Page 53 of Serpent and Shadow

I felt a little sick at the thought, but I only nodded.

I’d somehow forgotten that part of the spell.

“He said it would only work for me,” I said, doing my best to recall his exact words. “He said his magic had worked it so the bracelet would answer only to me.”

“Right,” Alaric affirmed.

He continued to watch me, his eyes cautious. “Are you changing your mind?” he asked. “About us going after him? Trying to break him out of the Black Tower?”

I looked up sharply. “No,” I said. “Why would you ask me that?”

Alaric looked uncomfortable again but only made a vague gesture.

“Could you draw it for me, then?” he asked, his hazel eyes probing mine. “The collar, I mean. I’m worried that’s going to be more of an obstacle than we’ve calculated for, and I’d really like to have a plan on how to deal with it before we get inside.” He cleared his throat. “You’ve probably worked out it’s likely a magical restraint of some kind. I suspect that’s the pain you’ve felt on him, when he tries to speak to you when the collar is activated.”

I nodded, swallowing. I had more or less worked that out.

“You think you can get it off him?” I asked seriously.

Alaric made a noncommittal gesture. “I would like to figure that out before we get in there. I would also like to know the likelihood of it killing him if we try.”

I nodded to his words, my mouth pursing.

That possibility had occurred to me, too.

“Do you think Bones will fight for his father?” Alaric asked cautiously. “I mean, he might have to, right? I doubt Malefic will give him a choice.”

I felt myself pale, right before I looked my friend directly in the face. He didn’t know about the loyalty oath. He didn’t know what Blackstone and Forsooth had said the night before. I might have suspected he was reading my mind, but he wouldn’t have been that clumsy, if he had been. It was just Alaric, asking an honest question.

He loved Bones. He also knew the issue of what Bones would or wouldn’t do was more complicated than a mere morality puzzle.

“I don’t know.” I hesitated. “Probably. Yes.”

Alaric winced, but I saw agreement in his eyes.

“Yeah.” He sighed. “What do you think the others will do, when he does?” He studied my eyes. “Luc. Nyx. Your friend, Jolie. Forsooth? Will they still help us?”

I frowned, staring down at the mat.

“I honestly don’t know,” I said truthfully. “I hope so.”

Seeing the worry on Alaric’s face, I bit my lip.

“He’s all right,” I said impulsively, feeling guilty for what I was leaving out. “Bones, I mean. Physically, he’s not on death’s door or anything. He’s definitely banged up. But it seems to be lessening now. They hurt him a lot more in the beginning.”

Alaric winced, some of the color draining from his face.

I watched him turn over my words before he nodded.

“Thanks,” he said. “I don’t believe you, but I appreciate it.”

I nodded back, swallowing. I didn’t try to argue with his words.

Even so, the other thing lingered in my mind, enough that I couldn’t seem to let it go.

“When they gave you that tattoo,” I said, clearing my throat. “The gold one, I mean, with the snakes and Anubis… why didn’t they make you take the oath?” I swallowed. “Or did they? Did it just not work for some reason?”

Alaric looked at me, his hazel eyes shrewd.