he overturned it.
The deep, weeping gash blazed. All eyes were drawn to it. Disbelief disfigured everyone’s faces. Dante didn’t understand what he was witnessing.
Elder Pisano twisted her wrist and, with a small cry, Katina fell to her knees. Dante went to help her, to free her from this man’s vice-like grip, but Elder Nicolotti pushed him aside. Santo drew his sword again, a look of victory on his face. Behind them, Debora and Alessandro crumpled with both despair and alarm.
‘By the gods, Katina Maggiore, what have you done?’ Elder Pisano’s voice was like a clarion. Dante began to tremble. He didn’t understand what was happening.
Katina whimpered. Her face turned ashen.
Elder Nicolotti stared at the mark and then, before Dante could react, grasped his hand and pulled it towards Katina’s. The slashes were like twin mouths grinning crookedly, making a mockery of the fury, the revulsion of the others.
‘You are an abomination!’ Elder Pisano threw Katina’s hand away. She nursed it at her side. ‘You dare to do this? To deliberately flout our rules in this manner? It’s one thing to defy orders, it is quite another to break the law! To interfere so deliberately with everyone’s future.’ He released Dante’s hand slowly. Dante rubbed his wrist.
Katina, refusing to reply, dropped her head to her chest. Elder Pisano glared at her for one long moment. ‘Get her out of my sight. Now. The rest of the Council will hear about this.’ He spun on his heels and strode away, his togati flaring behind him.
‘This changes everything.’ The disgust in Elder Nicolotti’s voice was tangible. ‘Santo, take her into custody.’
‘With pleasure, Signor,’ said Santo, and hauled Katina to her feet. She tripped, but he grabbed her shirt so she remained upright. It tightened around her neck like a lariat, the blood from the shirt staining her chin. She was diminished, had become a rag doll in Santo’s hands.
With a growl, Alessandro stepped forward, but Debora threw up her arm, striking him across his chest, freezing him in his tracks.
‘You will answer to us and to the Council for all your crimes, Katina Maggiore,’ said Elder Nicolotti. ‘But I doubt you’ll be forgiven this one. Get her out of here! Stefano, a word.’ He indicated that Stefano should follow him, and strode into the mist, disappearing in seconds. Casting one last look in Dante’s direction, Stefano trailed after him. Santo began dragging Katina away.
‘You harm one hair on her body, Santo, and you’ll have us to answer to!’ shouted Alessandro, pushing Debora’s arm out of the way.
‘I don’t need to hurt her!’ called Santo, as he faded into the haze. ‘She does that very well on her own.’ His laughter echoed between the trees. Dante winced.
What just happened?
‘Please,’ he said to the two remaining Bond Riders, trying to fill the silence. ‘What was that about? What did Katina do that was so wrong?’ He cupped his hand by his side.
Alessandro glanced at him and then, as if the sight of Dante caused him pain, went to tend Katina’s mount. Debora stepped forward and took Dante’s hand in her own, once more turning it over so the mark of the Bond showed.
‘My name is Debora.’ She nodded towards the man on the horse. ‘That’s Alessandro. We’re Katina’s partners.’
She ran her thumb gently over the jagged surface of the gash. Dante drew his breath in. The area was tender. Debora wiped her finger on her breeches and shook her head in wonder. ‘Katina has done what no Bond Rider must do.’
‘What’s that?’
‘She has made an Obbligare Doppio.’
‘A double bind?’
‘Sì.’
Dante’s heart began to thump painfully and a chill crept through his body. It left no part of him untouched. He was seized by a violent shudder.
‘Why is that so … wrong?’
Debora placed her other hand over his, covering the mark. ‘Because it pledges Katina to not just her original Bond, but yours as well.’
Dante shook his head and shrugged. ‘So? I don’t understand.’
Debora choked back a laugh. ‘So?’ She threw an arm up in the air. ‘Oh, our new companion has so much to learn!’ Tears began to travel down her cheeks. She wiped them away brusquely. ‘Forgive our distress, our anger. This is not your fault, amico mio. Katina knew what she was doing; what the consequences of this would be. She planned this.’ She glanced at Alessandro.
He led Birrichino over, shaking his head in disbelief. ‘I didn’t anticipate anything of the kind. If I had, I never would have left her –’
‘This isn’t your