Read Online My Tattered Bonds by Courtney Cole - Free Book Online Page A

he nodded.   “I’m perfectly fine.   Better, in fact. I feel… almost joyful.”
    I raised my eyebrows doubtfully. “Joyful?   My father, the god of war, feels joyful?”
      “Yep!” he replied, flipping onto his back and floating in the river.   “Joyful.   I don’t know how else to describe it.   I remember who I am perfectly, but I feel as though I don’t have a care in the world.”
    “But you do,” Ortrera reminded him. “We have much to care about.   We don’t have time to be joyful.”
    “You women!” he tossed over his shoulder as he swam down the stream.   “Always nay-saying.   You might as well try it for yourselves.   You will have to anyway.”
    We looked at each other in hesitation.   Cadmus spoke up.   “I’ll go first, wife.”
    “It doesn’t really matter,” I answered.   “Thank you, but we’re all going to have to do it.   We might as well do it together.”
    We nervously entered the water and drew our hands to our mouths to drink.
    The water was icy cold and delicious.   As it trickled down my throat, I felt a strange sense of calm come over me, just as my father had mentioned.   I remembered exactly who I was and who everyone else was, but I felt oddly carefree.
    But even still, I remembered our mission here.   I knew I had to save my daughter.   Yet somehow, my sense of urgency was diminished.   Even though my head knew that was not true, it was what my body felt.   I would have to somehow overcome it.
    “We cannot trust our own feelings now,” I pointed out as I turned to Cadmus.   He was already nodding.   “I feel as though our purpose is no longer important, even though I know that to be untrue. Do you feel the same?”
    He nodded again.   “I feel incredible peace.   But my memories are intact.”
    “Me too,” Aphrodite interjected as she knelt to drink more.  
    I turned to ask the Amazons, but froze.
    Ortrera was crouched in a combat position, her fierce face wary as she circled us.   Her warriors were at attention behind her, although they looked confused by her behavior.
    “Ortrera?” I asked hesitantly.   I took a step toward her but she snarled so I quickly stepped back.   Cadmus subtly moved to my side.  
    “Ortrera, do you know who I am?” I tried to keep my voice soothing and calm, but since it looked like she was about to attack me at any moment, it proved difficult. “I’m your sister.   Your half-sister, actually.   Do you remember?”
    “Do I seem like I remember?” she snapped as she shifted her weight back and forth to each foot cautiously.   “I do not remember you.”
    “Do you remember you ?” I asked carefully.   “Do you know who you are?”
    She looked around warily and then her shoulders slumped.   “No.”
    Her usually staid warriors suddenly looked uneasy, but they didn’t falter in their defensive formation.   It was admirable, really.   They were prepared to defend her- to fight for her- even though she didn’t remember who any of them were.
    Ares had stopped swimming and was wading back toward us, a serious gleam in his dark eyes.  
    “Ortrera,” he began.   “You are my daughter.   Surely you remember that.”
    She snorted.   “Why would I remember that?   I don’t even remember who I am.”
    “You’re our queen,” one of her warriors said haltingly.   “Do you remember that ?”
      Ortrera studied the woman who had spoken and then the rest of the strong warriors, her gaze passing over each one of them before she finally sighed.  
    “No,” she admitted.   She backed up a few steps, still on her guard.   “And why should I trust any of you?”
    “You shouldn’t,” Ares answered, his gaze glittering.   “You should never truly trust anyone but yourself.   That is something I’ve taught you since you were small.   I’m the god of war.   You are my daughter- a queen of the Amazon warriors and the strongest female I know.   Trust your instincts.   Look around you-