Breaking Chains

Breaking Chains

by Amberlyn Pryor

(revised 2017)

 

A breeze slipped through the open garden doors smelling of honeysuckle, tilled earth, and freedom. Nayome lay awake listening to the slow breathing of the other girls. Reaching under the covers, she grabbed the thick chain that snaked from her ankle to an iron bolt in the floor.

 

The iron links clinked together under her blanket. Slowly, she pushed her covers away and slid to the floor. Crouching in the shadow of her bed, she eased the chain to the tile, keeping it quiet.

 

Her bed was closest to the garden door, with the other three beds lined up along the wall. She had to be careful or Bethany would wake up and yell for Master Harklin.

 

The other slave girl's weren't chained. They liked it here. Never mind that they couldn't leave this room. The garden was the only taste of freedom they got and with its high walls it was just another prison with grass instead of rugs.

 

She tugged at her slave collar. The thick leather got heavier by the day. Nightmares of suffocating competed with her other fears to overwhelm her dreams.

 

I will escape tonight, she thought, squaring her shoulders.

 

Master Harklin had spell-locked the door to the hallway, but he hadn't locked the garden door. He figured no one could escape over the wall, but she was determined to prove him wrong.

 

Nayome pushed her hands between the two plump wool mattresses and pulled out a necklace. Moonlight glinted off a myriad of tiny diamonds set in the necklace. Her tutor once said diamonds could cut through anything. These diamonds weren't particularly sharp, but she was desperate.

 

She scraped the stones across the chain. The sound filled her ears, making her heart race and palms sweat. She stopped to listen for footsteps from the hall, but the only sounds were the tinkling of the wind chimes in the garden. At night the household guards mainly patrolled outside the manor walls, but they made periodic sweeps through the manor proper. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and then continued to saw at the section of chain.

 

She froze as the bed behind her creaked. A sleepy voice muttered, "Nayome?"

 

Nayome turned and shook her head, finger to lips.

 

Aster joined her on the floor, her nightgown fluttering around her ankles. Putting her mouth next to Nayome's ear, she whispered, "Please stop. He'll hurt you again."

 

Nayome's back still ached from Master Harklin's last beating, but she kept scraping at the chain. "Is anyone else awake?"

 

Aster, tallest of the slave girls, lifted her head to see over the beds.

 

"Still asleep," she whispered.

 

Good, Nayome thought, nodding.

 

Aster she trusted, but the other two tattled. They did everything Master Harklin said. Giggling and fawning over him, begging for more presents, more sweets. Never knowing what they were missing. His little caged birds, their wings clipped before they learned to fly.

 

Not me, Nayome thought, sawing the chain harder. I'm freeborn, I need the open air. I won't stay here!

 

She lost her grip on the necklace and it bounced against the floor. Across the room, Bethany jerked awake.

 

Aster jumped to her feet, a soft humming song already on her lips.

 

Nayome dropped the chain in her lap and stuffed her fingers in her ears. Even with the sound muffled, her eyelids grew heavy. Her head nodded forward, only to jerk up again.

 

The song faded and the magic pressing against her senses ebbed before it finally flowed away. Nayome lowered her hands and clenched her teeth to force away the urge to yawn.

 

Aster knelt again, her hands shaking. "If the Master finds out I used magic--"

 

Her voice broke.

 

Nayome put her arms around her friend. "Don't worry, you can always tell him I forced you."

 

"He'll want to know why I have magic left. He'll find out I've been holding some back."

 

Nayome clenched her fists. Just the thought of Master Harklin's spells ripping at her magic, made her want to scream. That Aster managed to keep any of her magic was a miracle.

 

"It's your magic," Nayome said, her voice raising in volume. "He has no right to take it. You'll get sick if he drains you dry every day!"

 

Nayome, realizing how loud she'd gotten, covered her mouth with her hands. Her shoulders shook with the effort to rein in her anger. Master Harklin's bedroom was across the hall and he was a light sleeper. He'd threatened to lock Nayome in the cellar with the rats if she crossed him again. No telling what he'd do to Aster.

 

The night stayed quiet.

 

"I'm sorry," Nayome whispered. She hugged her friend tight. "I don't want you to get into trouble, but I have to escape and find my brothers."

 

Ethan, her youngest brother, was only six. William was twelve. Grandma always said that if they were in trouble, their family's guardian angel would rescue them, but where was he when the pirates attacked?

 

Memories of the pirates haunted her dreams. She kept repeating that day, as though fixing her mistakes mentally would undo reality. Trouble was, even in her dreams the pirates won.

 

#

 

When the pirates boarded their ship, Father locked Nayome and her brothers in their cabin. She begged him to stay, but he took his sword and went on deck. William didn't have a sword or magic to protect him, but he stood by the door, knife in hand. Too afraid to move, Nayome held Ethan's hand and prayed the yelling and screaming above them would stop.

 

Her little brother inherited the Sight from Grandma. He told her when their father died.

 

Unable to bear it, she tried to unlock the cabin door. "I have to save Father," she screamed. Even knowing it was too late, she fought against William to get at the door.

