Songbird by Colleen Helme Read Free Book Online Page B

convince him that she meant what she said. Time they didn’t seem to have.
    ****
    “Teya, wake up.” Bran shook Teya’s shoulder, but she couldn’t seem to open her eyes. It felt like she’d only been asleep for a minute. She blinked them open to find Bran sitting on the edge of the bed next to her. Without thinking, she smiled up at him, grateful to have him close.
    “When you asked me if I could get the kundar off, I told you I wasn’t sure I could. Remember?”
    That pulled the cobwebs from her mind and she sat up. “Yes, but...you said there was a way.”
    “I did, but I’m not sure it will work.”
    “So...what are you saying?”
    “I’ll try to get it off, but I can’t guarantee anything.”
    A wave of hope coursed through her. Did he mean it? Was he really going to try? “What made you change your mind?”
    “I tried to imagine what it would be like if I were in your place,” he said. “I realized that I’d hate having a collar like that around my neck. It’s wrong. You deserve the opportunity to decide your own fate. So I’m going to take a chance on you.”
    Something inside Teya cracked apart, touching her heart with awe. His kindness astonished her. It had been so long since someone cared about her feelings that she didn’t know how to respond. Did he really mean it?
    “I need to put this,” he said, holding up a piece of leather. “Between the kundar and your skin to protect you, then I’ll wrap this string around the gold. It’s coated with an explosive powder, and once I ignite it, the metal should melt down. The collar is gold, isn’t it?”
    “I think so,” Teya said, swallowing. “But it has some kind of magic in it.”
    “Do you think it will hurt you?”
    Teya suppressed a sarcastic laugh. “This collar’s been hurting me ever since I can remember. I’ll try anything...do anything, to get it off.”
    “Okay. Then let’s try it. Lie down, and turn your head.” Bran folded the piece of leather under the kundar and spread it as far as he could over her neck and face. 
    “I didn’t think you’d do this,” she said.
    “I just hope it works. Okay…this is ready. Hold still.”
    As Teya heard a sizzle of fire, she held her breath. The acrid scent filled her nostrils before a small pop reverberated through her body. It was soon followed by a thin, high-pitched wail that made her eyes water. Then it was over.
    “It worked,” Bran said, with relief and surprise. He grasped the broken ends and easily pried them open, then slipped it from around her neck.
    Breathing heavily, Teya sat up. As Bran examined the kundar , the gold glittered brightly in the filtered sunlight coming through the window. Teya reached out to touch it, surprised that her hand shook. Taking a deep breath, her fingers found the kundar cold and lifeless.
    “Something died to forge this.” She swallowed. “That wail was awful.”
    “We can leave it here if you want,” Bran offered.
    “No.” Teya took it from him. “I want to keep it. It can’t hurt me anymore.” Bran nodded, and she wondered why she didn’t want to fling it as far from her as possible. But something held her back. She’d been tied to it for so long that it was hard to let go.
    “It’s time to leave,” Bran said, interrupting her thoughts. “We’ve been here too long already. There’s some water and a washcloth on the table if you’d like to wash up. I’ll get the horses ready.”
    Teya nodded, grateful for some time alone. Slipping the kundar into her jacket pocket, she dipped a soft cloth into the water and held it to her face, relieving the tiredness in her eyes. She still had smudges of dirt on her hands, and wondered how bad she looked. She rubbed her face vigorously until satisfied that no dirt remained. The cool cloth on the back of her neck felt wonderful and, as she pressed it against the front of her neck, she realized that this was the first time in years that the kundar wasn’t in the way.
    It was really