The Binding (Chronicles of Azaria #1) by Sam Dogra Read Free Book Online Page A

“There, all yours.”
    I managed an apologetic shrug, before I dived onto the fruits. They were bursting with juice and flavour, sweeter than any I ’d tasted back home. I practically inhaled the entire batch. Ryan chuckled.
    “You really were hungry,” he said, reclaiming his handkerchief and filling it up again. He sat down next to me, tossing berries into his mouth. “Want more?”
    “I’m good, thanks,” I said. “I should save room for that lunch you promised.” Ryan grinned, flicking another berry down. Smiling, I looked back across the field. The colourful plants surrounded by the haze of trees soothed me, and for once I wasn’t distracted by his presence. I was even tempted to admit I didn’t mind his company. But I didn’t want to give the Binding ammunition for later. “So what’s the plan for today?”
    “We ’ll make a quick stop in Bane,” Ryan said, swallowing the last of his fruity snack. “I know you weren’t keen last night, but you can use my cloak, so nobody will recognise you. It’s a long way to Lanaran, and there are a lot of things we need.”
    I sighed. He was right. Lanaran was three days away from Bane. Still, I didn ’t like the idea. True, I hadn’t any immediately remarkable features that would identify me in a crowd, but it was a risk I wasn’t comfortable to take. Especially since Adam would have just left. What if we crossed paths on the road?
    “Not happy with that?” Ryan asked, resting his foot against the log and wrapping his arms around his knee.
    I hesitated.
    “Please don ’t worry.” He raised his arm to squeeze my shoulder, but at the last moment changed his mind. “Besides, you’re travelling with me, remember? They’ll be looking for a lone girl, not the two of us. We’ll be fine, I promise.”
    All I could do was nod. I couldn ’t get out of this one. I’d have to stick to Ryan and hope no-one looked too closely.
    A yawn escaped me, and I felt the pull of the dried blood on my cheek. I raised my hand, grimacing at the texture.
    “Ryan, is there any place I could wash up?”
    Ryan stared at me, bemused.
    “Goddess, I’m so sorry!” He started laughing. “How rude of me. Of course you’d want to clean up.” He pointed past the berry bush. “There’s a small stream over there.”
    “Perfect,” I said.
    “Think you’ll need help?”
    I shook my head, a little more vigorously than necessary. The Binding didn ’t need any more encouragement.
    “I should be alright. I ’ll shout if there’s a problem.”
    “I ’ll come running.”
    Ryan tucked his handkerchief away and strode back to the blanket and sleeping bag, whistling for Cielo. I watched the white horse trot to his master, before I grasped my crutch and got to my feet. My face probably looked like it had been smeared in war paint; not a look that particularly suited me, with my pale skin and midnight-blue eyes.
    With awkward steps, I crossed the bushes, helping myself to a few extra berries along the way. Sure enough, the stream appeared, tucked between a pair of boulders. Water cascaded off the rock, so I could catch it in my hand without stooping. The grime and blood took a while to get off, but eventually my hands came away clean, and I felt much more refreshed.
    Drying my hands on my leggings, I turned my back on the stream and re-entered the field of flowers. Ryan was on the tree root again. Cielo stood at his side, saddled and ready to go. As I approached, Ryan slipped on his coat, a dusky maroon in colour, then handed me a folded cloak.
    “All set?” he asked.
    “I think so.” I opened out the cloak and shuffled into it. I had to bunch the fabric inside my belt so I wouldn’t trip over its hem. I tucked my hair inside the hood, then drew the cords taut.
    When I was done, Ryan knelt down, wanting to boost me into the saddle. I stiffened. Last night I’d been pressed against him for only half an hour, and that had been horrible enough. A longer journey would turn me