The Legendborn Cycle, #3
Oathbound
by Tracy Deonn
Contents
Chapter 2
Overview
William visits the Northern Chapter’s prison tower, where Nick is being held before his curia, and sees firsthand the cruel affective wards protecting it. The chapter establishes that Bree and Selwyn remain missing, though Bree’s continued life is suggested by the persistence of Legendborn powers, while Gate activity and Isel attacks are worsening elsewhere.
William’s distrust of Order tactics deepens, especially after Risa strengthens the prison’s punitive wards. Samira recognizes William’s staged confrontation as a cover, and the chapter ends with William asking her for a dangerous, rule-breaking favor.
Summary
Twenty-four hours after Briana Matthews disappears, William goes to the Northern Chapter’s Keep to look at the prison tower where Nick Davis is being held. Nick cannot receive visitors, but William wants to see the conditions for himself. The sight of another friend confined by the Order makes William compare the tower to the Institute where the Regents once imprisoned William and Bree.
William tests the ward around the prison and immediately feels pain, dread, misery, and fear. William recognizes it as an affective ward: magic meant not simply to block escape, but to punish anyone who touches it. The ward’s cruelty troubles William, especially because Northern lacks a healer like William and because innocents could be harmed by accident.
Samira Miller arrives with Risa Takada, the Northern Chapter’s Merlin. Risa assures William that Nick is being treated respectfully and explains that Risa has reinforced the prison wards after the teleporting demon broke through the Keep’s protections and took Bree and Selwyn. Risa says the new layers are stronger and more painful, laced with doubt and terror.
Samira reports that there have been no further signs of the demon, but there have been more Gate openings and increased Isel attacks on humans, with recent sightings in Georgia. Samira suggests William may need to take some of the Southern Chapter home, but William refuses to leave before Nick’s curia and insists that Bree or Selwyn might return. William also points out that Legendborn still have their powers, proving Bree is alive.
Risa doubts Bree could escape from such a powerful demon, and William sharply defends Bree’s abilities. Samira intervenes, sends Risa away to check on Mageguard arrival and patrol preparations, then reveals that William’s anger helped create an opportunity for them to speak privately. Once alone, William asks Samira for a favor that is ill advised, against the rules, and potentially dangerous, and Samira asks what William needs.
Who Appears
- William SittersonGawain scion; inspects Nick’s prison, defends Bree, and seeks Samira’s illicit help.
- Samira MillerBedivere Liege; mediates tensions with Risa and agrees to hear William’s dangerous favor.
- Risa TakadaNorthern Chapter Merlin; reinforces harsh affective wards and doubts Bree can escape.
- Nick DavisImprisoned scion awaiting curia after confessing to Maxwell Zhao’s murder.