 

The pirates heard her and bashed in the lock. A brown-skinned pirate knocked William down and raised his sword. She jumped between them. The sword slashed across her chest, cutting her dress, but her magic blazed forth, keeping the blade from touching her skin.

 

Shielding was her only magical ability, so she was unable to stop the pirates from taking them prisoner and selling them to slavers. Her brothers were sold at auction, while she waited in a holding cage. The slavers had a wealthy buyer in mind for her.

 

#

 

Nayome wiped her eyes. She didn't know where her brothers were or even if they were together. What good was shielding magic if she couldn't protect her family? Her magic was all but useless now, with Master Harklin draining her until she couldn't shield against a paper cut let alone a beating.

 

"I have to find my brothers before something terrible happens to them."

 

Aster shook her head sadly. "Even if you got away from the manor, where would you go? Master Harklin doesn't sell all the magic he takes. He's probably got tracking spells, and anyone who sees your collar would know you're an escaped slave. They would bring you back."

 

"My guardian angel will find me."

 

Aster looked towards the door and lowered her voice further. "Don't talk about him. You know how Master Harklin feels about angels." She said that last word so quietly Nayome was forced to lip read.

 

"Besides," Aster continued, "your ship was attacked months ago. If he was looking for you wouldn't he have come by now?"

 

"Master Harklin must be using his magic to keep us hidden." Nayome picked up the necklace and chain. "Once I get free, I can call him."

 

Aster put her hands over the chain. "Why can't you just try to be happy here? Master Harklin isn't a bad man. He'd unchain you if you stopped trying to escape."

 

Nayome's brow furrowed and she glared at her friend.

 

Aster looked down, "Right, I know how you feel."

 

Nayome put an arm around Aster. "The only good thing about this place is you. Don't you want to be free? See the ocean, explore cities, meet boys?"

 

Aster stifled a giggle. "I suppose it would be nice to . . . visit the ocean, but Nayome," her voice turned somber, "you need to keep in mind that escape may not be possible."

 

Nayome's lower lip trembled. She took a few deep steadying breaths, then looked Aster in the eyes, "No. I won't believe that."

 

Aster picked up the chain. "The diamonds aren't working." She held the chain up to the moonlight. "You're not even scratching it." She looked at the bolt holding the chain to the floor, but didn't comment on the impossibility of pulling that out.

 

Nayome rubbed her ankle, thinking about how Aster's magic could heal. "If I ch-chopped off my foot. Could your magic re-attach it quickly?"

 

Aster's eyes widened. "No! Nayome, don't even suggest that." Aster hugged her. "We'll think of something. Don't worry."

 

#

 

Aster couldn't sleep. The morning would bring Master Harklin and he'd notice the sleeping magic clinging to Bethany and Iris. Even if she took the blame, Master Harklin would suspect Nayome was involved.

 

Aster couldn't bear to see her hurt again. She glanced over at Nayome. Her friend wasn't asleep yet either. She had an embroidery hoop by her feet, the flower design on her lap. Aster hadn't realized it was finished, Nayome wasn't as practiced at embroidery as she was.

 

Aster got out of bed and sat next to Nayome.

 

"What are you doing?"

 

Nayome ran her fingers over the blue flowers stitched into the cloth. "Aster, I have something to show you." She flipped the embroidery over, revealing the loose strands and mixed up colors on the back. "Hold this at an angle and tell me what you see."

 

Aster took the embroidery. At first she didn't see anything, but if she held it almost flat in front of her eyes the black strings blended together forming words with odd shapes encircling them. They looked like runes. A bad feeling grew in her stomach.

 

"Nayome, what is this?"

 

"A spell. To summon my guardian angel. My grandmother taught me how to make it."

 

Aster closed her eyes. "If Master Harklin saw this he'd call the inquisitor! A slave using rune magic is bad enough, but summoning an angel is forbidden in Shantair. Maybe in your country angels go around helping people but most of the angels in Shantair are demons in disguise."

 

"Do you really believe that? My grandma told me the Shantairians spread those rumors so no one would stop them from hunting and killing angels."

 

"I don't know what's true. I've been stuck in this manor since I was little and Master Harklin doesn't even like me repeating the few stories I do know about angels." Aster held up the embroidery again. "If you have this why haven't you called your angel yet?

 

"I can't activate it without magic. I was hoping you could cast it? I know it's asking a lot. I disguised the spell so if Master Harklin sees it he'll just think its a bunch of flowers."

 

When Aster didn't say anything, Nayome's shoulders slumped. "I have no right to ask more of you. You've helped me so much already. I--"

 

"Shhh," Aster nudged Nayome with her elbow and smiled. "What kind of friend would I be if I said no?"

 

Despite her words, Aster felt ill as she crept out into the garden. Deciding to get it over with as quickly as possible, she read the words on the back of the embroidery then hurried back inside.

 

"Did it work?" Nayome whispered as soon as she was in the door.

 

"I don't know."

 

"Did it glow?"

 

Aster frowned. "Was it supposed to? I've never summoned an angel before! It's forbidden remember."

 

Nayome rolled over in bed, her face buried in the pillow.

