Assassin's Curse by Debra L Martin, David W Small Read Free Book Online Page A

Please, to everything sacred, I pray to the gods to help me now,” Miriam whispered.
    Miriam had no idea what transferring her bond to Jeda would do, especially with his mother’s bond already there.   His mother’s bond should have dissipated long ago, but it was still there, deeply recessed in his mind.   The other bond was buried so deep that it gave her a small hope for success and she reached into the crib, holding each of the infant’s hands in hers, forming a continuous link between them all.  
    “Release me at once.   I don’t want your filthy magic on me.”   Jeda tried to jerk his hand free again, but the witch held him tight.   Whatever Miriam was planning on doing, he had no choice but to endure it.   His heart pounded in his chest while he waited to see what would happen next.   A surreal feeling enveloped him as his entire world became the face of the witch that was speaking.
    Miriam groaned in agony.   Rivulets of sweat rolled down her face, but she was out of options.   It was either bond with Jeda, or leave her daughters alone in the world.   She took a deep breath and began the chant that would bind this stranger to her precious twins.
    “I see you, Jeda, son of Jacob and Cassandra of House DeLongo, and join you to me, Miriam, daughter of Gelda of House DeLongo.   I bind you through that blood we share and give you my children’s bond,” Miriam intoned, staring directly into his eyes.   “I command you with my power and blood to become that which my girls have lost.   You will become to them the father they lost and raise them as your own.   I order you to care for them with your every thought, to teach them as they grow into womanhood, and to protect them from those that would use them.   I charge you, through this unbreakable and resolute bond, to love them above all else.”
    Miriam closed her eyes and squeezed his hand.   Please let this work. I don’t know what else to do.
    Jeda felt an intense wave of emotion and pain tear through his mind, ripping his thoughts asunder and pulling him toward unconsciousness again.
    As he faded under her compulsion spell, he listened as Miriam continued to speak.
    Take the girls to the Village of Rocher, south of the city.   Find the village healer…
    “… She will know what to do,” Miriam finished, leaning against the crib, near to the end of her strength.   The transfer of her bond had been extremely painful and required an enormous amount of power.   It had effectively drained her of what little life she had left.   She had willingly forfeited her life for the chance that her babies would be safe.   She would not have made it alone and this was the best plan she could devise.   She looked over to the girls and gently squeezed their hands.
    Another wave of agonizing pain gripped Miriam.   She nearly collapsed, but somehow found an ounce of strength.   “Goodbye my sweet, little darlings, I tried to protect you as best I could.   Love and be kind to one another and trust this man who will be your new father.”
    A single tear trickled down Miriam’s face.   She slumped down to the floor.   Her eyes closed and death’s mistress finally claimed her wretched life.
    When Jeda woke from Miriam’s spell, his first sight was of her, slumped beside the crib, dead.   He looked up and saw the two infant girls staring at him with wide, innocent eyes as they clung to the side of their crib.   The rush of feelings overwhelmed him as he looked at them.   He instinctively knew he would care for them as his own and realized with a shock that he would be willing to give his life to protect them.
    What the hell just happened?   What did that damn witch do to me?   I don’t want any babies.   They’re going to the Berkshire woman.
    Thoughts raced through Jeda’s mind as the feeling returned to his body.   He tried to shake this new impulse to care for these babies from his mind, but he was powerless against the witch’s