Bound Read Free

box.
    He followed the mourners to a vacant field with makeshift benches along one side. A lone man wearing a general’s uniform that dazzled with medals occupied the front row.
    The dread inside Jason burst.
    Dad ?
    But if Father was on the front row? If this was the airstrip at Camp Thane?
    Jason sucked in a deep breath, but felt no air in his lungs.
    This was his funeral.
    He moved to stand next to Father. General Everett sat stock still, expressionless and dry eyed.
    Bastard. You’re just here because–
    Shots fired behind Jason. He spun to see the Attendings lower their rifles. With perfect coordination, the team struck out several paces, widening their circle to symbolize the bursting of the soul after death. Now they would fire another shot and yield, allowing mourners to pay their respects.
    But one Attending didn’t fire. He didn’t re-form. He fumbled with his weapon and froze.
    Men called to arms. The Honor Guard sprang to life. The out of place soldier was an infiltrator.
    The infiltrator stumbled backward and spun to face the coffin. Removed his helmet.
    Her helmet.
    “Hannah!” Jason tore from his father’s side. The Honor Guard was ahead of him, but he raced faster than he ever could in life. Why has she come? How can I protect her? What will they do with her?  He threw that thought away and focused on Hannah: her voice, her touch, the way she drew her hair from her eyes. She was all that mattered. She needed him.
    He passed the Honor Guard. Close enough to hear her words. “Jason.”
    “I’m coming,” he shouted.
    “Jason,” her voice trembled, “you promised.” She fell to her knees. “You said forever.”
    “I’m here.” Jason flung his arms around her.
    The moment he made contact, the air itself ignited. The dreary day transformed. Colors became vivid. Cold burned away.
    He whispered in her ear. “Don’t listen to them, Hannah.”
    She didn’t respond.
    “Don’t let them tell you I’m gone.” He took her hand. “I don’t care what you see. I don’t care what’s supposed to happen after death. I’ll find you.”
    She looked up. Did she see him? No.
    “Hannah, I love you. You know that, right? Did I say it enough?”
    He grew colder. Gravity released him. The open sky clawed him upward. He held tighter. He only wanted Hannah. To hold her. Keep her safe. “Hannah I promise you’ll see me again!”
    Jason’s grip broke. He flew into the sky, helpless to watch as the Honor Guard – his own friends – advanced on the only person he’d ever loved.
    And as hard as he fought, he couldn’t get back to her.

“We shall rid the world of superstitions, of falsities and ignorance. We shall rule by logic and order. We shall make all things true. We shall destroy majick in Anadell.”
    – Ilsan Senate Decree 771 / 4

CHAPTER THREE
    H annah’s soldier-escort lay on the ground. Surprise clung to his lifeless face, highlighted by lines of blood. Is that how Jason looked when he died?
    The man who shot her escort, the intruder, stepped closer. “We don’t have a lot of time. The others will–”
    A patch of mud exploded at her feet. She stumbled forward, barely avoiding another bullet that whizzed past her ear. Three soldiers charged toward her, reloading their rifles.
    The intruder grabbed her. “The whole camp will be on us in a second. I have a way out, but we have to go now!”
    His hands were strong and warm. Still, she held back.
    “Jason wouldn’t want you to die here.”
    Hannah took a long look at him. A head taller than her, his sharp-cut features made him look fierce. A bump punched out of the bridge of his nose, broken once and never healed. But his dark eyes called her to danger; begged her to follow. They struck a chord deep inside Hannah that she never knew was there.
    Before she knew what was happening, Broken Nose had pulled her to the castle wall. He ripped away a section of unkempt vines to reveal a jagged hole and dove in.
    Hannah stole a glance behind