 

Aster bit her lip, ashamed of her outburst. She knelt by the bed and rubbed her friend's back.

 

"Nayome? Are you alright?"

 

Nayome raised her head long enough to mutter, "The spell failed. I'll never see my home again." Tears streaked down her face and she collapsed back into her pillow, sobs shaking her whole body.

 

With tears filling her own eyes, Aster went back into the garden.

 

I've failed my only friend.

 

Nayome may not realize it but before she came Aster was miserable. Bethany and Iris made fun of her, calling her names, yelling at her for humming, or being in the way, or using too much water. In their eyes she couldn't do anything right. The only time they stopped picking on her was when Master Harklin was in the room, but once he left, they'd say she was an eye sore and to get out. Aster spent most of her days in the corner of the garden, embroidering or reading.

 

Aster had started to think that she was a worthless klutz, but then Nayome came. Since Nayome's chain didn't reach to the table, Aster had brought over some chairs and they'd eaten together in the space between their beds. Nayome was nice to her and even though Bethany and Iris were as bad as ever, nothing seemed as bad with Nayome there.

 

Aster went to the garden pump and splashed water on her face. She still had the embroidered spell. Breathing in the cool air helped calm the unease in her stomach. She decided to try the summoning again, maybe she'd gone too fast the first time.

 

Aster took a deep breath and read the spell.

 

Nothing happened. She didn't even feel the stirring of magic in the air. Was the spell broken? She tried again. This time she did feel a hint of magic, but it wasn't coming from the embroidery. She followed the sensation, it led to the side of the manor. She found faint runes painted onto the manor wall. As the magic faded so too did these runes. Aster identified the runes for masking and secrecy in addition to some common protection runes. Master Harklin had thought of everything.

 

Or almost everything, she thought glancing at the apple tree whose branches rose just above the manor walls. Perhaps they were high enough to escape the runes' influence.

 

She tied her nightgown around her hips and clamped the embroidery between her teeth. Climbing into the lower branches was easy, she'd often gone this high just to get at ripe apples, but she'd never tried going to the top.

 

The branches dipped under her weight, but she kept going until she was above the runes. She tried not to think about how far away the ground was. Hooking an arm around a tree limb, she read the spell.

 

"Children of Aeshir." The words glowed a faint blue, and she could feel her own magic filling her voice as she continued. "Winged ones, come to my aid," Aster finished. The feeling of magic faded and the embroidery lost its shine. The spell didn't seem strong enough to summon an angel. She started to climb back down, then paused.

 

"Angels, if you can hear me, please come and rescue Nayome. Help her find her brothers and then return home to her mother."

 

Having done all she could, Aster climbed down. Once her feet were safely on the ground again, and her nightgown straightened, she went inside.

 

Aster slipped the embroidery into her chest with all of her sewing supplies. Even if Master Harklin looked in there, one more bit of stitchery amongst all the others wouldn't attract attention.

 

#

 

Nayome heard Aster come in. She sat up in bed and scooted over, making room. The bed dipped as Aster climbed in. Her friend's nightgown had a rip in the sleeve and there was a leaf in her hair. Nayome pulled the leaf out. "What happened?"

 

Aster wasn't paying attention, she stared at the garden door. "Did you hear that?"

 

Nayome listened. There was a faint sound from the garden.

 

Footsteps? She tensed. A tall man stepped into the doorway, moonlight revealing only his outline. There were no doors in the garden wall, he must have climbed over.

 

Aster started to hum, her magic gathering in the air.

 

The intruder held up his hand, motioning for her to stay quiet. He muttered a spell and soft light filled the room. With his golden hair and pale skin, he couldn't be a local, but what drew her eyes and stopped Aster's song were his wings. Glorious sweeping wings held in tight as he entered, then relaxing to stretch from just behind his head to the floor. If he opened those white wings fully they'd bump into the walls.

 

"So beautiful," Aster said, reaching out towards him. Her hand dropped almost immediately and her face reddened. She glanced at Nayome self-consciously. "You were right, he did come."

 

Nayome nodded, unsure what to say. She'd all but given up hope.

 

He stepped forward. "I've been searching for you, Nayome. This house was well hidden, but I heard your call. Come on, your brothers are waiting for us."

 

He held out his hand to her. "Hurry, I think one of the guards saw me fly in."

 

Nayome reached to take his hand, but hesitated, glancing at Aster. Her friend looked away. There were tears in her eyes.

 

Nayome put her arm around Aster's waist. "My friend comes, too."

 

Aster's eyes widened.

 

"Oh? But no, I'll weigh you down. He came for you. I . . . I can stay." She bit her lip.

 

The angel held out his other hand to Aster. "I don't leave friends behind."

 

His magic brushed against them. Aster and Nayome's slave collars snapped and fell to the ground. Both girls slid out of bed to take his hands. He led them to the garden, and the moonlight washed over them. Remembering the chain, Nayome looked back. Broken iron links lay scattered over the floor.

 

The angel gently lifted both girls into his arms and told them to hold on tight. Nayome shared a glance with Aster, smiled, then closed her eyes.

 

The angel's muscles tensed. He opened his wings and lifted them into the sky.