least she could bring Maximus, the family riding horse, when she brought him lunch. It would be much easier if she could use Maximus to herd the cattle, but Aunt Marlene steadfastly refused to let her, saying that she would probably ruin him. Just how Zada would ruin him, she never said. Nevertheless, rules were rules, and Zada herded the cows on foot.

As Zada hurriedly grabbed a long stick and a rope in case of an erring cow, she heard Maximus whinny after her. Poor horse. It would be a shame to leave him behind, and Zada could be done herding in half the time if she used him. Marlene would never know! Maximus was rarely ridden, and needed his exercise. He was only six, but was already getting plump, since all he did was lounge around the pasture and sire foals. Zada knew for a fact that her aunt and uncle were talking of selling him to their neighbor, who would undoubtedly ride him almost daily. She would be doing them a favour by